Federal Managers Association

In the News

• Rules Finalized to Use Forced Ratings Distributions across Federal Workforce - July 9, 2026

• FEDweek

  OPM has finalized rules to use forced distributions—what it calls “standardized distribution”—in performance ratings for GS and wage grade employees, ratings that are used in decisions ranging from promotions and awards to discipline and retention standing in RIFs.

  Rules in the July 7 Federal Register, finalizing those proposed in February, further would end the right of union-represented employees to challenge ratings through negotiated grievance processes; remove Level 2 from the commonly used five-level system; end a required higher-level review of a Level 1 rating; and add requirements for ratings of supervisors (see related story). They are effective August 6.

  During the comment period, “Most commenters either opposed the rule as a whole or objected to one or more of the major provisions of the rule, such as standardized distribution, elimination of negotiated grievance procedures, and elimination of the requirement for mandatory review of a Level 1 (“Unacceptable”) rating of record,” OPM said. However, only minor changes were made as a result.

  To read the full article, click here.

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