We the undersigned, members of the 2013 Class of Presidential Management Fellowship Finalists and individuals concerned with the current and future success of the program, make this appeal to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for a one year eligibility period extension for the Class of 2013. This would extend the original Finalist expiration date from April 8, 2014 to April 8, 2015. We strongly make this petition out of the unique economic hardships suffered by this Class (i.e. the sequestration and the government shutdown). This was a year of furloughs, hiring freezes, and reduced full-time employment, creating great impediments for Federal Agencies to benefit from the talent of this Class. At the beginning of October of 2013 less than 30 percent of the 2013 Class has successfully been appointed to positions within the US Government.