Changes to Department of Defense's Performance Appraisal System

The Department of Defense issued a memorandum to comply with the Trump administration's government-wide changes to rating performance. First, the memo moved the performance rating cycle to match the fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. Second, the memo required that any critical element rated "Level 5: Outstanding" must receive higher-level reviewer approval before it is finalized, effective for the current appraisal cycle. This offers a procedural check on supervisors rating their employees highly without higher-level approval.