Federal government enters a $700,000 deal with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to help manage mass redundancies

Veterans Affairs Department Seeks Assistance for Planned Cuts

The Veterans Affairs Department (VA) is currently facing a significant challenge in implementing planned staff reductions, as a federal court ruling has blocked any RIFs (Reductions in Force) or reorganization plans. In an effort to navigate this complex situation, the VA has signed an agreement with the federal government's human resources office (OPM) for layoff consultation services.

This agreement will see OPM's Human Resources Solutions group providing essential assistance to the VA. The work of this group is designed to ensure best practices and full legal compliance throughout a personnel action, including a RIF. OPM will provide qualified, seasoned HR specialists to help VA reach the necessary level of cuts, a task that is deemed crucial given the unprecedented nature of the upcoming cuts.

The VA plans to cut more than 80,000 employees, but the final number could be revised. The executive noted that the goal remains a moving target, making planning difficult due to frequent changes in the reduction target. The cuts are expected to focus on headquarters staff in Washington and employees in regional offices, known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks.

The VA will pay OPM $726,000 for these services. However, the agreement has not gone uncontested. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has criticised the agreement, stating it demonstrates a "total lack of strategy and planning" for VA cuts. Blumenthal further claimed that the VA's use of consultants to help fire tens of thousands of employees, including veterans, is an "egregious use of taxpayer dollars."

Despite these criticisms, the VA executive involved in RIF planning expressed frustration with the lack of clear expectations from senior VA leaders. The official stated that department leadership is creating challenges for the team overseeing the cuts by refusing to put goals in writing and providing verbal, rather than official, instructions for layoff notices in June.

The executive also stated that there seems to be a genuine desire to dismantle things that were working effectively within the VA. This sentiment is further supported by the executive's comments suggesting a lack of strategic planning and clear communication within the VA regarding the upcoming cuts.

In a bid to address these issues, the VA has requested an emergency stay on the injunction before the Supreme Court, hoping to clear a path for the implementation of its RIFs and reorganization plans. The outcome of this request remains to be seen.

Federal government enters a $700,000 deal with Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to help manage mass redundancies