A White House memo directed OPM to rework its suitability and fitness regulations for federal employees, expanding the agency's authority in the process.
March 24, 2025 6:38 pm
4 min read
The White House is looking to expand the Office of Personnel Management’s role in deciding whether federal employees are fit to continue working for the government.
A memo from President Donald Trump last week directed OPM to rework its suitability and fitness regulations to give more authority to OPM in the process, as well as expand the reasons federal employees can be fired “based on post-appointment conduct.”
Once OPM issues new final regulations, the White House said the OPM director would have the final word in determining the suitability of federal employees. OPM would also be the deciding factor in any personnel actions related to suitability, including the removal of employees from their jobs.
“If the director of OPM issues specific instructions as to separation or other corrective action … the head of the agency concerned shall comply with the director of OPM’s instructions within five workdays of the final decision,” the memo states.
Based on current regulations, OPM already has the authority to determine an individual’s suitability for federal service and can take action if it deems someone unfit for a role. But as the process currently works, agencies themselves — rather than OPM — typically determine employees’ fitness for their jobs and take any...
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