Pay & Benefits
NARFE still has concerns with OPM’s plan to collect employee health care records
Last month, the Office of Personnel Management sought to assuage concerns about its request for claims-level data on federal workers’ health insurance usage. Employee groups say it’s still not enough.
Pay & Benefits
OPM moves to implement long-awaited retirement fix for federal first responders
The First Responders Fair RETIRE Act, which ensures federal workers can stay on accelerated mandatory retirement schedules even if they transfer to another due to injury, was signed into law in 2022.
Workforce
OPM shrinks its workforce by a third, seeks further staffing cuts
The agency is giving employees in its healthcare and insurance division another shot at opting into the deferred resignation program.
Pay & Benefits
No more paper: Navigating OPM’s new digital retirement process
As the Office of Personnel Management completes its transition away from paper, federal employees and retirees must adapt to a streamlined — but strictly digital — process for securing their benefits.
Workforce
Trump wants to scrap a key framework for federal employee discipline
Officials said the Douglas factors, 12 criteria federal agencies have used for 45 years to devise and justify discipline for misconduct, are too restrictive and “mechanistic.” Practitioners disagree.
Workforce
OPM proposes ‘decentralized’ FEVS with fewer questions and less transparency
Agencies would be expected to conduct their own workforce surveys each year, with little rules on how much, or how little, they divulge to the public about it.
Workforce
OPM finalizes ‘Nixonian’ rule centralizing and enabling some federal firings
Under final regulations published this week, the federal government’s dedicated HR agency can remove federal employees from across government over suitability and conduct issues—blocking most avenues for appeal.
Workforce
Despite criticism of Trump’s SES reforms, senior executives group backs recent updates to training program
Officials from the Office of Personnel Management said that the changes to the training and development program are necessary to promote standardization across agencies.
Workforce
OPM’s new suitability authority blurs the line between hiring vetting and employee discipline
COMMENTARY | A change allowing suitability actions for post-appointment misconduct could reshape how agencies respond to issues uncovered through continuous vetting, but the Office of Personnel Management’s willingness to use it will determine whether it becomes a routine tool or a rarely used exception.
Workforce
Lawmakers, unions and civil society groups urge withdrawal of governmentwide NDA plan
The Office of Personnel Management received more than 30,000 comments on its plan to require federal workers sign nondisclosure agreements, which critics said would violate the First Amendment and chill whistleblowers.
Oversight
Congressional Dems demand info on revised workforce survey
As the traditional spring solicitation window closes, the public remains in the dark as to when the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey will be administered and what questions it will ask.
Workforce
Unions urge court to force ruling in ‘loyalty question’ lawsuit
Three months after a hearing on whether to block federal agencies from asking four politicized essay questions of every federal job applicant, a federal judge still has not issued a decision.
Tech
OPM's long-planned HR overhaul moves ahead with $396M award to Oracle
The agency plans to consolidate more than 100 personnel systems into a single platform serving 2 million federal employees.
Workforce
NDA proposal for feds draws scrutiny on Capitol Hill
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorth, D-Ill., expressed “serious concern” about the Office of Personnel Management’s controversial proposal, including its impact on whistleblowers and employees who report wrongdoing.
Management
After year of pushing employees out, OPM embraces familiar recruiting playbook
In order for agencies to attain top talent, Office of Personnel Director Scott Kupor pointed to job websites specific to college students, multi-agency position postings and tech recruiting programs — all strategies that the Biden administration also employed.
Tech
OPM moves one step closer to HR system overhaul for 2 million federal workers
With protests cleared, the Office of Personnel Management can now award a 10-year contract for a new governmentwide human capital platform.
Pay & Benefits
OPM to set new requirements to ‘verify’ FEHBP enrollments
Newly published regulations would implement a 2025 law enacted in response to a GAO report that found the government could spend up to $1 billion annually on health benefits for people who are no longer eligible to receive them.
Management
OPM's subtle shifts could redefine federal HR
COMMENTARY | A longtime federal HR chief welcomes the Office of Personnel Management's push to modernize pay and promotions, but warns against the legal tactic the agency is using to make it happen.
Workforce
Federal employee NDAs aren’t new, but expanding them requires careful guardrails
COMMENTARY | A new proposal would expand federal nondisclosure agreements beyond classified work. Will it curb leaks or chill legitimate whistleblowing?
Workforce