:United States Office of Personnel Management

The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 created OPM's predecessor, the United States Civil Service Commission. On January 1, 1979, the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978 took effect, dissolving the Commission and assigning most of its former functions—except the federal employees appellate function—to new agencies, with most assigned to the newly created U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) ({{USFedReg|43|36037}}, {{USStat|92|3783}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.opm.gov/glossary/|title=Glossary of Terms|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=January 17, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117163746/http://www.opm.gov/glossary/|url-status=live}}

The United States Office of Government Ethics, responsible for directing executive branch policies relating to the prevention of conflicts of interest on the part of federal executive branch officers and employees, was part of OPM until being spun off as an independent agency in 1989.{{cite web |url=https://oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/about_our-history |title=Our History |publisher=U.S. Office of Government Ethics |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=15 October 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016043902/https://oge.gov/web/oge.nsf/about_our-history |url-status=live }}

In 1996, OPM's investigation branch was privatized, and USIS was formed.Gayathri, Amrutha. "[http://www.ibtimes.com/usis-vetted-snowden-under-investigation-booz-allen-hamilton-overlooked-snowden-resume-discrepancies USIS That Vetted Snowden Under Investigation; Booz Allen Hamilton Overlooked Snowden Resume Discrepancies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919205708/http://www.ibtimes.com/usis-vetted-snowden-under-investigation-booz-allen-hamilton-overlooked-snowden-resume-discrepancies |date=September 19, 2020 }}." International Business Times. June 21, 2013. Retrieved on October 15, 2022. In 2014, after several scandals, OPM declined to renew its contract with USIS and brought background investigations back in house under the short-lived National Background Investigations Bureau.{{cite news |last=Davenport |first=Christian |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/opm-to-end-usis-contracts-for-background-security-checks/2014/09/09/4fcd490a-3880-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html |title=USIS contracts for federal background security checks won't be renewed |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 9, 2014 |access-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926043528/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/opm-to-end-usis-contracts-for-background-security-checks/2014/09/09/4fcd490a-3880-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html |url-status=live }} In 2019, responsibility for conducting federal background checks changed hands again when NBIB was dissolved and its functions were given to the Defense Security Service, part of the Department of Defense, which was reorganized into the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency for the purpose.{{cite web |url=https://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2019/04/the-national-background-investigations-bureau-moves-to-the-department-of-defense/ |title=The National Background Investigations Bureau Moves to the Department of Defense |publisher=U.S. Office of Personnel Management |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=15 October 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016042802/https://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2019/04/the-national-background-investigations-bureau-moves-to-the-department-of-defense/ |url-status=live }}

In July 2013, Representative Blake Farenthold introduced the Office of Personnel Management Inspector General Act.[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2860 "OPM IG Act (H.R. 2860)”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228012621/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr2860 |date=February 28, 2021 }}. GovTrack.us. (2014) (Retrieved 2014-02-17) The bill would increase oversight of OPM's revolving fund. Farenthold introduced the bill as a response to accusations of fraud and concern about security clearance background investigations.[https://archive.today/20140217155147/http://riponadvance.com/news/opm-inspector-general-act-signed-law/6615 "OPM Inspector General Act signed into law”]. Ripon Advance. 2014-02-17 (Retrieved 2014-02-17) The bill would fund the expenses for investigations, oversight activities, and audits from the revolving fund.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200121133706/http://theweekincongress.com/2014/01/16/h-r-2860-opm-ig-act/ "H.R.2860 OPM IG Act”]}} The Week in Congress; Volume 10 Number 3. 2014-01-17 (Retrieved 2014-02-17) The bill was in response to a discovery that between 2002 and 2012, OPM's revolving fund had tripled, totaling over $2 billion, or 90% of OPM's budget. In February 2014, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law.Carney, Jay (White House Press Secretary). [https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/12/statement-press-secretary-hr-2860-s-1901 "Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 2860, S. 1901”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205063036/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/12/statement-press-secretary-hr-2860-s-1901 |date=December 5, 2020 }}. The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. 2014-02-12 (Retrieved 2014-02-17)Reilly, Sean. [https://archive.today/20140217155117/http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20140213/MGMT/302130008/OPM-inspector-general-getting-more-money-revolving-fund-oversight "OPM inspector general getting more money for revolving fund oversight”]. Federal Times. 2014-02-13 (Retrieved 2014-02-17) The fund's history dates to the early 1980s, where it was used for two main activities: training and background investigations for government personnel.U.S. Government Accountability Office. [http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO/GGD-84-23 "OPM's Revolving Fund Policy Should Be Clarified and Management Controls Strengthened”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202002633/http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO/GGD-84-23 |date=December 2, 2020 }}. GGD-84-23: Published: Oct 13, 1983. Publicly Released: Oct 13, 1983 (Retrieved 2014-02-17)

{{Main|Office of Personnel Management data breach}}

In April 2015, hackers working on behalf of the Jiangsu State Security Department, a provincial branch of the Chinese Ministry of State Security, obtained access to 22.1 million SF-86 records of U.S. federal employees, contractors, and their friends and family.{{Cite news |last1=Zengerle |first1=Patricia |last2=Cassella |first2=Megan |date=2015-07-09 |title=Estimate of Americans hit by government personnel data hack skyrockets |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cybersecurity-usa-idUSKCN0PJ2M420150709 |access-date=2015-07-09}}{{cite news |last1=Nakashima |first1=Ellen |date=9 July 2015 |title=Hacks of OPM databases compromised 22.1 million people, federal authorities say |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/09/hack-of-security-clearance-system-affected-21-5-million-people-federal-authorities-say/ |access-date=19 July 2020}}{{Cite news |author=Sanders |first=Sam |date=4 June 2015 |title=Massive Data Breach Puts 4 Million Federal Employees' Records At Risk |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/04/412086068/massive-data-breach-puts-4-million-federal-employees-records-at-risk |access-date=5 June 2015}} In one of the largest breaches of government data in U.S. history, information that was obtained and exfiltrated in the breach included personally identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, names, dates and places of birth, and addresses.{{Cite news |author=Barrett, Devlin |date=5 June 2015 |title=U.S. Suspects Hackers in China Breached About four (4) Million People's Records, Officials Say |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-suspects-hackers-in-china-behind-government-data-breach-sources-say-1433451888 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 June 2015}}{{Cite news |last=Fruhlinger |first=Josh |date=2020-02-12 |title=The OPM hack explained: Bad security practices meet China's Captain America |language=en |website=CSO Online |url=https://www.csoonline.com/article/3318238/the-opm-hack-explained-bad-security-practices-meet-chinas-captain-america.html |access-date=2023-05-29}}{{Cite news |author=Risen, Tom |date=5 June 2015 |title=China Suspected in Theft of Federal Employee Records |work=U.S. News & World Report |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/06/05/china-suspected-in-theft-of-federal-employee-records |access-date=5 June 2015}}

New information about this security breach came to light on September 24, 2015. The agency then indicated that additional evidence showed that 5.6 million people's fingerprints were stolen as part of the hacks, more than five times the 1.1 million originally estimated. The total number of people whose records were disclosed in whole or part, including Social Security numbers and addresses, remained at 21.5 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/opm-says-56-million-fingerprints-stolen-in-biggest-cyber-attack-in-us-history-10515256.html | title=OPM says 5.6 million fingerprints stolen in biggest cyber attack in US history. America doesn't have anything together this is why this happened | work=Independent | first1=Andrea | last1=Peterson | date=2015-09-24 | access-date=2015-09-24 | archive-date=September 15, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915160954/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/opm-says-56-million-fingerprints-stolen-in-biggest-cyber-attack-in-us-history-10515256.html | url-status=live }}

Between 2018 and 2019, as part of a larger initiative to restructure the executive branch, President Donald Trump submitted a proposal to congress to merge OPM into the General Services Administration (GSA) while returning the federal personnel policy-making components under the direct authority of the Executive Office of the President of the United States to the Office of Management and Budget in the White House. Representative Gerry Connolly, chair of the Subcommittee on Government Operations under the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, fiercely criticized the proposal. During a congressional hearing, Connolly said: "The administration wants to take over the merit policy-making functions and put them into the highly politicized environment of the White House itself, away from direct congressional oversight and inspector general review." Political pressure against the proposal peaked when a provision barring the president from transferring any function, responsibility, authority, service, system, or program until six months after the completion of an "independent report" by the federally chartered National Academy of Public Administration was added to the 1,120 page bill S-1790, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/12/congress-moves-block-opm-gsa-merger/161796/|title=Congress Moves to Block OPM-GSA Merger|website=Government Executive|date=December 10, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=December 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205062941/https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/12/congress-moves-block-opm-gsa-merger/161796/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/opm-reorganization/2019/12/congress-to-formally-block-opm-gsa-merger-with-defense-authorization-bill/|title=Congress to formally block OPM-GSA merger with defense authorization bill|date=2019-12-10|website=Federal News Network|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106212101/https://federalnewsnetwork.com/opm-reorganization/2019/12/congress-to-formally-block-opm-gsa-merger-with-defense-authorization-bill/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-ceremony-s-1790-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2020/|title=Remarks by President Trump at Signing Ceremony for S.1790, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020|language=en-US|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106214715/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-signing-ceremony-s-1790-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2020/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1790/text/enr#link=A_XI_A_1112&nearest=HE327F33CB78B46E8B001F56E3286C6E6|title=Text of S. 1790: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Passed Congress version)|date=2019-12-19|website=GovTrack|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229232541/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s1790/text/enr#link=A_XI_A_1112&nearest=HE327F33CB78B46E8B001F56E3286C6E6|url-status=live}}

To reduce the federal workforce, Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on January 20, 2025, and appointed Elon Musk as its leader.{{Cite news| last = Boak| first = Josh| title = What is the Office of Personnel Management? Trump is relying on this agency to reshape government| work = Associated Press via CityNews Halifax| location = Washington, D.C.| access-date = February 2, 2025| date = January 29, 2025| url = https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/01/29/what-is-the-office-of-personnel-management-trump-is-relying-on-this-agency-to-reshape-government/}} DOGE is leveraging OPM's authority and influence to execute the Trump administration's initiatives for restructuring the federal workforce.{{cite web |title=Guidance on Implementing President Trump’s Executive Order titled, 'Restoring Accountability To Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce' |url=https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM%20Memorandum%20re%20Schedule%20Policy%20Career%20Guidance%2001-27-25%20FINAL.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226225635/https://chcoc.gov/sites/default/files/OPM%20Memorandum%20re%20Schedule%20Policy%20Career%20Guidance%2001-27-25%20FINAL.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2025 |first=Charles |last=Ezell |publisher=U.S. Office of Personnel Management |date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025|url-status=dead}}

Charles Ezell, OPM's acting director, has been issuing guidance and memos to implement Trump's executive orders,{{cite web |title=Musk Aides Lock Government Workers Out of Computer Systems, U.S. Agency Sources Say |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/ |first=John |last=Smith |publisher=Reuters |date=January 31, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025}} including his January 27 memorandum regarding Schedule F. This aligns closely with DOGE's objectives and workforce restructuring plans.

Other efforts in line with DOGE's goals include revising telework policies, considering the termination of recently hired federal employees,{{cite web |title=OPM Asks Agencies to Revise Telework Policies by Friday |url=https://fedscoop.com/opm-asks-agencies-revise-telework-policies-by-friday/ |first=Madison |last=Alder |publisher=FedScoop |date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Trump Administration Seeks Tally of Newly Hired Federal Workers |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/trump-administration-seeks-tally-of-newly-hired-federal-workers |first=Jane |last=Doe |publisher=Bloomberg Law |date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025}} and instructing agencies to bypass certain regulations.{{cite web |title=Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief |url=https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-01-29-Dkt.-001-0-Complaint2609946.1-1.pdf |publisher=Democracy Forward Foundation |date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=February 2, 2025}}

On January 20, 2025, with the revocation of Executive Order 13988, the OPM ceased enforcement of gender identity discrimination complaints for federal employees, which are now handled solely by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.{{cite web |title=Executive Order on Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/ |publisher=White House |date=January 20, 2025 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Recent Executive Order on Sex and Gender Identity Issues and Bostock v. Clayton County |url=https://www.gelawyer.com/blog/2025/02/recent-executive-order-on-sex-and-gender-identity-issues-and-bostock/ |publisher=General Employment Lawyers |date=February 2025 |access-date=March 20, 2025}}

{{main article|2025 US federal deferred resignation program}}

In January 2025, the OPM launched a controversial "deferred resignation" program, offering federal employees the option to resign effective September 30, 2025, while continuing to receive pay and benefits until that date. The program was announced in an email headed "Fork in the Road", framed as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Michael |title=Trump offering federal workers buyouts with about 8 months' pay in effort to shrink government |url=https://apnews.com/article/f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Associated Press |date=January 28, 2025}}

The proposal faced immediate backlash from federal employees and unions. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) warned workers not to accept the offer, citing concerns over potential benefit disputes and unclear legal protections.{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Eric |title=Federal employees react with confusion and concern over Trump’s resignation offer |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/federal-workers-react-trump-payout-offer-2025-1 |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Business Insider |date=January 30, 2025}} Legal experts also raised concerns about the program's unprecedented nature, questioning its compliance with federal employment laws.{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Laura |title=Breaking down OPM’s ‘Fork in the Road’ email to federal workers |url=https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/breaking-down-opm-s--fork-in-the-road--email-to-federal-workers |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Lawfare |date=January 29, 2025}}

According to Reuters, on January 20, Musk's team took control of OPM's headquarters. By January 31, it had revoked the access of several OPM senior career civil servants, blocking them from key government computer systems. This included access to the Enterprise Human Resources Integration, a comprehensive database storing sensitive information such as government employees' dates of birth, Social Security numbers, performance appraisals, and home addresses.{{Cite news| last = Reid| first = Tim| title = Exclusive: Musk aides lock workers out of OPM computer systems| work = Reuters| access-date = February 2, 2025| date = February 2, 2025| url = https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-aides-lock-government-workers-out-computer-systems-us-agency-sources-say-2025-01-31/}} Concerns were raised about lack of congressional oversight at OPM.

Wired reported that a group of six engineers aged between 18 and 24 who previously worked for Musk were overseeing significant U.S. government roles, particularly the OPM and DOGE. This development came as Musk's influence expands into federal agencies under the Trump administration's initiatives to reshape the federal workforce. Government watchdogs and unions have raised concerns about inexperienced people{{emdash}}one of whom recently graduated from high school{{emdash}}altering federal policies and operations.{{Cite news| issn = 1059-1028| last = Elliott| first = Vittoria| title = The Young, Inexperienced Engineers Aiding Elon Musk's Government Takeover| work = Wired| access-date = February 2, 2025| url = https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/|date = February 2, 2025}}

Government watchdogs and lawmakers have demanded transparency, questioning whether Musk's associates had legal authority to oversee federal operations. The involvement of outsiders in federal decision-making raised ethics and security concerns, particularly as the administration pushed significant workforce reductions.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Daniel |title=Elon Musk Lackeys Have Taken Over the Office of Personnel Management |url=https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-lackeys-office-personnel-management-opm-neuralink-x-boring-stalin |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Wired |date=January 30, 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Townsend |first1=Chance |title=Elon Musk's DOGE Takeover Is Reportedly Being Spearheaded By Young College Grads |url=https://in.mashable.com/tech/89128/elon-musks-doge-takeover-is-reportedly-being-spearheaded-by-young-college-grads |website=Mashable |language=en-in |date=3 February 2025}}

Simultaneously, OPM faced scrutiny over a newly deployed email system designed to send mass communications to federal employees. A lawsuit filed by two anonymous federal workers alleged that OPM failed to conduct a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) before launching the system, potentially exposing sensitive government communications.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Daniel |title=OPM email system under fire for privacy, security concerns |url=https://fedscoop.com/opm-email-federal-workforce-lawsuit-server-privacy-security/ |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=FedScoop |date=January 31, 2025}}

Critics warned that the system lacked basic encryption protections, making it vulnerable to spoofing, phishing, and unauthorized access. Some federal IT departments reportedly advised employees to flag all messages from the new system as potential phishing attempts due to authentication concerns.{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Michael |title=Federal employees confused, angered by Trump's offer to quit |url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/01/politics/federal-worker-buyout-reaction/index.html |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=CNN |date=February 1, 2025}}

The cybersecurity controversy further exacerbated concerns over OPM's security posture, especially given the agency's history with the 2015 OPM data breach, which compromised over 21 million federal employees' personal records.{{cite news |last1=Riley |first1=Michael |title=Inside the OPM Hack, the Cyberattack That Shocked the U.S. Government |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2021-opm-hack/ |access-date=February 1, 2025 |work=Bloomberg |date=June 20, 2021}} As of early 2025, OPM had not confirmed whether the vulnerabilities had been mitigated, and the lawsuit remained ongoing.

On February 22, 2025, the OPM emailed all federal employees, asking them to reply with "what you accomplished last week" by midnight EST on February 24. Shortly before the email was sent, Musk posted about it on X, writing, "Failure to respond will be taken as a resignation." A claim that this action was unlawful was added to a pending lawsuit against the OPM for the mass layoffs of probationary workers.{{cite news |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |title=Trump calls Elon Musk's email ultimatum 'genius' as federal workers and some agencies push back |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/federal-workers-agencies-push-back-elon-musks-email-ultimatum-rcna193439 |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=NBC News |date=February 24, 2025}} Some agencies instructed their employees not to reply to the email. On February 24, the OPM announced that employees were not required to reply to the email.{{cite news |last1=Stein |first1=Chris |last2=Pilkington |first2=Ed |title=US personnel office walks back email ultimatum from Musk to workers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/24/elon-musk-federal-workers-chaos |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=February 24, 2025}}

According to its website, OPM's mission is "recruiting, retaining and honoring a world-class force to serve the American people".{{cite web|url=http://www.opm.gov/BiographyofAnIdeal/SubMain1979-present.asp|title=Biography of an Ideal|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305051034/http://www.opm.gov/BiographyofAnIdeal/SubMain1979-present.asp|url-status=dead}} OPM is partially responsible for maintaining the appearance of independence and neutrality in the administrative law system. While technically employees of the agencies they work for, administrative law judges (ALJs) are hired exclusively by OPM, effectively removing any discretionary employment procedures from other agencies. OPM uses a rigorous selection process that ranks the top three candidates for each ALJ vacancy and then selects from those candidates, generally giving preference to veterans.

OPM is also responsible for federal employee retirement applications for FERS and CSRS employees.{{cite web |url=https://www.opm.gov/Blogs/Retire/ |title=Retirement Info Center |publisher=Opm.gov |access-date=2019-06-19 |archive-date=April 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430223633/https://www.opm.gov/Blogs/Retire/ |url-status=dead }} OPM makes decisions on federal employee regular{{cite web |url=https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/pamphlets/sf3113.pdf |title=Pamphlet |publisher=Office of Personnel Management |access-date=2019-06-18 |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318235825/https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/pamphlets/sf3113.pdf |url-status=live }} and disability retirement cases.{{cite web|url=https://federalemployeelawblog.com/2016/12/10/opm-disability-retirement/|title=OPM Disability Retirement|last=berrylegal|date=December 11, 2016|website=Federal Employee Law Blog|access-date=December 19, 2016|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127222328/https://federalemployeelawblog.com/2016/12/10/opm-disability-retirement/|url-status=live}} OPM also oversees FEHB and FEGLI, federal employees' health insurance and life insurance programs. But it does not oversee TSP, which is handled by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), a separate independent agency.

OPM also had an innovation team, the Lab at OPM, that worked on complex challenges using human-centered design with federal partners ranging from CDC, VA, and others. On April 18, 2025, the entire team was eliminated by DOGE and the Trump agenda.{{Cite news |last=Rozen |first=Courtney |date=April 21, 2025 |title=Musk Allies Cut Team Tasked with Improving Government Operations |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/musk-allies-cut-team-tasked-with-improving-government-operations?utm_source=pocket_shared |url-status=live |work=Bloomberg Law}} The Lab at OPM aimed to understand and listen to people most impacted by government decisions in order to improve government.{{Cite news |last=Muscato |first=Lindsay |date=March 5, 2020 |title=At the Centers for Disease Control, Designing a Better Way Forward for Veterans |url=https://www.newamerica.org/weekly/centers-disease-control-designing-better-way-forward-veterans/ |work=New America}}

At an underground limestone mine in Boyers, Pennsylvania, federal employees' retirements are processed on paper by hand, and the information is stored in file cabinets. On average, it takes 61 days to process a retirement.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/03/22/sinkhole-of-bureaucracy/ |title=Sinkhole of bureacracy |work=The Washington Post |date=March 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230703135113/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/03/22/sinkhole-of-bureaucracy/ |archive-date=July 3, 2023}}

• Retirement Services – Oversees the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
• Healthcare & Insurance – Oversees the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs.
• Employee Services Branch

Source: OPM's Agency Leadership Through Time{{cite web|url=http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/|title=Agency Leadership|work=U.S. Office of Personnel Management|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=March 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330145132/http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/|url-status=live}}

• Alan K. Campbell (January 2, 1979 – January 20, 1981)
• Campbell was the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission at its dissolution
• Donald J. Devine (March 23, 1981 – March 25, 1985)
• Loretta Cornelius (acting; 1985)
• Constance Horner (August 22, 1985 – May 10, 1989){{cite web|url=http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/constance-horner/|title=Our Mission: Constance Horner|publisher=opm.gov|access-date=August 1, 2014|archive-date=August 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822023107/http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/constance-horner/|url-status=live}}
• Constance Berry Newman (June 8, 1989 – June 30, 1992)
• James B. King{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/james-king/|title=James King|website=U.S. Office of Personnel Management|access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-date=June 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619165639/https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/james-king/|url-status=live}} (April 7, 1993 – September 1, 1997)
• Janice R. Lachance (November 12, 1997 – January 20, 2001)
• Steven R. Cohen (acting; January 20, 2001 – July 11, 2001)
• Kay Coles James (July 11, 2001 – January 31, 2005)
• Dan Gregory Blair (acting; February 1, 2005 – June 27, 2005)
• Linda M. Springer (June 28, 2005 – August 13, 2008){{cite press release |title=Linda M. Springer Sworn In as New OPM Director |url=http://www.opm.gov/news/linda-m-springer-sworn-in-as-new-opm-director,921.aspx |publisher=United States Office of Personnel Management |date=2005-06-29 |access-date=2009-04-04 |archive-date=April 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408052641/http://www.opm.gov/news/linda-m-springer-sworn-in-as-new-opm-director,921.aspx |url-status=live }}
• Michael Hager (acting; August 13, 2008 – January 20, 2009){{cite web|last=Rosenberg|first=Alyssa|title=Bush taps new OPM director|work=National Journal|date=2008-08-01|url=http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=40644|access-date=2009-04-04|archive-date=May 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528024656/http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=40644|url-status=live}}
• Kathie Ann Whipple (acting; January 20, 2009 - April 13, 2009){{cite press release |title=White House Names Acting Director of OPM |url=http://opm.gov/news/white-house-names-acting-director-of-opm,1449.aspx |publisher=United States Office of Personnel Management |date=2009-01-23 |access-date=2009-04-04 |archive-date=March 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330231957/http://opm.gov/news/white-house-names-acting-director-of-opm,1449.aspx |url-status=live }}
• John Berry (April 13, 2009 – April 13, 2013){{cite web|title=OPM Director John Berry|url=http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/john-berry/|publisher=United States Office of Personnel Management|access-date=24 April 2013|archive-date=May 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525135330/http://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-mission-role-history/agency-leadership/john-berry/|url-status=live}}
• Elaine Kaplan (acting; April 13, 2013 – November 4, 2013)
• Katherine Archuleta (November 4, 2013 – July 10, 2015)
• Beth Cobert (acting; July 10, 2015 - January 20, 2017)
• Kathleen McGettigan (acting; January 20, 2017 – March 9, 2018){{cite web |url=https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-people-organization/senior-staff-bios/kathleen-mcgettigan/ |title=Kathleen McGettigan |publisher=U.S. Office of Personnel Management |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208220501/https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-people-organization/senior-staff-bios/kathleen-mcgettigan/ |url-status=live }}
• Jeff Tien Han Pon (March 9, 2018 – October 5, 2018){{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/after-just-months-office-federal-personnel-director-replaced-by-omb-official/ |title=Trump replaces federal personnel director, in job only a few months, with OMB official |last=Yoder |first=Eric |date=2018-10-05 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2019-01-06 |language=en |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107015812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/10/05/after-just-months-office-federal-personnel-director-replaced-by-omb-official/ |url-status=live }}
• Margaret Weichert (acting; October 5, 2018 – September 16, 2019)
• Dale Cabaniss (September 16, 2019 – March 17, 2020){{cite web |title=OPM Welcomes Director Dale Cabaniss as the Agency's 12th Director |url=https://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2019/09/opm-welcomes-director-dale-cabaniss-as-the-agency%E2%80%99s-12th-director/ |website=OPM.gov |publisher=OPM Office of Communications |access-date=7 January 2020 |date=16 September 2019 |archive-date=December 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212095618/https://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2019/09/opm-welcomes-director-dale-cabaniss-as-the-agency%E2%80%99s-12th-director/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lippman |first1=Daniel |title=OPM chief Dale Cabaniss abruptly resigns |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/opm-chief-resigns-134541 |access-date=March 18, 2020 |work=Politico |date=March 17, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317234753/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/17/opm-chief-resigns-134541 |url-status=live }}
• Michael Rigas (acting; March 18, 2020 – January 20, 2021){{cite web |title=Michael J. Rigas |url=https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-people-organization/office-of-the-director/bios/michael-rigas/ |website=U.S. Office of Personnel Management |access-date=March 18, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119071003/https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-director/ |url-status=live }}
• Kathleen McGettigan (acting; January 20, 2021 – June 24, 2021){{Cite web|title=Kathleen McGettigan|url=https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-people-organization/office-of-the-director/bios/kathleen-mcgettigan/|access-date=January 23, 2021|website=U.S. Office of Personnel Management|language=en|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119071003/https://www.opm.gov/about-us/our-director/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|last=Bur|first=Jessie|date=2021-01-20|title=McGettigan to once again take up temporary personnel leadership|url=https://www.federaltimes.com/management/leadership/2021/01/21/mcgettigan-to-once-again-take-up-temporary-personnel-leadership/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Federal Times|language=en-US|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414134814/https://www.federaltimes.com/management/leadership/2021/01/21/mcgettigan-to-once-again-take-up-temporary-personnel-leadership/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=Pres. Biden looks to puts a hold on any midnight regulations from the Trump administration|url=https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2021/01/pres-biden-looks-to-puts-a-hold-on-any-midnight-regulations-from-the-trump-administration/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Federal News Network|language=en-US|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121165704/https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2021/01/pres-biden-looks-to-puts-a-hold-on-any-midnight-regulations-from-the-trump-administration/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Here's Who Is Leading Federal Agencies as Biden Nominees Await Confirmation|url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2021/01/heres-who-leading-federal-agencies-biden-nominees-await-confirmation/171512/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Government Executive|date=January 20, 2021 |language=en|archive-date=January 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120201629/https://www.govexec.com/management/2021/01/heres-who-leading-federal-agencies-biden-nominees-await-confirmation/171512/|url-status=live}}
• Kiran Ahuja (June 24, 2021 – May 6, 2024){{Cite tweet |user=USOPM |url=https://twitter.com/usopm/status/1408076914099638273 |number=1408076914099638273 |access-date=2023-04-07 |title=It is the honor and privilege of my professional career... |language=en}}
• Rob Shriver (acting; May 6, 2024 – January 20, 2025){{Cite web|title= Shriver assumes acting OPM director role

|url=https://www.govexec.com/management/2024/05/shriver-assumes-acting-opm-director-role/396337/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|access-date=2024-05-07|website=Government Executive|date=May 6, 2024 |language=en}}

• Charles Ezell (acting; January 20, 2025 – present)

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• [http://www.opm.gov/ Office of Personnel Management]
• [https://www.usaspending.gov/#/agency/503 Office of Personnel Management] on USAspending.gov
• [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/personnel-management-office Office of Personnel Management] in the Federal Register

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Personnel Management

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