Federal government inks $700,000 deal with Office of Personnel Management for help in handling mass workplace departures

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has entered into an agreement with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for layoff consultation services, as the executive confirmed that layoff notices are expected to be issued in June.

The planned restructuring, led by former Acting VA Secretary Peter O’Rourke and other officials associated with the Trump administration's plans to cut 30,000 VA workers, aims to reduce the department's workforce by more than 80,000 employees. However, this number may be revised.

The cuts are expected to focus primarily on headquarters staff in Washington and employees in regional offices, known as Veterans Integrated Service Networks. The VA executive involved in the RIF planning stated that department leadership is creating challenges for the team overseeing the cuts because it refuses to put its goals in writing and will not spell out the rationale for its decision making.

The agreement will cost the Veterans Affairs Department $726,000 and will be carried out through OPM's Human Resources Solutions group. This group provides strategic consulting advice to agencies undergoing restructurings and Reduction in Force (RIF) processes. OPM will provide qualified, seasoned HR specialists to help the VA achieve the necessary level of cuts.

However, the move has faced criticism from some quarters. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., has criticized the agreement, stating it demonstrates a "total lack of strategy and planning" for the planned cuts. He further argued that the spending of hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants to help with layoffs is an "egregious use of taxpayer dollars."

The executive noted that the goal remains a moving target, making planning difficult. Additionally, there may not be enough to cut in these areas to spare individual health care facilities entirely if the 80,000 reduction target remains in effect.

The administration has requested an emergency stay on a federal court ruling that currently blocks the VA from implementing any layoffs or reorganization plans. The executive expressed concern that senior VA leaders entered the department with a predetermined idea and are not adjusting to the realities they have encountered.

This news comes amidst ongoing efforts to restructure the Department of Veterans Affairs, as outlined in President Trump's executive order for workforce reductions. The OPM's assistance is necessary to meet these demands. However, the process has been met with controversy and criticism, raising questions about the future of the VA and its ability to continue providing essential services to America's veterans.