OPM Sets June 2 Deadline For New Retirement Applications to be Electronic 

The antiquated paper-based federal retirement system has been a target for federal modernization for years and was called out by Elon Musk.

The Office of Personnel Management is giving agencies less than a month to start submitting all new retirement applications for federal employees electronically, moving away from a largely paper-based system.

In a Wednesday memo, OPM acting Director Charles Ezell gave agencies that are served by the National Finance Center and Interior Business Center — two federal shared services providers offering HR support — a deadline of June 2 to start processing retirements electronically. Follow link to read more from Fedscoop. https://fedscoop.com/opm-sets-june-2-deadline-for-new-retirement-applications-to-be-electronic/

 

What Is Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Discretionary Budget Request? 

President Donald Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 discretionary budget proposal, released on May 2, 2025, outlines significant shifts in federal spending priorities. The proposal includes substantial cuts to non-defense programs while increasing allocations for defense, homeland security, and border enforcement. https://www.alaskasnewssource.com+5WSJ+5The Washington Post+5Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Key Highlights of the FY 2026 Budget Proposal: 

Non-Defense Discretionary Spending Cuts

Total Reduction: The budget proposes a $163 billion (approximately 23%) cut to non-defense discretionary spending, reducing it to $557 billion.

Targeted Agencies and Programs:

Education: Significant reductions affecting K–12 and higher education funding.

Health and Science:

National Institutes of Health (NIH): Funding reduced from $47 billion to $27 billion, a 40% cut.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Budget decreased from $9.2 billion to $5.2 billion, a 44% reduction.

National Science Foundation (NSF): Funding slashed by 55%, from $9 billion to $4 billion.

Environmental Programs: Cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and elimination of various climate-related initiatives.

Foreign Aid: Dismantling of remaining parts of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Business Insider+5WSJ+5The Washington Post+5

Defense and Homeland Security Increases

Defense Spending: An increase of 13%, bringing the total to $1.01 trillion.

Homeland Security: A 65% increase in funding.

Border Security: Allocation of $69 billion for border enforcement, including hiring 20,000 new immigration officers and constructing a 700-mile border wall. WDNY Radio+1WSJ+1WSJAP News

Tax Policy and Social Programs

Tax Cuts: The proposal includes tax breaks, though specific details are pending legislative development.

Social Programs: Proposed cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and other safety net programs, with an emphasis on stricter eligibility requirements. AP News