This report provides an update on issues affecting federal managers. As always, I encourage you to visit www.fedmanagers.org on a regular basis for more information on these and other matters.

Also, be sure to look for the monthly FMA Grassroots Update, where we offer links to action letters and FMA-PAC matters we do not address in the Washington Report. The grassroots newsletter is sent exclusively to non-governmental email addresses to avoid any Hatch Act violations. If you are not receiving it, contact the national office to provide your non-governmental email address.

Please feel free to provide feedback any time by emailing Greg Stanford at gstanford@fedmanagers.org, or by calling the National Office at (703) 683-8700. Thank you for your membership in FMA. It’s an honor to represent your interests before Congress and the administration.

Earlier this week the Trump administration began preventing all NGO’s from collecting dues via voluntary payroll deduction at agencies named by Executive Order 14251. The EO, which eliminates collective bargaining rights for any agency or subcomponent that deals with national security issues, also prevents the Federal Managers Association from collecting dues through voluntary payroll deduction. While the cessation of collecting dues is primarily aimed at unions, most members use the same mechanism to pay their voluntary dues to FMA. We are actively looking into ways to work around this new challenge and will be communicating the new dues collection plan to FMA members in the coming weeks.

In March, President Trump signed an executive order citing a provision of the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act to exempt agencies from federal labor law if they “cannot be applied to that agency or subdivision in a manner consistent with national security requirements.” The Executive Order applies to the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of State, Department of Justice, and Department of Treasury, as well as subcomponents of several other agencies.

On February 26, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a memo outlining guidance on agency RIF and reorganization plans as ordered by President Trump’s Executive Order “Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative.” The guidance requires agency heads to move forward on “large-scale reductions in force,” and directs agencies to submit Agency Reorganization Plans no later than March 13, 2025.

“Agencies should focus on the maximum elimination of functions that are not statutorily mandated while driving the highest-quality, most efficient delivery of their statutorily required functions,” the memo reads. After the plans are submitted, agencies have until April 14, 2025, to provide detailed organizational charts indicating which employees will be cut.

Several federal agencies have reopened windows for feds to accept a “deferred resignation” before those agencies take reductions in force (RIFs). The Department of Defense and Department of Treasury are among those who have offered a “second and final” chance to accept a deal which puts those who take it on paid administrative leave through the end of Fiscal Year 2025. Employees have until April 14 to accept the deal.

The offer applies to employees at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which will begin its first wave of RIFs soon. Employees in offices or functions deemed mission-critical may be excluded from accepting this deferred resignation offer, sent via email.

The House of Representatives passed a Fiscal Year 2025 budget blueprint (H. Con Res 14) earlier this week by a close vote of 216 to 214. The House will be in a two-week recess, returning for legislative business on April 28.

President Trump lobbied the remaining holdouts on the bill, committing to a minimum of $1 trillion in spending cuts as part of the final budget reconciliation package. Passage of H Con Res 14 unlocks the budget reconciliation process. Testifying on behalf of the bill before the House Rules Committee, Budget Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) said, “The FY25 Concurrent Budget Resolution paves the way for lawmakers to enact President Trump’s transformative America-First agenda through “one big, beautiful bill.”

On April 9, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced the nominations of Scott Kupor and Eric Ueland, President Trump’s nominees for Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Deputy Director for Management, clearing their way for confirmation by the full Senate. All committee Republicans voted favorably, and all Democrats opposed their nominations.

Kupor, tapped to lead OPM, is a management partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. At his confirmation hearing, Kupor testified that federal government layoffs and other “tough choices” are necessary, but said, “I think the process is one that requires transparency and communication, and we need to recognize and respect the humanity of the workforce.”

On March 25, the House Oversight and Government Reform passed several bills aimed at streamlining government operations and supporting President Trump’s reorganization efforts. Following the hearing, Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said, “Today’s markup shows the House Oversight Committee is continuing to fulfill its responsibility to ensure a more efficient, effective, and accountable federal government. Republicans are advancing commonsense solutions that improve government operations for all Americans and protect hardworking taxpayers.”

Among the bills that were reported favorably, and cleared for consideration on the House floor are:

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) does not have a quorum, meaning it cannot fully function, as a result of a Supreme Court decision against Cathy Harris. The Trump administration fired Harris, a Democratic member of the MSPB whose term was to run through 2027, leaving one board member and rendering the appeals board unable to make rulings.

District judges blocked Harris’ removal, however appeals courts paused the lower court’s ruling. In a 2-1 decision, the DC Circuit Court ruled Trump likely has the legal authority to remove Harris, despite not showing of the removal was for cause, as required under the statutes that created the agencies.

The U.S. Supreme Court restored the Trump administration’s ability to fire all probationary period employees, the latest in a dizzying series of court rulings. The nation’s top court agreed with an earlier court ruling that those challenging the terminations did not have standing to sue.

In February, the administration fired thousands of employees in their probationary periods, regardless of performance. Many of these employees were ordered to be reinstated when courts found the process of the terminations unlawful.

FMA members gathered in Alexandria, Virginia, for the association’s 87^th National Convention & Management Training Seminar March 23-26, 2025. This year’s event included an open house of FMA’s National Office, steps away from the hotel.

FMA National President Craig Carter gaveled in the convention and provided opening remarks. Members then heard from keynote presenter Tom Temin, a longtime friend of FMA and Host of The Federal Drive with Tom Temin on Federal News Network.

Members then heard reports from national officers and Director of Government & Public Affairs Greg Stanford and held elections for National Vice President and National Treasurer. Christine Parker (Chapter 121, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia) was elected to a two-year term as National Vice President, while Linda Lentjes (Chapter 396, Mayport Naval Station, Florida) was elected Treasurer. Chapters then met with other chapters within their Regions to discuss region business and network.

Recognized by his peers, Mr. Stamper, the Transformation Program Manager at Trident Refit Facility Bangor, provides exceptional leadership.

The Federal Managers Association (FMA) is proud to announce Mr. Vincent Stamper as the winner of FMA's Manager of the Year award. He has provided outstanding leadership in a variety of positions in his career.

The Federal Managers Association strives to promote excellence in public service and is proud to name Vince Stamper of FMA Chapter 14, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap, and Trident Refit Facility Bangor, FMA’s Manager of the Year. He was presented the award at FMA’s 87th annual National Convention and Management Training Seminar.

On February 25, the Social Security Administration (SSA) updated its information on the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation FMA helped pass to repeal both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Specifically, SSA announced the agency would begin to pay retroactive benefits that week, and former FMA National Secretary Dick Oppedisano confirmed he has received a payment.

"If a beneficiary is due retroactive benefits as a result of the Act, they will receive a one-time retroactive payment, deposited into the bank account SSA has on file, by the end of March. This retroactive payment will cover the increase in their benefit amount back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer apply," the agency states. SSA cautions impacted beneficiaries to wait until April 2025 before contacting SSA with concerns about the status of their retroactive payments, as the process will proceed incrementally.