UNITED STATES
The US Government is planning to split up the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Agency that oversees the Federal Public Service, sources within the Administration have claimed.
The unnamed sources said the OPM would be “pulled apart”, with its functions divided among three other Departments, and an Executive Order from President, Donald Trump would seek to have the transition completed by the northern autumn.
The Washington Post newspaper reported that the OPM’s 5,565 employees had been briefed on the plan.
The newspaper said the plan was to break up the Agency in several stages, with some steps beginning now and other changes delayed pending Congressional approval.
It also said officials “were not able to estimate the short or long-term savings” of the Agency’s closure.
The OPM’s annual budget is US$2.1 billion (A$2.9 billion).
Responding to the report, White House spokesperson Judd Deere said President Trump was “committed to reforming the Federal Government, making it more efficient, effective, and accountable for hardworking American taxpayers”.
The Washington Post said two of the Agency’s core functions — the employee retirement and healthcare systems — would be transferred to another Agency, which would require Congressional approval.
It said the White House was working to “parcel out” other Agency responsibilities by the autumn.
The newspaper said the plan was not to lay off anyone through the changes, but the workforce would be shrunk through retirements and unfilled vacancies.
Washington, DC, 11 April 2019
