Posted on 01/15/2019 4:01:37 PM PST by 11th_VA
While Congress has yet to pass a budget, the Trump administration has drawn how it would like to see the federal government "reshaped," and most anticipate that reductions in force (RIFs) will be a part of this shape shifting. Congress is supposed to pass a budget resolution by April 15, although it's better known for passing continuing resolutions instead of meeting deadlines, and the budget at issue is for the fiscal year beginning on October 1. So, there is time before the RIF tsunami strikes, but like with any threatening forecast, preparation is key.
First and foremost, this is a good time to assess whether you want to stay in the government. From the RIFs that occurred in prior decades, we know that incentives for early retirement tend to be more cost effective than executing the demotions and terminations that come with RIFs, so it is expected that several agencies, especially those prominently featured on the chopping block like the EPA and the State Department, will obtain Voluntary Early Retirement Authorization (VERA).
To be eligible for an early out, an employee must have 20 years of service and have reached the age of 50, or have 25 years of service regardless of age. Along with VERA, agencies typically also offer a buyout, officially called a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP), of $25,000, although DoD obtained authorization to offer $40,000. These lump sum payments are taxable, so plan accordingly if this route appeals to you.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
Yes, and that’s still in effect.
Thanks, gotta think Trump has had this in mind all along...
If all we end up with is no wall and say a 10% RIF we really haven’t accomplished anything. Using 2005 figures (Probably not that much different!) ... “the total personnel cost (including both wages and fringe benefits) budgeted for the for the civilian workers in the federal executive branch was just 7 percent. Adding those who work for the postal service, in the federal government’s other branches, and in the armed services brought the total to only 13.8 percent. So cutting the number of federal bureaucrats by 10 percent would trim federal spending by only 0.7 percent, or less than two months’ worth of the expense of fighting the 2003 war in Iraq. ..”
Larger, smaller, the same size federal work force is NOT changing us as a nation, illegal immigration is! I want the wall this federal work force issue is a distraction.
“This 2017 article is literally now fake news since no one in the govt has even hinted this as a possibility.”
An unidentified White House source has said directly it’s a possibility, if I find the article again I’ll be back.
Welcome to Free Republic.
Do you realize that President Trump cannot legally do what you advocate? The presidency is not all powerful, despite what Obama did.
Clinton got rid of the department of Commerce. He also reduced the number of feral employees by 10% by not replacing employees as they retired. I have been though threatened furlough, threatened RIF, and Clinotn’s shutdown. I survived.
It doesn’t matter one iota whether my fourth amendment rights are violated by Marines instead of high school dropouts, I want government out of the business of conducting searches without warrants or probable cause. It can be replaced with private security such as existed before 2001.
I read it already, thanks.
The article is more idea speculation. It has not been announced by anyone in the administration and I suspect it won’t be.
My issue with the article is the old headline which states ITS COMING when in fact there is no such thing coming. At least not yet. Old articles that may have been accurate when written are totally inaccurate when reposted because too many people will not read the date, assuming it’s current news.
The idea that a RIF could occur is of course possible but I doubt trump wants to blamed for a shutdown which his enemies will say he did only to lay off employees. The optics are too bad at this time.
When the government talks about RIF-ing employees to save money, don’t be surprised if it merely wants that money “saved” to throw away on something else.
Ill buy Guard! Kill the TSA!!
V E T O!!
I lean your way sir. Caveat emptor. I choose NOT to fly.
I very much doubt if any of the plans mentioned in the article are still being considered, if they have not already been put into effect.
That said, the only way we are going to cut the size of the Federal government will have to involve a RIF at some point. RIF by hiring freeze until normal attrition brings the size of the staff down to the desired level is the least painful. “Early retirement” plans means that the taxpayer keeps paying the individuals who no longer do any work. Actual elimination of jobs, with the former holders of those jobs not eligible to apply for their pensions until they reach SSA retirement age is the only way the taxpayer actually saves any money.
Hubby got RIF’d the week before Christmas about 15 years ago.
Happens in the private sector all the time. Why should fed employees be exempt?
True.
Government always grows.
Inexorably.
Like a malignant tumor.
"It's not a Tooomah!"
They shouldn’t.
A gov-co drone is a mortal human being too. They aren’t any kind of divine being.
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