OMB Issues Memorandum Reorganizing & Reforming Federal Government

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney has issued a memorandum to the heads of all federal agencies and departments in the executive branch directing them to begin the process of reorganization.

The memo asks agencies to develop a plan to maximize the performance of government workers by the end of June 2017 and submit a reorganization plan by September 9 as part of their fiscal year 2019 budget submission. OMB has also asked agencies that their plans include long-term workforce reductions.

An obstacle in the reorganization efforts is the large number of career officials currently heading agencies in an acting capacity. President Trump has been slow in nominating people to run government agencies, and career government workers acting as agency heads may be reticent to propose transformative changes.

According to the Partnership for Public Service, out of 553 key positions requiring Senate confirmation, 478 have no nominees and 29 positions have been announced but are awaiting formal nominations.