Feds Cap Gold Stars for Top Brass Performance Reviews
Published Date: 5/2/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The government wants to change how top bosses (Senior Executive Service) get their performance ratings. Instead of everyone getting top scores, agencies can now set limits to make ratings fairer and more honest. This means better checks on leaders, no more DEI rules in their reviews, and a push for real accountability starting soon—helping taxpayers get more value for their money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Allow Limits on Top SES Ratings
The Office of Personnel Management would let agencies remove the ban on forced distributions for the Senior Executive Service (SES). Agencies could set limits on the highest SES rating levels (notably levels 4 and 5), which OPM says would increase rigor in appraisals and produce a more normalized distribution of SES ratings across the Federal Government.
Remove DEI Language from SES Reviews
OPM proposes to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language from Senior Executive Service (SES) performance management rules. That change would remove DEI as an explicit factor in SES performance regulations and how SES performance is written and evaluated.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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