Monday, led by U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, and Steny Hoyer, D-Md., House Democrats called on U.S. Office of Personnel Management acting director Charles Ezell to release a full breakdown of workers who have accepted OPM’s “deferred resignation” offer.
The Trump administration believes over 20,000 federal employees accepted their offer to resign immediately, continuing to receive full pay and benefits until Sept. 30 without returning to work. Management told workers that refusing resignation wouldn’t guarantee continued employment.
The administration has not yet provided details on the resignations.
“The Administration owes us answers,” Tokuda said in a statement released on Monday. “In their overzealous efforts to cut government, they are jeopardizing the delivery of services and support to the everyday American, in every state in the country.
In a letter to Ezell, the lawmakers warned, “This blanket approach to the federal personnel policy could have major negative impacts on critical government services and functions, leaving agencies unable to fulfill their responsibilities as charged by Congress. ”
The lawmakers called on Ezell to disclose the total number of federal employees who accepted the offer, to include resignations by agency, subagency or department, GS level, average length of service, number hired through Schedule A and Veterans Preference, state or territory, and Congressional district.
They also asked how many of the individuals who accepted the offer (within the same categorizations) also decided to retire.
Ezell was asked to provide the requested information no later than Feb. 19.
Tokuda announced on Tuesday that she will hold town halls on Oahu and Hawaii Island later this month to address what is happening in Congress and policies affecting Hawaii, and to respond to questions and concerns. Her staff will be on site to provide assistance with federal issues.
The meetings will be held Feb. 20, 7 to 8 p.m., at Wahiawa Elementary School cafeteria and Feb. 22, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Pahoa High and Intermediate School cafeteria. Help with federal issues will be provided a half-hour before each meeting.
To RSVP, visit bit.ly/wahiawatownhall for the Wahiawa town hall or bit.ly/pahoatownhall for the Pahoa town hall.
Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.
