Purpose:
To ensure the federal workforce remains dynamic and innovative, this policy establishes a 20-year cumulative limit on federal service, including time served in state-level government positions. This encourages the rotation of new talent, prevents stagnation, and aligns career opportunities with public sector needs.
Policy Details:
- Term Limit:
- No federal civil servant may serve more than 20 cumulative years in any federal government position(s), including prior service in state government. This applies to roles across all departments, agencies, or other federal capacities.
- Time served in state-level elected or appointed positions (such as governor, attorney general, etc.) counts toward the cumulative 20-year limit. For example, if an individual serves as governor of a state for 4 years, they will have 16 years remaining to serve in federal civil service.
- Coverage:
- The term limit applies exclusively to federal civil service employees and includes full-time, part-time, and contract workers at all levels of responsibility.
- This policy covers all career civil servants, from entry-level positions to senior management and administrative roles.
- Implementation Timeline:
- Civil servants who have already exceeded 20 cumulative years of service will be required to retire or transition within a 3-year grace period following the policy’s enactment.
- For those approaching the 20-year limit, federal agencies will provide 2 years’ advance notice of mandatory retirement or transition.
- Transition and Career Support:
- A federal transition support program will be created to help civil servants nearing the end of their service limit. This program will offer:
- Career counseling for those transitioning into private, nonprofit, or academic sectors.
- Retirement planning resources for individuals preparing to exit public service.
- Mentorship opportunities to retain institutional knowledge and provide guidance to newer employees.
- Civil servants may also have access to early retirement benefits or training programs to facilitate their post-service career transitions.
- Exemptions and Special Cases:
- In rare circumstances, extensions of up to 2 years may be granted for individuals whose skills or knowledge are critical to ongoing national security efforts or vital public projects. Such extensions require approval from the head of the relevant federal department and an oversight committee.
- Encouraging New Talent:
- Federal departments and agencies will be encouraged to develop robust recruitment and talent development programs to ensure continuous renewal of the workforce with new talent.
- Internships, fellowships, and entry-level hiring programs will be expanded to create opportunities for young professionals to enter public service.
Expected Benefits:
- Infusion of New Ideas: The policy will ensure that new perspectives are regularly introduced into the federal workforce, promoting adaptability and innovation in public service.
- Preventing Complacency: By capping long-term service, this policy encourages civil servants to stay proactive and engaged throughout their careers.
- Career Mobility: This policy will create more opportunities for career progression by opening up senior roles more frequently.
- Cost Efficiency: Over time, limiting tenure in federal service will help reduce the pension and retirement costs associated with long-serving civil servants.
This policy applies exclusively to federal civil service and includes service at the state level to ensure consistency and equity across government careers. States retain the freedom to set their own term limits or policies for their civil servants, independent of this federal mandate.