Federal Government Policy and Business

Reform Should Focus on Workforce Alignment, Not On Staffing Cuts

Government Executive: Federal employees are the primary drivers for how government work gets done, decisions get made, and values are upheld. Maintaining a high performing workforce with the right skills and of the right size to execute the mission is critical. Proponents of smaller government shouldn’t assume reductions will solve government’s problems. What is necessary is workforce realignment.

Last April, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney directed agency leaders to take a hard look at the government workforce with a focus on “preparing a long-term plan to reduce the size of the federal workforce.” While reduction may end up being a natural outcome of reform, it is not the way to focus on this issue.

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