The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has clarified that it is officially withdrawing a proposed rule that was originally published in December 2020. This rule suggested that employee performance should be prioritized over the length of service in cases of reductions in force (RIFs). The withdrawal took effect on March 12, 2021, following an Executive Order from President Biden that reversed a previous order, leading OPM to reassess its policy priorities. Despite already considering the rule withdrawn, OPM issued this clarification to ensure there is no confusion.
Simple Explanation
The people who help decide government job rules said they aren't changing the rule about keeping workers based on how well they do their jobs instead of how long they've worked. They wanted to make sure everyone knows the old idea is officially canceled.