overnmentwide“high-risklist”offederalactivitiesin.Similarly,inspectorsgeneralatninemajoragencieshavelistedworkforceproblemsamongthetoptenmostseriousmanagementchallengesthattheiragenciesface(GeneralAccountingOffice[GAO],).Thefederalgovernment‟shumanresourcecrisisthreatensitsabilitytoservethepublicwellandmeettheexpectationsoftheAmericanpeople.Federalagenciesmustrespondbypublicizingjobopportunitiesmoreaggressively,includingofferingyoungerworkersinterestingandchallengingworkandthepotentialforadvancement.Light()arguesthatastrongcivilservicehasfivecharacteristics:itis()motivatedbythechancetoaccomplishsomethingworthwhileonbehalfofthecountry,()recruitedfromthetopofthelabormarket,()giventoolsandorganizationalcapacitytosucceed,()rewardedforajobwelldone,and()respectedbythepeopleandleadersitserves.However,Lightalsopointoutthat“byallfivemeasures,thefederalservicehaslostgroundsinceSeptember”(p.).Thisarticleexaminesthecontextandnatureoftheimpendi