RELATED July 03, 2025 Partnership for Public Service’s public comments on OPM’s “Suitability and Fitness” proposed rule June 23, 2025 Mad Money: The public believes the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal government will harm the U.S. economy and make the country less safe June 23, 2025 Public Service Leadership Model Pocket Guide Back to Reports Foreign Language Skills May 1, 2006 The U.S. government has a shortage of employees with foreign language skills that are critical to the ability to operate effectively in a global environment. Unfortunately, the shortages of skilled language personnel across these agencies are complicating government efforts in trade, peacekeeping, diplomacy, security and intelligence. These shortages stem from four major obstacles: limited talent pool, shortage of teachers of critical languages, security clearance requirements and procedures, and training. Priority should also be given to developing a government-wide assessment of needed language skills. Download (1m)