Fixing the SES

SES pin

Federal News Radio’s four-part special report, Fixing the SES, digs deep within the Senior Executive Service to examine the real problems facing the group from those who know it best – the people who live it every day. View the results of our exclusive survey, which forms the core of our report, and hear the candid responses from SES members about the challenges they face and whether there are any real solutions to those issues.



 

  • Part 1: 'This used to be an honor. Now it's a joke'

    Fewer than half of the Senior Executive Service members who responded to an exclusive Federal News Radio online survey say they would join today. The survey results were even more dim for federal employees at the GS-15 and GS-14 ranks. In the first of our four-part special report, Fixing the SES, we examine how current senior execs feel about the SES, and what they believe is right and wrong with the service.

  • Part 2: Why we stay. SES in their own words

    The SES has lost its luster in recent years, in part because of constrained program budgets, increased scrutiny from Congress, and a sense among members that political appointees are assuming more of the leadership responsibilities once reserved for them. In part two of our special report, Fixing the SES, five Senior Executive Service members tell Federal News Radio why they choose to stay in the service, and why they believe the SES may have its faults, but it’s not broken.

  • Part 3: The truth about accountability in the SES

    Does the federal government hold members of the Senior Executive Service accountable for their actions? In part three of Federal News Radio’s special report, Fixing the SES, current and former senior executives respond candidly to the criticism.

  • Part 4: Fix the SES by wiping the slate clean

    Political leaders of all stripes have long called for reforming the Senior Executive Service. But what if instead of fixing the SES’ current problems, the government wiped the slate clean and started from scratch? In part four of Federal News Radio’s special report, Fixing the SES, current and former members of the service discuss what the key ingredients would be in a new SES recipe.