Reduction in Force (RIF) Appeals

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to revise its regulations governing appeals of reduction-in-force (RIF) actions. OPM proposes to transfer appeal rights for employees who have been furloughed more than 30 days, separated, or demoted by a RIF action from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to OPM. OPM expects that this change will promote greater efficiency and reduce costs to agencies in effectuating RIF actions, which may be necessary in a variety of circumstances, such as to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary functions or align agency workforces with new technology, changing mission needs, or budgetary constraints.