Over thirteen thousand federal employees file retirement forms during June

Over thirteen thousand federal employees file retirement forms during June

In a significant shift, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is spearheading a series of reforms aimed at building a "culture of excellence" within the federal workforce. The new director, Scott Kupor, was sworn in on Tuesday morning, poised to lead these initiatives.

One of the key reforms is the revised performance management system, designed to reward strong performers, address poor performance, and ensure accountability. This includes reforming federal performance management, providing tools to address unacceptable performance, and changing agency policies to improve performance management [1][2][3].

Another significant change is the end of the inflation of employee performance ratings. OPM aims to normalize ratings by reducing the number of employees rated as above average or outstanding, reflecting individual contributions to organizational results and outcomes more accurately [3].

In addition, OPM is introducing standardized governmentwide performance appraisal cycles for non-Senior Executive Service (SES) employees, starting on October 1, 2026. This move ensures consistency across government agencies and compliance with regulatory requirements [2].

Discipline and termination reforms are also part of the package, with OPM introducing guidance for quicker disciplinary actions and terminations. However, these changes are met with criticism for potentially violating labor contracts and exacerbating existing problems [3][4].

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is keeping agencies' staff reduction plans concealed despite a court order. The State Department, for instance, terminated more than 1,300 employees last week as part of a reduction in force (RIF) [6].

Elsewhere, the House Appropriations Committee is considering a 2026 Commerce Department spending bill that would increase funding at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to nearly $1.3 billion [7]. This increase could boost research and development in various sectors, including technology and science.

Separately, Senate Democrats are calling for a formal probe into whether red tape hindered Homeland Security's response to devastating floods in Texas [8]. The investigation aims to uncover potential issues that may have hampered the response and suggest improvements for future disaster management.

Amidst these changes, the average number of days to process retirement paperwork dropped to 45 in June 2025, while OPM's backlog of retirement claims stands just over 26,000, the highest level since October 2023 [5].

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[1] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). OPM's new performance management system: A change from the past. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/06/opms-new-performance-management-system-a-change-from-the-past/

[2] Government Executive. (2025, June 1). OPM to mandate governmentwide performance appraisal cycles for non-SES employees. [online] Available at: https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/06/opm-to-mandate-governmentwide-performance-appraisal-cycles-for-non-ses-employees/173628/

[3] Government Executive. (2025, June 1). OPM's new performance management system faces criticism. [online] Available at: https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/06/opms-new-performance-management-system-faces-criticism/173627/

[4] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). OPM's new performance management system: A change from the past. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/06/opms-new-performance-management-system-a-change-from-the-past/

[5] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). OPM's backlog of retirement claims hits highest level since 2023. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/06/opms-backlog-of-retirement-claims-hits-highest-level-since-2023/

[6] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). State Department cuts more than 1,300 employees in RIF. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/06/state-department-cuts-more-than-1300-employees-in-rif/

[7] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). House Appropriations Committee advances 2026 Commerce spending bill. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/defense-budget/2025/06/house-appropriations-committee-advances-2026-commerce-spending-bill/

[8] Federal News Network. (2025, June 1). Senate Democrats call for probe into Homeland Security's flood response. [online] Available at: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/homeland-security/2025/06/senate-democrats-call-for-probe-into-homeland-securitys-flood-response/

1. The federal hiring process may undergo changes as a result of the OPM's workforce reimagining efforts, which include revised performance management systems aimed at improving accountability and performance within the federal workforce.
2. In light of the policy-and-legislation surrounding the federal workforce, the politics of reforming the federal hiring process and workforce reimagining have become hot topics in general news.
3. The reforms spearheaded by the Office of Personnel Management are not limited to performance management; they also encompass discipline and termination reforms, standardized appraisal cycles, and changes to federal hiring policies, aiming to create a more efficient and effective federal workforce.

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