The Future of Federal Work

Chairman Gerry E. Connolly's Opening Statement [PDF]

Washington D.C. (November 23, 2021)—On December 1, 2021, at 10:15 a.m. ET, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, will hold a hybrid hearing to examine the federal government’s recruitment and hiring policies and explore strategies to help build the next generation of public servants.  With just seven percent of federal civilian employees under the age of 30, and potentially one-third of employees eligible to retire in the next several years, the federal government must consider making changes to attract individuals to the federal workforce.

The hearing will build on the findings of Chairman Connolly’s October 4 event in Fairfax, VA with students at George Mason University examining potential changes to the federal government’s culture and policies to attract and retain early career individuals to federal service, promote the health and safety of the federal workforce, and ensure that the federal workforce reflects the communities it serves.  To ensure a robust and diverse workforce, the federal government must move away from a focus on rigid and outdated processes to design a workplace driven by mission and innovation.