Partisanship, Public Service Values, and Public Service Recognition Week Proclamations

Since 1985, Public Service Recognition Week acknowledges the role of government employees in American democracy. Building upon the study of public service values, this research investigates gubernatorial proclamations issued in 2025, treating that years as a crucial case for the study of government employee recognition. Despite instability in the U.S. federal government, state-level proclamations illustrate a consistent emphasis on common public service values, including commitment, integrity, and professionalism. The analysis of proclamation content shows some variation in the values emphasized by the two major political parties, but no statistically discernable relationship between gubernatorial party and proclamation issuance. Still, only about one third of U.S. governors issued proclamations for Public Service Recognition Week in 2025, pointing to the need for ongoing scrutiny of employee recognition practices at the state and national level. This research closes by comparing state-level action to presidential proclamations from 1987 to 2024 and discusses implications for the application of public service value theory to the study of state government employment and employee recognition.