Assuring Responsive & Accountable Federal Executive Management

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to allow forced distribution of performance ratings for Senior Executive Service (SES) members, force the firing or transfer of SES employees at the low end of the distribution, and limit certain compensation levels to employees at the top end of the distribution. It also proposed modifying the substantive review criteria, including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts from performance standards. A final rule was later issued on September 15, 2025.