Are you Ready to Serve as a political appointee?

Every presidential administration has the opportunity to appoint approximately 4,000 individuals to carry out the elected president’s agenda, and talented people are always needed to serve in these roles. 

So whether you are interested in finding a place in the current administration or the one that begins in 2025, it’s best to consider if an appointment is right for you and how you can prepare to navigate the  process. 

The Partnership for Public Service’s Center for Presidential Transition helps aspiring appointees by providing a wealth of information through our nonpartisan Ready to Serve® centralized online resource.  

Aside from the most senior political appointees that you hear about such as secretaries and deputy secretaries of Cabinet departments, there are many different roles that support the work of the president and their administration. There are four types of appointments: presidential appointments with Senate confirmation; presidential appointments without Senate confirmation; non-career Senior Executive Service; and Schedule C.  

How do I become a political appointee? 

• Our Ready to Serve® website has information on the key steps in how to apply and navigate the appointments process. 
• Exploring Job Opportunities contains tips on how to research jobs, various position descriptions and highlights of the benefits that federal employees receive. 
• Is a Political Appointment Right for You? This section guides prospective appointees through considerations that might affect their ability to serve, such as their readiness, personal qualifications and pre- and post-service obligations, among others. 
• Background Checks and Security Clearances helps prospective appointees familiarize themselves with the requirements of background investigations and obtaining security clearances. 
• Financial Disclosure and Ethics highlights key forms that prospective appointees will need to complete, such as the Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278e) and the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450). 
• Senate-Confirmed Positions demonstrates the different steps in the Senate confirmation process and provides tips to navigate these steps successfully. 
• Frequently Asked Questions About the Political Appointment Process provides information specific to the Biden administration and answers other questions that a prospective appointee may be pondering. 

For more information about political appointments and other aspects of presidential transition, check out the Center for Presidential Transition’s website.