OPM on track to eliminate 1,000 positions by year’s end

OPM is set to eliminate more than 1,000 employees by the end of 2025, reducing its staff by nearly a third as part of sweeping efforts under President Donald Trump to overhaul the federal workforce. New director Scott Kupor, confirmed by the Senate in July, is tasked with leading the agency through this significant transition, as reported by Federal News Network.

Kupor has identified organizational efficiency and technology upgrades as his top priorities. Of the 1,069 employees set to depart, about 80 percent are leaving voluntarily; the rest are exits through reductions in force (RIFs). The cuts have resulted in the closure of entire agency components, notably the Human Capital Data Management and Modernization office and the Center for Leadership Development, raising concerns about the future of leadership and training development in government.

Although OPM is pressing ahead with digitizing retirement services and introducing AI to enhance performance, Kupor acknowledged that “we’re not at the point yet where some of the technology initiatives … are ready for prime time.” He emphasized the need to avoid disruptions in essential services during the transition.

With staff down from 3,110 to around 2,000 since 2017, OPM is also planning to cut its contracting workforce by half. Kupor signaled willingness to share or consolidate agency office space to match reduced staffing needs. He also aims to reform performance standards, noting that past evaluations showed inflated high-performance ratings and calling for greater accountability and realistic expectations.