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FMA Washington Report: November 9, 2020
OPM No Longer “Actively Pursuing” Merger with GSA
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has told its staff it is no longer actively pursuing the proposed merger with the General Services Administration (GSA). FMA has vocally opposed the proposed merger since its inception and supported congressional efforts included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that put the brakes on the proposal.

The NDAA prohibited the transfer of OPM’s statutory functions to GSA and required a formal study of the proposal by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). FMA National President Craig Carter, President Emeritus Pat Niehaus, and National Vice President Ron Gryga recently spoke with NAPA to contribute to their report, which is expected to be delivered to Congress in March 2021.  

OPM Acting Director Michael Rigas wrote, “As Congress has not acted on the administration’s legislative proposal, we are no longer devoting time and energy to the merger and are focused on ensuring OPM can function as a standalone personnel agency for the federal government. We are also conducting an independent analysis of the agency to help inform how OPM can best carry out its mission and meet the needs of the American people.” 

However, OPM is still evaluating pieces of the proposed merger. President Trump’s 2021 budget request included $70 million toward OPM reorganization. On Capitol Hill, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Chairman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations, expressed continued concerns about potential reorganization efforts, saying “OPM has wasted time and resources on this quixotic mission that clearly had no support from Congress, no legal grounding and made no sense.”

FMA will continue to follow all developments regarding OPM’s future.

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