White House Official Calls for More Focus on Workforce Transformation

Margaret Weichert, deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget, said the White House focus more on federal workforce transformation in support of the President’s Management Agenda as the government lacks the speed for reskilling people, FedScoop reported Wednesday. 

“Many of our technology projects get stuck on people. We don’t have the right skills,” said Weichert, who also serves as acting director of the Office of Personnel Management. “We have too many people with a certain set of skills and not enough people with other sets of skills.”

Previously, the government launched efforts focused on workforce transformation. Weichert said some progress include a Cyber Reskilling Academy and a direct hire authority for cybersecurity and information technology personnel. However, she noted “there’s so much more to do” to improve the federal workforce.

The official explained that efforts under PMA should aim to keep up with the growing interest of the public in new technologies and services.