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Workforce Wonk

By Alyah Khan

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Budget woes might lead to fewer feds

Although negotiations on next year's budget are on hold due to the debate over the debt ceiling, some federal agencies are dealing with budget shortfalls by cutting their workforces. 

Federal News Radio reports that the Education Department, Defense Department, Agriculture Department, and the Smithsonian Institution have sought the Office of Personnel Management’s permission for employee buyouts.

Also, the Social Security Security Administration and the Air Force have implemented hiring controls, according to the article.

In the last Workforce Wonk entry, I wrote about a bureau CIO at the Agriculture Department who took advantage of an early retirement offer, also known as an early out.

Linda Burek, CIO of USDA’s Rural Development bureau, said when her department offered the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, it gave her the opportunity to retire sooner than she expected.

Do you think buyouts, early outs or hiring freezes are going to become a trend in the federal government? Are those options an effective way for an agency to deal with budget gaps?

Posted by Alyah Khan on Jul 26, 2011 at 10:27 AM



 

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Reader comments

Thu, Nov 3, 2011

I have 36 years in the federal govt but I'm only 53. How about stopping the 2% pentaly for each year under 55? You'd have a lot more people retiring now. Even with the less % of retirement. And please don't do the 5 year high instead of the 3 year high average. It should be unlawful to change the retirement terms this late in the game. Maybe do it for new hires. Not that many want to work for the fed. govt. now. I'd rather take a 2 week furlough than that.

Fri, Aug 5, 2011 Grace 37922

What's really wrong with the system for early buyouts and those retiring, is retirees can get their benefits (from tax dollars) AND go work as a contractor (more tax dollars). There should be a grace period for those retiring, that they have to wait 5 years or so before receiving their retirement benefits if they are going to work as a contractor. They are getting double bonuses on the tax payers dime.

Tue, Aug 2, 2011

The problem I have with the cut back is that it is always at the working level instead of at the headquarters level where they have the highest paid employees. They should be made to take the cuts at that level first and leave the ones alone that work in the field that really do the work.

Mon, Aug 1, 2011

I would go further and relax some of the VERA rules, like to maybe 20 or 22 years in with no age restrictions. Desparate times call for desparate measures? I'm a GS-13 step 8 with almost 20 years in, and I would NOT be able to take advantage of early outs (as they are now)were they offered anytime soon. I have to believe it's a simple math problem to determine that the gov't is going to spend a heck of a lot more paying me over my next 20 years of gov't service than it would by buying me out a few years early.

Mon, Aug 1, 2011

Options, options ands more options. Each of us, have had and still have a load of options to choose from. I'm happy with where I am. Not that there are low to no expectations in the job that I have. I'm content with what I'm assisged. Being five employees short doesn't decrease the work load, we have to be more creative and prioritized in our attacks on job completion. No one came into government service to get rich. That's not goning to happen. Doesn't matter which side of the fence you're on, if you work, you'll have to pay taxes. Maybe a flat rate isn't such a bad idea atfer all. 18%-23% of that million you made in privite industy is the same as that 18%-23% most of us in gorernment service have to pay. Difference, most of us don't make enough to hire some lawyer to hide it from being taxed. There shouldn't be loop holes. If we can't agree on that simple fact, things will always be as they are. I'm proud to be a Federal Employee. I do the job to the best of my abilities each and everyday, the same as I did when I worked in general industry. One other difference, out there I got "Stock Options", not here.

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