The Office of Personnel Management has cut its workforce by roughly one-third and is seeking additional staffing reductions, including a renewed push for employees to take a deferred resignation option, according to reporting by GovExec — Workforce.
- OPM’s workforce is down by about one-third, GovExec — Workforce reported.
- The agency is pursuing further staffing cuts beyond the reductions already made, according to the report.
- OPM is offering employees in its healthcare and insurance division another opportunity to opt into the deferred resignation program, GovExec — Workforce reported.
- The renewed deferred resignation offer signals continued downsizing pressure inside the agency, particularly within the office that supports federal health and insurance programs, according to GovExec — Workforce.
- The report comes amid broader federal workforce uncertainty, as agencies continue to manage staffing levels through a mix of attrition, voluntary programs, and—in some cases—reductions in force (RIFs).
OPM’s healthcare and insurance division plays a central role in administering and overseeing major benefits programs used by federal employees, retirees, and their families, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Any staffing reductions in that area can affect internal operations such as program management, plan oversight, and customer support workloads—though GovExec — Workforce did not report specific operational impacts tied to the latest offer.
Deferred resignation programs have been used across government as a voluntary tool to reduce headcount without immediately turning to involuntary separations. For employees, these programs can carry significant implications for timing of retirement eligibility, benefits continuation, and financial planning—especially for those close to retirement or considering a near-term exit.
Employees in affected OPM components may want to review what separation timing could mean for their retirement calculations under FERS, including creditable service and annuity start dates. For those weighing an exit, running scenarios through a FERS retirement calculator can help estimate how different departure dates may change projected benefits.
GovExec — Workforce reported that OPM’s latest move is part of an ongoing effort to reduce staffing levels beyond the roughly one-third cut already achieved. The report did not provide additional details on the number of employees eligible for the renewed deferred resignation offer, the deadline for opting in, or whether RIFs are planned if voluntary participation falls short.
Source: GovExec — Workforce