Program Overview
Public service is one of our democracy’s greatest privileges, yet too often the men and women who do the nation's business are overlooked or underappreciated.
Government employees accomplish much every day; their vital contributions often unseen by the American people they so ably serve. As former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker has said, “Somebody has to keep the air clean and the environment safe for the next generation. Somebody has to respond to the more mundane, but nonetheless sometimes challenging assignments of keeping government working effectively and efficiently if self-government is to work at all.”
Our government’s capability to meet these and many other important challenges is under threat. A federal workforce crisis is sapping government's greatest resource—its cadre of talent. With huge numbers of highly knowledgeable people soon to retire, the government faces its biggest recruitment challenge in decades.
Good government requires good people. By honoring excellence in the federal workforce, the Service to America Medals send a powerful message to the American people about the importance of a strong civil service and seek to inspire a new generation of Americans to public service.
The Service to America Medals are presented annually by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service.
