Despite criticism of Trump’s SES reforms, senior executives group backs recent updates to training program

OPM would be authorized to create a governmentwide senior executive training program under the new rule.

Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

The Office of Personnel Management on June 25 issued a final rule to overhaul a Senior Executive Service preparation program in order to “enhance training and development for aspiring SES and accelerate the development of well-prepared leaders to ensure leadership continuity.”The Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program helps agencies identify and prepare federal employees who wish to join the cadre of the highest-ranking career staffers. Qualifying graduates of the program can receive an SES appointment without further competition. Some of the changes that the new rule makes to the program include:

Authorize OPM to create a governmentwide SESCDP.

Specify that an agency SESCDP must last between 12 to 24 months and increase the number of executive training hours from 80 to 100.