A week of recognition, and a career of service

Celebrated annually during the first week of May, Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) honors the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees.

“Public Service Recognition Week is a chance to thank the people who keep government running and deliver results for the American people every day,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said. “Federal employees take on some of the most important challenges in the country, from protecting our national security to improving how government serves citizens. Their work matters, and this week is about recognizing the impact they make.”

The Partnership for Public Service introduced this celebration 41 years ago, and over the past 25 years they have honored some of the most outstanding public servants. This year’s group includes honorees who revolutionized dairy cattle breeding to improve milk production and animal health, recovered billions of dollars from multinational corporations that schemed to artificially lower their tax liability, halted sophisticated cyber intrusion to the State Department’s email accounts and accomplished groundbreaking methods of addressing air pollution.

Although the number of honorees in 2026 was reduced to only four, over the past 25 years there have been more than 800 civil servants recognized for their remarkable accomplishments that benefit our country and build trust in our government. Despite the disruptions in the federal workforce, federal employees continue to work across the country and around the world to find ways to prevent drugs from killing our citizens, prevent diseases from destroying our families, find solutions to transportation problems, forecast weather to minimize the loss of lives when a natural disaster strikes, protect our nation and countless other ways they help keep our nation safe and continue building our strong democracy.

There are countless federal workers who have a record of steady promotions to higher grade levels and increasing responsibility, but those records do not always show the sense of accomplishment felt at each advancement. Federal service has allowed eager young employees to move through the ranks by showing hard work and dedication to their mission. Federal workers build on their years of experience to become mentors to younger workers and examples to the public. There are countless opportunities for advancement and the option of doing many different types of work requiring hundreds of different skill sets, educational prerequisites and levels of experience.

Federal employees are often recognized for exemplary performance by receiving time off awards, pay increases and cash bonuses as a tangible way of showing thanks for a job well done. But a pat on the back by a fellow employee or a word of praise from a supervisor or a member of the public can also go a long way toward making that employee feel appreciated.

From my perspective of meeting employees near the end of their federal careers, I have noticed their sense of pride when looking back over the years of dedicated public service. When federal workers are ready to move on to a new chapter of their lives, they never seem to regret the choice that they made to enter a career of serving the American public. Federal employees prepare for retirement through diligent savings and thoughtful planning to produce a comfortable life after government. Retirement from federal service is not only a reward, but a well-deserved benefit.

Thank you to all the federal workers and employee annuitants who have crossed my path either in my everyday life or in my work of helping understand and obtain their retirement benefits. I have admired your dedication to your goals and the many accomplishments you have achieved.

I have often been on the receiving end of professional, patient and caring assistance from employees at the Office of Personnel Management, the Social Security Administration and the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. The retirement specialists and payroll office workers are the unsung heroes of the retirement process. If you are a federal employee planning to retire or who has already transitioned into retirement, know that despite the challenges faced by an overwhelming workload, the employees who are working for you deserve your appreciation, not only this week, but throughout the year.