# Managing Senior Professional Performance

**Action Urgency Score:** 90/100

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Personnel Management Office; Management and Budget Office |
| Type | Final rule |
| Action | Final rule. |
| Published | 2026-10-19 |
| Effective | 2026-11-18 |
| Significant | Yes (EO 12866) |
| CFR parts | 5 CFR 351, 5 CFR 430, 5 CFR 451, 5 CFR 534, 5 CFR 537 |
| Summary | The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) are issuing a final rule to strengthen the performance appraisal of senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) employees, collectively referred to as "senior professionals." This final rule establishes a new subpart dedicated exclusively to senior professional performance appraisal that aligns more closely with Senior Executive Service (SES) performance appraisal regulations. The rule also eliminates senior professional appraisal programs, removes the prohibition of a standardized distribution of  |
| Document number | 2026-21316 |

## Why this score
- Effective date within 30 days.
- Significant rule under EO 12866.
- Final rule.

Source: Federal Register API (Office of the Federal Register) (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/19/2026-21316/managing-senior-professional-performance). Last refreshed: 2026-11-04T21:40:49.974Z.
Data from the Federal Register API; the published Federal Register document is authoritative. Informational only, not legal advice.