Table of Permissible Changes in FEHB Enrollment and Premium Conversion Election 

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Table of Permissible Changes in FEHB Enrollment and Premium Conversion Election 

Source: OPM.gov

Premium Conversion allows employees who are eligible for FEHB the opportunity to pay for their share of FEHB premiums with pre-tax dollars. Premium conversion plans are governed by Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code, and IRS rules govern when a participant may change his or her election outside of the annual Open Season.

All employees who enroll in the FEHB Program and are eligible for premium conversion automatically receive premium conversion tax benefits, unless they waive participation. When an employee experiences a qualifying life event (QLE) as described below, changes to the employee’s FEHB coverage (including change to Self Only and cancellation) and premium conversion election may be permitted, so long as they are because of and consistent with the QLEs. For more information about premium conversion, please visit OPM Healthcare.

Memo Outlines Plan to Cut Around 80K VA Employees 

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Memo Outlines Plan to Cut Around 80K VA Employees 

A reduction in force memo from the VA has outlined plans to return that workforce to its 2019 force level of around 400,000 employees, representing a total cut of around 80,000 workers.

“VA, in partnership with our DOGE leads, will move out aggressively, while taking a pragmatic and disciplined approach to identify and eliminate waste, reduce management and bureaucracy, reduce footprint, and increase workforce efficiency,” said the internal memo dated March 4, adding that some of the savings would be reinvested. Follow link to read more from FEDweek. https://www.fedweek.com/fedweek/memo-outlines-plan-to-cut-around-80k-va-employees/

OPM’s Goals and Procedures for Agency RIFs

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OPM’s Goals and Procedures for Agency RIFs

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has laid out goals and procedures for agency Reductions in Force (RIFs). The guidance is part of the President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative. Here are some key points:

  1. Goals:
    • Better service for the American people.
    • Increased productivity.
    • Significant reduction in the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions by eliminating non-essential positions.
    • Reduced real property footprint.
    • Reduced budget topline. 1,2
  1. Procedures:
    • Agencies should focus on eliminating functions that are not statutorily mandated while ensuring efficient delivery of required functions.
    • Consolidate duplicative areas and management layers.
    • Implement technological solutions to automate routine tasks.
    • Close or consolidate regional field offices where consistent with efficient service delivery.
    • Reduce the use of outside consultants and contractors. 1,2

For more detailed information, you can check out the OPM’s official page on RIFs.

  1. opm.gov
  2. fedweek.com

A Pair Of House Bills Aim To Give Fired Feds Relief 

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A Pair Of House Bills Aim To Give Fired Feds Relief 

Legislation from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Derek Tran, D-Calif., seeks to secure benefits for federal employees recently fired by the Trump administration and help get some of their jobs back.

As reports of firings and reductions in force continue to emerge from agencies across the federal government, a legislative push back on Capitol Hill has commenced.

A pair of bills from Reps. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla., and Derek Tran, D-Calif., introduced on Feb. 26, aim to provide some relief for federal employees recently let go by the Trump administration, albeit with different focuses. Follow link to read more from Government Executive. https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2025/03/pair-house-bills-aim-give-fired-feds-relief/403457/

RIF Watch: See Which Agencies Are Laying Off Federal Workers 

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RIF Watch: See Which Agencies Are Laying Off Federal Workers 

Here are the agencies where we have confirmed layoffs have taken or are about to take place. We will update as we learn more. 

The Trump administration has given agencies a March 13 deadline to finalize their plans to slash their workforces through layoffs.

Not all agencies are waiting that long, however, and some have either already started sending out reduction-in-force notices or have explained their plans to do so. The upcoming layoffs are separate from the mass firings of probationary employees, which led to the removal of at least 25,000 workers. See our tracker of those firings here. Follow link to read full article from Government Executive. https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/02/rif-watch-see-which-agencies-are-laying-federal-workers/403342/?oref=ge-skybox-post