“If there’s any time to have an organization like the Partnership — banging their fists down on the table saying, ‘What’s going on is wrong; here is everything that public servants do that’s right’ — it’s now.”
"The Partnership for Public Service is a crucial organization. It embodies a spirit that whatever the situation on partisanship and politics is in our country, every American needs to get behind a strong public service."
Our Impact over 25 Years
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Championing a stronger federal workforce
In 2002, the Partnership championed the creation of a new leadership position to elevate the management of the federal workforce as a priority issue across government. Shortly thereafter, Congress passed the Chief Human Capital Officers Act, creating positions responsible for leading efforts to recruit, develop and train federal employees.
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Giving voice to federal employees
In 2003, Congress mandated that agencies conduct the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, providing agencies with essential data to understand the state of their agencies. After it was canceled in 2025, the Partnership administered its proprietary Public Service Viewpoint Survey, giving to more than 11,000 federal employees.
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Using data to transform federal agencies
From 2003-2024, the Partnership’s Best Places to Work in the Federal Government® rankings offered the best analysis of how federal employees view their jobs, informing congressional oversight and holding leaders accountable to improve the health of their agencies.
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Shaping the modern presidential transition
In 2008, the Partnership convened senior presidential campaign representatives, members of the outgoing administration and other stakeholders to discuss kick-starting the presidential transition process before the election. Designed to provide more support and a smoother transition, Congress formally enacted our recommendations in 2010 and 2016.
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Fostering excellence in public leadership
For over 15 years, the Partnership has administered the Excellence in Government Fellows Program, evolving it into the premier leadership development course for career civil servants working at the GS-14 and GS-15 levels.
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Tracking political appointees
In 2016, the Partnership launched in the Political Appointee Tracker in conjunction with The Washington Post to track the most comprehensive data, analysis and information about the nomination and confirmation status of nominees for critical Senate-confirmed roles, holding the White House and Congress accountable for filling them.
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Becoming a leader in AI
In 2018, the Partnership launched the AI Government Leadership Program in collaboration with Microsoft, Google and the Ford Foundation to use AI responsibly and effectively in government agencies.
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A new model for public service leadership
Created in 2019, our Public Service Leadership Model offers a single, coherent standard for effective leadership in public service. The model identifies core values and competencies that leaders in federal, state and local government must demonstrate to make an impact.
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Examining the state of public trust in government
Since 2022, the Partnership has been conducting nationally representative polls on public perceptions of government. The results shed light on how Americans view public servants, the civil service, government agencies and services, and various federal workforce and management actions.
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Building a new home for public service leaders
In 2022, the Partnership launched its Public Service Leadership Institute® as the preeminent source of developing, advising and connecting leaders across government, including at the state and local levels. It holds a full suite of open-enrollment and customized, off-the-shelf programs for individuals and teams working toward better government.
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Raising public awareness
The Partnership’s Federal Harms Tracker, launched in August 2025, boasts six interactive storytelling and data products that demonstrate the harmful effects of the Trump administration’s sabotage of our government and its workforce.
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Recruiting the next generation of public servants
Our Call to Serve network is the only nationwide group of colleges, universities and government agencies promoting career opportunities for the next generation of public servants.
“The Partnership isn't just an organization—it is a mission-driven organization that is trusted across administrations.”
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We are proud of our impact to date but know there is more to do. Building on our 25-year history, we are fighting to preserve the central promise of our government, mobilizing the country against the administration’s harmful actions and inspiring the creation of federal institutions that better serve the people. Join us.