Washington, D.C. - With determined words, the Director of the US
Office of Personnel Management, Kay Coles James, addressed the vital
importance of implementing the President's
Management Agenda (PMA). James, who appeared at the invitation of
columnist John "Sergeant Shaft" Fales, reaffirmed her commitment
to the reformation of the federal work force so that it can meet the
challenges of the 21st century.
"By implementing the President's agenda, we will be able to attract
the best and brightest, people with fresh ideas and who understand that
government service is a noble calling and not just a job," said
James. "We must be prepared for the future, especially in light
of the fact that the government may lose up to 40 percent of the work
force due to retirements over the next five years."
The PMA lays out President Bush's plan to give managers the tools they
need to ensure that government becomes "citizen-centered, results-oriented
and market-based." Specifically, the goals of the plan are to push
decision-making down to the managerial level, to allow managers to make
decisions regarding their own employees, and to free managers and employees
from the micro-management and archaic rules that have "plagued
and characterized federal service for too long."
"By giving managers greater flexibility in hiring, training, and
compensating their employees, we allow them to be more responsive and
nimble in their service to the needs of the American people," said
James. "We give them the tools to get the right people, at the
right time, with the right skills to get the job done for the American
people."
And not forgetting where many of the best and brightest come from, James
restated her strong support of Veterans' Preference, a hiring law that
gives credit for serving in the military.
"I count it a high honor to be charged with protecting the principles
upon which the federal civil service was built, including protecting
Veterans' Preference," said James. "It is the law, and when
you consider the sacrifices made by men and women who don uniforms and
travel to foreign lands to fight for freedom, I count it a privilege
to defend."
By passionately explaining her beliefs about where the government is
going and what it protects, James has set a course for a new federal
work force, one that is supported by all who know that fresh ideas must
be listened to and acted upon.
James was joined at the head table by John Idoni, Chief Petty Officer
of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
Idoni, and USS Theodore Roosevelt
Captain Thomas O'Hanlon, participated in a rousing welcome at OPM's
Theodore Roosevelt building today following their recent record-breaking
deployment as part of Operation
Enduring Freedom.
Also attending were representatives of the major national veterans
organizations.
The full text of James' speech is found at the National Press Club's
web site, npc.press.org.
OPM oversees the federal work force and provides the American public
with up-to-date employment information. OPM also supports U.S. agencies
with personnel services and policy leadership including staffing tools,
guidance on labor-management relations and programs to improve work
force performance.
