Federal retirees facing processing delays should prepare for extended wait times after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management reduced its retirement services staffing by 16% over the past year, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The agency’s workforce reductions coincide with persistent application backlogs that continue to affect former government workers awaiting their finalized pensions.
OPM Staffing Reductions and Retirement Backlogs
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Office of Personnel Management cut its retirement services staff by 16% as part of broader shifts in the federal workforce. The agency spent the past year reshaping its internal staffing levels while simultaneously managing incoming claims from retiring federal employees. According to Federal News Network, the GAO report provides an internal look at OPM operations, highlighting how staffing contractions impact the agency’s core functions.
The reduction in personnel directly impacts the processing capacity for federal retirement applications. The 16% drop in staffing restricts the agency’s ability to clear incoming volume quickly, maintaining pressure on the existing backlog.
According to FEDweek, the GAO also flagged broader operational concerns at OPM, calling for increased attention from both OPM leadership and the Office of Management and Budget regarding improper payments and overall workforce management.
Impact on Federal Retirees
What Applicants Can Expect
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