On March 17, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) released its report titled, “Elevating Human Capital: Reframing the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Leadership Imperative.” The report was mandated by Congress to study OPM’s functions and “the associated challenges in executing those functions.”

FMA was interviewed and contributed insights to NAPA for its report. FMA National President Craig Carter, National Vice President Ron Gryga, and President Emeritus Patricia Niehaus provided their expertise to NAPA researchers, as did Executive Director Todd Wells and Director of Government and Public Affairs Greg Stanford.

NAPA examined OPM’s mission, functions, and procedures as well as documents from Congress, executive policy, and literature on human capital management best practices. The final report provides recommendations for improving OPM’s functioning including sections on OPM’s role, leadership, and mission; OPM’s core mission functions and programs; and, supporting functions enabling mission execution. FMA was proud to contribute to NAPA’s comprehensive effort and looks forward to continuing to work with NAPA President and CEO Teresa Gerton and her team toward the mutual goal of improving OPM to better serve managers and all employees of the federal workforce.

OPM Acting Director Kathy McGettigan issued the following statement on the report’s release: “The Office of Personnel Management wishes to thank the National Academy of Public Administration for the rigor and professionalism with which this study was conducted. We are gratified that the report affirms the importance of a strong, independent and forward-leaning OPM in order to meet the modern human capital management needs of the federal government.   

“The ill-advised effort to dismantle OPM under the previous administration was disruptive to agency operations and detrimental to workforce morale. We are pleased to close that chapter and eager to continue the important work of reinvigorating the agency, rebuilding workforce capacity, implementing a sustainable funding model and reasserting OPM’s posture as a strategic partner to federal agencies on matters of human capital management.   

“OPM will carefully consider the recommendations put forth by NAPA and will issue a response to Congress as required.”

To read the full NAPA report, please click here.