GAO plans to offer buyouts, early retirements

The Government Accountability Office joins a growing list of federal departments and agencies that wants to offer early retirements and voluntary separations to...

By Vyomika Jairam
Federal News Radio

The Government Accountability Office plans to offer buyouts and early retirements to employees in 56 positions. The agency wants to reduce its workforce in anticipation of a smaller 2012 budget.

GAO has asked the Office of Personnel Management for permission to offer the voluntary separations and early retirements, and is already accepting applications from employees. The buyouts depend on OPM’s approval.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 6, according to a memo from Comptroller General Gene Dodaro. Employees must then retire or separate from the agency by Sept. 30.

The positions are mostly management level, though Senior Executive Service and Senior Level employees are not eligible as the agency wants to retain executive leadership. Communications analysts and all employees within the Office of the Inspector General are also ineligible. The Federal Times was the first to receive a copy of Dodaro’s memo.

GAO joins a growing list of federal departments and agencies offering early retirements and voluntary separations to its employees. The Education Department announced earlier this week that it would offer employees early-outs, though it intends to refill those positions.

The Air Force today also announced its plans for buyouts and a 90-day civilian hiring freeze. In addition, the U.S. Postal Service announced last night it would like to cut 120,000 jobs from its ranks.

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