OPM Retirement Backlog Drops Below 50,000 for First Time Since November
The OPM retirement backlog fell 10% in April 2026 over the previous month as processing outpaced new claims for the second straight month.
OPM
Stay updated with the latest OPM updates, including new OPM guidance, federal workforce policies, hiring and staffing rules, telework and workplace regulations, and major actions affecting federal employees and agencies. Get the latest news on OPM regulations, HR policy changes, pay and benefits guidance, retirement‑related updates, and government‑wide initiatives shaping federal workforce management. Find clear summaries and analysis to help federal employees, HR professionals, and agency leaders understand how OPM decisions impact the federal workplace.
Performance Appraisal: Draining the Swamp?
The latest step in implementing changes for schedule policy/career classification employees is a new OPM memo addressing performance appraisal.
OPM Faces Backlash Over Federal Employee Health Information Proposal
Comments submitted on OPM’s proposed rule to collect federal employee health data indicate concerns about privacy risks or potential misuse.
House Democrats Sound Alarm Over OPM Health Data Collection Plan
House Democrats warn OPM’s new health data plan could endanger privacy and spark legal concerns, urging the agency to pause and explain its proposal.
New Letter Highlights Frustration With OPM’s Handling of Federal Retirement Applications
Four Congressmen are pressing OPM for answers about reported processing delays stemming from the recent surge in the retirement claims backlog.
OPM Wants Your Health Data: A New Push to Control FEHB Costs
OPM has proposed collecting detailed health claims data from FEHB and PSHB insurers, aiming for cost control but raising privacy and care oversight concerns.
OPM Retirement Backlog Falls 15% in March — First Drop in Six Months
OPM’s retirement backlog was slashed by 15% in March 2026, driven both by processing more retirement claims than received and an increased share of digital claims.
No College Degree, Not A Problem: Major Overhaul in Federal Hiring
Dropping college degree requirements for many federal jobs is a major shift to skills-based hiring. It expands the talent pool but raising questions about consistency and workforce quality.
The Evolution of Federal Hiring: Why PACE and ACWA Are Relics
Federal hiring is moving away from outdated exams like PACE toward a private-sector model, making hiring more targeted, flexible, and job-related.
The Post-DRP Hiring Crisis: What 137,000 Federal Departures Actually Look Like From the Resume Side
137,000 federal employees took the DRP, flooding the job market. Many lack private-sector resumes, risking underpayment and unstable career transitions.
