Ever tried to fill a bucket with water that has a hole in the bottom? That’s sort of what it has been like for the past 12 years, as agencies attempted to fill mission critical positions and close critical skills gaps. But the overall strategic management of federal employees continues to stay on the Government Accountability Office’s High Risk List. John Palguta, vice president for policy at the Partnership for Public Service, answers the question: Will the government ever be successful at filling the hole, or should OPM, agencies and Congress just have to get used to the fact the hole is never going away?