It seems that soon the Office of Personnel Management is going to have more power is determining the suitability of federal workers. As if Musk and DOGE’s cuts weren’t bad enough! The Mango Mandarin said secretaries are supposed to have jurisdiction over their people in determining who will go and who will stay – except now most of that is going to be handed over to OPM? Workers aren’t going to know which way to look! And for those who were unconstitutionally fired, are now brought back, and don’t know what happens next?!? Good gods, what a mess.
Of course, the secretaries were also told that if they don’t make cuts, or don’t make enough cuts, Musk and DOGE will do it for them. So, what’s the point of giving them any power over their people at all? And now with OPM possibly getting in on the act, they’re just tokens for their agency. I suppose that limits the work they have to do, so for the inherently lazy, it could be a good thing. But overall, I can’t see it.
From Federal News Network: A memo from President Donald Trump last week directed OPM to rework its suitability and fitness regulations to give more authority to OPM in the process, as well as expand the reasons federal employees can be fired “based on post-appointment conduct. Once OPM issues new final regulations, the White House said the OPM director would have the final word in determining the suitability of federal employees. OPM would also be the deciding factor in any personnel actions related to suitability, including the removal of employees from their jobs. If the director of OPM issues specific instructions as to separation or other corrective action … the head of the agency concerned shall comply with the director of OPM’s instructions within five workdays of the final decision,” the memo states.
Sounds like “you have no power” to me. For those who take an active interest in their agencies, it has to be galling. First, you have to fight with DOGE, and then you have to fight with OPM. And OPM has the final say!!!! I don’t know what the hell Agent Orange is doing, but this is NOT. HELPFUL. “Too many cooks spoil the broth” and all that. We have already had proof that the federal government is a mess, so now it’s going to be a bigger mess. Messes are not good as it is. So, perhaps it can be called Messes 2.0? I’m wondering how we are going to survive the next month, let alone the remainder of the 4 years.
Usually, the agencies themselves determine suitability for a potential employee based on multiple factors, which include criminal or violent conduct, excessive alcohol use (they obviously skipped that one for Hegseth), and deception or fraud. The current regulations state that additional considerations can apply when assessing an employee’s suitability, such as the nature of a specific federal position or the recency of any conduct issues. And of course, for certain positions, a background check needs to be passed, at least for now.
“What happens if they start imposing suitability requirements that are restrictive of employees’ free speech or political donations, or charitable donations, or the fact that they’re married to a Green Card holder?” Kevin Owen, a partner at Gilbert Employment Law said. “There could be a whole host of other concerns that could be politicizing the federal service further, or imposing certain doctrinal views on the way the federal civil service is made up. Then it’s no longer necessarily a federal civil service based on expertise and merit, but rather on allegiances and political views.”
Yeah, Mess 2.0. If we think we’re having trouble, federal employees are going to have worse trouble. They’ll *really* need to be looking over their shoulder, and watching everything they say on any chat or in any email. How is it possible to work that way? The stress is going to cause burnout, and they’re going to retire or just leave. Of course, that’s exactly what is wanted, isn’t it?
*****And now, please read a very special request from our awesome boss******
Zoomers, if you can hunt through the sofa cushions for spare change, we could use it. We are in month five of depressed traffic while a depressed nation tunes out. I have every belief that the disenchanted will tune back in and some point and return to the fight, but until that happens, the bills keep coming, and we need help. Thank you. Ursula
