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Opm

All articles tagged with #opm

US pushes sweeping federal NDAs to curb leaks to journalists
politics2 hours ago

US pushes sweeping federal NDAs to curb leaks to journalists

The Trump administration, through the Office of Personnel Management, released a draft nondisclosure agreement that would require federal employees to refrain from sharing confidential information with journalists, with civil and criminal penalties and even royalties for disclosed information. Former employees would need written authorization to speak to the press, though disclosures to Congress or inspectors general would be exempt. Critics say the plan targets federal workers and weakens accountability, while supporters claim it protects sensitive operations; the NDA remains a draft as part of a broader effort to control information flow.

OPM Pushes Prevention-First Plan to Cut Federal Health Costs for 2027
policy1 month ago

OPM Pushes Prevention-First Plan to Cut Federal Health Costs for 2027

The Trump administration’s OPM is asking FEHB and PSHB carriers to emphasize prevention, wellness, and long‑term affordability in plan year 2027, expanding access to non‑drug interventions and digital therapeutics while dropping cash incentives for vaccines. FEHB will cover all recommended vaccines with a renewed focus on informing participants of risks. Carriers have under two months to align benefits and adjust premiums for 2027. Separately, OPM is seeking monthly reports from insurers with medical, pharmacy, and provider data to monitor costs and plan quality, a move privacy experts describe as vague and potentially allowing access to identifiable medical records. Overall, officials expect a modest shift toward treating underlying causes and innovative cost-saving approaches rather than symptoms.

Backlog Leaves Postal Retirees Waiting Months for Federal Benefits
local1 month ago

Backlog Leaves Postal Retirees Waiting Months for Federal Benefits

CBS Texas reports that thousands of federal retirees, including postal workers, are facing months-long delays in receiving retirement benefits as the USPS and the Office of Personnel Management cope with a shift from paper to electronic processing and a surge in new retirements. Some retirees have only partial interim pay while awaiting full benefits, and officials say paper filings take 90–100 days, with electronic filings processing faster as they work to speed up processing.

OPM chief backs growing federal ranks by cutting contractors
government2 months ago

OPM chief backs growing federal ranks by cutting contractors

OPM Director Scott Kupor told lawmakers he would be “perfectly happy” to hire more federal employees if agencies cut the use of contractors, arguing the current contractor workforce acts as a costly “shadow” and that shifting dollars to federal headcount could save taxpayers and improve services. Agencies are being asked to publish annual staffing plans balancing contractor and federal staff needs, while continuing to fill key talent gaps and expand early-career recruitment via initiatives like Tech Force; Kupor also signaled support for a stronger performance-management system to speed up removals of underperformers.

OPM pushes merit-first layoffs in federal workforce
government2 months ago

OPM pushes merit-first layoffs in federal workforce

OPM proposes changing federal RIF rules to prioritize performance over tenure, creating a 'retention register' that rewards high performers (and adds veterans’ preference points) while tie-breaks favor longer service; temporary and time-limited staff would be exempt from RIFs. If finalized, the shakeup would streamline layoffs but critics say it risks arbitrary, politically motivated firings and further politicizing the civil service as the administration pushes broader personnel changes.

NASA and OPM Launch NASA Force to Fast-Track Space Talent
science-and-technology2 months ago

NASA and OPM Launch NASA Force to Fast-Track Space Talent

NASA and the Office of Personnel Management unveiled NASA Force, a dedicated talent track within the US Tech Force initiative to recruit and place top engineers and technologists into mission-critical roles at NASA, supporting exploration, research, and aerospace technology; the program aims to bolster U.S. leadership in space, with applications opening soon and updates to be shared via X (USTechForce).

Ninth Circuit clears path for Trump-era federal union bargaining rollbacks
politics2 months ago

Ninth Circuit clears path for Trump-era federal union bargaining rollbacks

A Ninth Circuit panel vacated a lower-court injunction blocking the Trump administration from ending collective bargaining rights for federal employees at more than 20 agencies, allowing agencies to proceed under updated OPM guidance. The ruling is narrow and does not resolve whether the orders were lawful, and AFGE says it may seek en banc review while pursuing the merits in district court. The administration has expanded exemptions from collective bargaining via executive orders, and litigation over their legality continues.

Administration broadens ability to remove senior federal officials
politics3 months ago

Administration broadens ability to remove senior federal officials

The Office of Personnel Management finalized a rule reclassifying certain senior career federal employees so they can be fired with less due process, treating them more like political appointees while preserving merit-based hiring and whistleblower protections; unions criticized the move as weakening civil-service protections and risking increased political patronage.

Trump Hails Broad Federal Workforce Cuts Amid Critics' Warnings
politics4 months ago

Trump Hails Broad Federal Workforce Cuts Amid Critics' Warnings

President Trump touts sweeping 2025 federal workforce reductions as merit-based reform, claiming “tremendous” cuts while watchdogs warn the shrinkage damaged government capacity and morale. The Partnership for Public Service notes about 320,000 federal employees left and a net loss around 220,000, with concerns that fewer staff and altered programs hampered disaster response, service delivery, and overall government readiness into 2026.

OPM Plans Major Reforms to SES Candidate Development
government5 months ago

OPM Plans Major Reforms to SES Candidate Development

The Office of Personnel Management proposes to overhaul the Senior Executive Service candidate development programs by standardizing content, shortening timelines to 9-12 months, increasing training hours, and adding mentorship and developmental assignments to better prepare federal employees for senior leadership roles, aiming to create a more consistent and effective leadership pipeline across government agencies.

Final Days to Enroll in 2025 Health Plans: Deadlines Approaching
government1 year ago

Final Days to Enroll in 2025 Health Plans: Deadlines Approaching

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has extended the Open Season for the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program until December 13, 2025, to give enrollees more time to review and change their health plans. This extension comes after some Postal enrollees faced difficulties with the new PSHB enrollment platform, including login issues and incorrect plan information. The American Postal Workers Union advocated for this extension due to these challenges. OPM has also made improvements to customer service and provided alternative identity verification methods to assist enrollees.