Federal Managers Association

Press Release

• FMA STATEMENT ON DIRECTIVE FOR LARGE-SCALE RIFS - February 26, 2025

• Alexandria, VA – Today, 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. FMA National President Craig Carter made the following statement in response to this memorandum:

  “The Federal Managers Association, and our members, are gravely concerned about the anticipated RIFS and the disruption of delivery of the critical services the American people rely on. A reduction of resources will only make it more difficult for agencies to achieve their missions. Today’s memo advances a misguided idea that scapegoats millions of hard-working federal employees.

  “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.

  “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.

  “FMA strongly supports excellence, improved performance management, and accountability in the civil service. 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.”

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