Budget

OPM approves GAO buyouts

GAO will offer lump sum payments worth up to $25,000, as part of its workforce reduction plan. The agency is acting in anticipation of a smaller fiscal 2012 bud...

Federal News Network Staff

August 16, 2011 5:58 pm

< a min read

By Ruben Gomez
Federal News Radio

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved buyouts and early retirements for employees at the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

GAO is hoping to reduce its workforce by 56 positions in anticipation of a smaller fiscal 2012 budget, according to an Aug. 8 memo from Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.

Employees receiving buyouts “will receive a lump sum of $25,000 or the amount of the employees’ severance pay calculations, whichever is less,” Dodaro wrote.

The positions are mostly management level, though Senior Executive Service and Senior Level employees are not eligible because the agency wants to retain executive leadership. Communications analysts and all employees within the Office of the Inspector General are also ineligible.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 6, according to the memo, which was first published publicly by Federal Times. Employees must then retire or separate from the agency by Sept. 30.

GAO joins a growing list of federal departments and agencies offering early retirements and voluntary separations to employees.