Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA STATEMENT ON WORKFORCE OPTIMIZATION EXECUTIVE ORDER - February 12, 2025

• Alexandria, VA – President Trump signed an executive order yesterday titled “Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative.” The purpose of this EO is “To restore accountability to the American public, this order commences a critical transformation of the federal bureaucracy. By eliminating waste, bloat, and insularity, my Administration will empower American families, workers, taxpayers, and our system of government itself.” FMA National President Craig Carter made the following statement in response to this executive order:

  “The Federal Managers Association and our members are gravely concerned about the anticipated disruption of delivery of the critical services the American people rely on and ensuring agencies have the resources they need to achieve their missions. We are deeply concerned about the profound negative effect large-scale, widespread reductions in force (RIF) will have on these essential services, including national security, processing Social Security benefits, Internal Revenue Service tax returns, and so many more.

  “As I said last week, we support excellence, improved performance management, and accountability in the civil service. Large scale RIFs and instilling a culture of fear do not accomplish this. This is an extreme action that does not take into account the vital role federal employees perform daily.

  “The men and women of the federal workforce are its greatest asset and strength. Federal managers are American families, they are American workers, and they are American taxpayers. They, and their families, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We urge the administration to consider this and the severe negative consequences of large-scale RIFs.”

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