2021 Roadmap for Renewing our Federal Government

Leadership and Stewardship

The federal government is facing a leadership crisis. There are too many political appointees and those who serve are often unprepared for the unique responsibilities of public sector leadership and how to work with stakeholders across government, including Congress. Leadership development opportunities are scattered, if they exist at all, for career executives and both they and political leaders do not fully reflect the diversity of the workforce or the nation. In short, the government is doing an inadequate job of training, supporting and developing leaders at all levels with consistent standards focused on modern competencies and the core values of stewardship and public trust.

Workforce

The federal government is struggling to recruit, hire and retain diverse talent with the skills needed to meet the complex challenges facing our nation. The hiring process is long and complicated, the workforce is aging and the competition for top talent is fierce. Federal employee engagement lags that of the private sector, agencies do not maximize use of existing hiring authorities and the federal compensation system is not aligned with the broader labor market. Yet many agencies across government, spurred on by recent pandemic-related workplace changes, have begun to rethink how they recruit, hire and manage their people. We need that same commitment to talent modernization across government.

Innovation and Technology Modernization

Our country needs an effective, innovative government that can meet the demands of a fast-paced, interconnected, technology-driven world. However, federal agencies offer few incentives for employees to try new ideas, are saddled with outdated technology and lag behind the private sector in hiring qualified technologists in sufficient numbers for critical leadership and staff positions. This antiquated system impedes our government’s ability to meet the needs of today’s interconnected, technology-driven world and prepare for future challenges.

Collaboration

Solving major challenges requires an unparalleled level of cooperation and collaboration among agencies, different levels of government, political parties, and the private and nonprofit sectors. Yet, the federal government frequently operates in organizational silos that make it hard to work across jurisdictional boundaries and coordinate efforts to serve the public more effectively. To respond to pressing challenges, there must be increased coordination across government and sectors.