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.

Agencies immediately began compliance. In recent days, reports have suggested the Department of Veterans Affairs will cut as many as 83,000 jobs. The Internal Revenue Service may slash as many as half of its 90,000 employees – in the middle of tax return season. The Department of Defense is expected to see RIFs of approximately 5-8 percent of its total staff.

FMA National President Craig Carter made a forceful statement in response to this executive overreach, expressing grave concern “about the anticipated RIFS and the disruption of delivery of the critical services the American people rely on.” Carter noted the reduction of resources will only make it more difficult for agencies to achieve their missions and advances a terribly misguided idea that “scapegoats millions of hard-working federal employees.”

He then took this message to Capitol Hill, meeting with Republicans and Democrats during the week of March 3. He shared these concerns with senior staff from legislators on both sides of the aisle, including leadership.

“We are deeply concerned about the profound negative, long-term effect large-scale, widespread reductions in force (RIF) will have on the essential services the government provides, including national security, processing Social Security benefits, Internal Revenue Service tax returns, ensuring food safety, a clean environment, and so much more,” Carter said. “The men and women of the federal workforce are its greatest asset and strength. Federal managers are hard-working American taxpayers who have dedicated a career of service to their fellow citizens. They, and their families, deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Instead, these indiscriminate actions seek to condemn and humiliate them.”

Carter told legislators of FMA’s support for excellence, improved performance management, and accountability in the civil service. He also shared an understanding that the federal workforce could use pruning to increase efficiency. However, “taking a meat cleaver to our nation’s agencies fails to take into account the vital role federal employees perform daily and jeopardizes each and every agency’s mission.”

FMA will vehemently oppose and continue to fight against large-scale RIFs using every measure available to the association. Protecting your careers and livelihood against reckless and unjust termination is our top priority.