Federal News Network quoted GEL Associate, Chloe Barrett, discussing whether the Office of Personnel Management violated RIF rules during their termination process.
Ms. Barrett shared the following thoughts with Federal News Network:
“The government is entitled to conduct RIFs, but they are an option of last resort, and they need to be conducted according to the regulations governing RIFs and based on a bona fide reason. And that just does not seem to be the case here, Chloe Barrett, an associate at Gilbert Employment Law — the law firm representing employees in the MSPB case — said in an interview with Federal News Network.
“OPM is responsible for managing the federal civil service. It issues regulations to ensure government hiring and firing is merit-based and free from political influence,” Barrett said.
“Merging OPM with GSA or DOGE — or shifting key HR functions into the Executive Office of the President — if that is the administration’s goal, it could dismantle civil service protections from politically motivated firings and ultimately politicize an agency that’s meant to be insulated from political pressure and influence.”
To learn more and read the full Federal News Network article, click here.