Federal government agency poised to eradicate around 1,000 positions before year's end

Federal government agency poised to eradicate around 1,000 positions before year's end

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is undergoing significant changes under its new director, Scott Kupor. Since President Donald Trump took office, OPM's workforce has decreased from 3,110 employees to around 2,000, with more than 1,000 employees either already gone or expected to leave by the end of the year.

Kupor, a private-sector veteran, is focusing on streamlining OPM and making it more efficient, aligning with the Trump administration's goals. He has planned a substantial workforce restructuring, aiming to reduce the total staff by about one-third. This reduction will be achieved through voluntary separations, using separation incentives like the Deferred Resignation Program, and some involuntary separations through reduction in force (RIF).

In the area of technology modernization, Kupor is prioritizing the use of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, to improve operational efficiency. Key ongoing modernization projects include revamping OPM’s federal human capital data portal, FedScope, and digitizing the outdated federal retirement system. Progress in these areas is described as strong, with technical experts brought in to drive these initiatives.

Kupor is also focusing on performance management, criticizing the existing federal performance appraisal system for lacking rigor. He has revised standards for the Senior Executive Service to align with higher accountability mandates from a Trump executive order. Plans include developing more rigorous performance reviews, introducing incentives such as bonuses to reward innovation and high performance, and addressing underperformance more effectively. Kupor is also exploring the possible reinstatement of Schedule F to facilitate easier hiring and firing, and aims to reduce hiring times from around 100 down to 80 days.

Despite these changes, some risks exist related to capacity challenges after workforce cuts and potential resistance from unions. However, Kupor's priorities at OPM include restructuring and creating work efficiencies, with the belief that AI could increase efficiencies in OPM's work and create new job opportunities.

As Kupor determines where staff attrition took place and how the agency will reorient itself moving forward, he is also interested in having a "rational performance management system" for federal employees and changing performance standards governmentwide.

For more information about these changes in the federal government, please contact the reporter at [contact_information].

References:

1. [Source 1]
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5. The federal workforce is undergoing a significant reimagining under the leadership of OPM's new director, Scott Kupor, with plans to reduce the workforce by about one-third.
6. Kupor is advocating for a more efficient OPM, focusing on technology modernization, including the use of artificial intelligence, and performance management reforms.
7. Policy and legislation, including potential changes to hiring practices and performance standards, may be influenced by the workforce restructuring in the federal workforce, a topic of interest in general news and politics.

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