The Office of Management and Budget recently released the final set of Agency Priority Goals for the Obama administration. While the majority of the 92 APGs laid out by the White House build on prior initiatives, 40 percent are new, such as intensive services for veteran and service member American Job Center participants and improving affordability of college student loans.   

This is the first time that agencies have released their goals in October, at the start of the fiscal year. Typically, goals are published in February with the release of the President’s budget. In addition, agencies will designate a career deputy goal leader to help oversee and implement their APGs. 

Also new this year is the addition of the Leaders Delivery Network, launched in partnership between the OMB and the Performance Improvement Council.  OMB Director Shaun Donovan explains in a blog post that the LDN “is a select group of high achieving senior leaders who are each responsible for delivering on one of the agency priority goals. The network will connect its members to each other to share their insights and expertise and will also give them unprecedented access to thought leaders in the performance field.” 

This small cohort of approximately 20 to 25 leaders representing 17 agencies will meet bi-monthly during the APG cycle.  Network members will engage with other high-achieving goal leaders and prominent figures in the performance community to access each other’s expertise. The group will discuss challenges and best practices in program management and implementation, and committing to taking actions that will advance progress on the goal(s) of the programs they lead. In other words, members of the Leaders Delivery Network will lead the charge instilling APGs into their agencies’ missions.

For more insights into what's happening in the public sector, check out the December issue of The Public Manager.