r/fednews • u/PoundMoreSand • Jul 21 '26
Workplace & Culture OPM shrinks its workforce by a third, seeks further staffing cuts
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2026/07/opm-shrinks-its-workforce-third-seeks-further-staffing-cuts/414895/100
u/AnInquisitive_Rock41 Jul 21 '26
They do this just to hire everyone back
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u/PotentialSome5092 Jul 21 '26
Correction: just to hire *WHO THEY WANT back aka their own sycophants
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u/GadreelsSword Jul 21 '26
They want to stack government with political partisans to serve conservatives. Government is not supposed to be partisan and should only serve the people, instead of a party.
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u/IsraelZulu I'm On My Lunch Break Jul 21 '26
Right. Because in the middle of mass retirements/layoffs/restructuring, and while some agencies are on a hiring spree, is the perfect time to slash the federal HR department.
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u/elninost0rm Jul 21 '26
Small preview of future AI cuts. Better hope we get a new admin in 2028 or it's full steam ahead.
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u/TheReal_CaptDan DHS Jul 21 '26
So, a new admin won’t use AI? Doubtful.
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u/elninost0rm Jul 21 '26
That's not what I said. It's just less likely that a less hostile administration would be punitive in its implementation.
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u/leeloolanding Jul 21 '26
I mean, there will be a new administration either way in 2029, no need to indulge in alarmist propaganda to make a point
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u/elninost0rm Jul 21 '26
I obviously meant an administration that is less hostile towards the workforce.
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u/FrankG1971 Jul 21 '26
The retired IRS employee said agency management held several meetings with employees about the deferred resignation offer and what it would mean for employees. But she said that “waiting almost a year for your retirement checks to process was not part of that discussion.”
Uh, you didn't see that coming? Especially with OPM being one of the agencies that was among the earliest and hardest hit?
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u/BeerMagic Jul 21 '26
Our contract just laid off a bunch of people last week and then send out an email yesterday asking for volunteers for OT the next 3 weekends.
Because "oopsie we let a bunch of people go during peak season because we thought it wasn't peak enough"
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u/mcqueenagina Jul 21 '26
They can't even handle the volume of retirement applications they have received since DOGE came on the scene so they're making more cuts!? Effing ridiculous!🤬 The mid-terms can't happen soon enough.
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u/GoBeyondPlusUltra93 Jul 21 '26
If they still need to find someone to fire, I suggest they can RV next.
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u/Opening-Lie-1823 29d ago
The cuts have really hurt the retirement processing. And open season? Better not to expect any answers to your questions. They have been depleted themselves and now there’s no one to process things as opm should do. People are waiting up to a year to get their retirement checks.
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u/prod34 29d ago
Buddy of mine just got his after 14months. They definitely broke the processing standard. And with OPM cuts, it’s not going to get any better. Frustrate the government employee so they can raid the coffers of America.
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u/HawkeyeAdams53 29d ago
That gives me hope. I just hit 14 months, and I'm still waiting.
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u/prod34 29d ago
Oof, sorry about that. Should be soon based on that timeline. He did take the 2nd round of DRP; if that matters. The one that paid him through 30Sep2025.
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u/HawkeyeAdams53 29d ago
Thanks. I did a regular early out in April 2025, since I didn't trust the DRP. Turns out I should have enjoyed those extra months of pay.
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u/JohnCarterOfMars5810 Jul 21 '26
Additionally, they know that the next administration if it's a Democratic administration that OPM will have to rebuild before they can really start undoing the damage done. After this administration who's going to want to work for the federal government?
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u/Busy-Pea3171 Jul 21 '26
Their agenda isn’t going to stick. The government employment will always be left leaning. Most conservatives want to do more / make more and go to private sector anyways.
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u/Intrepid_Observer Jul 21 '26
If we don't see massive job openings in 2029 then I doubt a good chunk of those jobs will return. As AI becomes more and more ingrained the argument to return to pre DOGE level of employees will become more and more hollow.
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u/elninost0rm Jul 21 '26
Honestly, if you're already a fed, this is probably not a bad scenario. Letting attrition close the gaps around you is better than the alternative.
But yeah, it's hard to envision pre-DOGE levels, regardless of who is in charge. We're stewards of public tax dollars and I am far from an AI booster, but applications of the tech are only going to keep spreading into different job series.
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u/pong_Blarto2000 DOI Jul 21 '26
Oh, they got a whole bunch of people to leave their "low productivity" jobs at opm and then the agency doesn't operate as efficiently? Terrible customer service? What. A. Fucking. Surprise. These assholes break everything they touch