
The GAO has found personnel issues common in government—understaffing and a high percentage of onboard employees at or near retirement eligibility — at the Energy Department’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) that oversees nuclear waste cleanup activities such as remediating soil and groundwater and treating radioactive waste.
With 263 vacancies compared to 1,272 onboard employees, the office had a vacancy rate of nearly a fifth, with the rate about a third at several field offices, the GAO found. “EM has taken some actions to recruit, hire, develop, and retain personnel, but these have been insufficient to counter attrition”—which is 10.6 percent, compared with the government-wide average of 8.1 percent, it said.
“This attrition rate is expected to increase because 44 percent (563 staff) of all EM staff will be eligible to retire by the start of FY 2030,” GAO said, adding that as with vacancies, pending eligibility rates are especially high at several field offices, with one at 50 percent and another at 60 percent.
Both vacancy rates and pending retirement eligibility rates further are notably high in certain occupations deemed mission-critical, including general engineering, nuclear engineering and general physical science, the report added.
“EM, DOE, and others have repeatedly documented the need to strengthen EM’s workforce planning because of concerns about mission-critical positions and anticipated retirements. However, EM’s attempts to address these issues have proven ineffective. Workforce problems have recurred in multiple locations without EM having taken steps to adopt recommended strategies,” it said.
It said management agreed with recommendations including to develop a workforce plan that better follows leading strategic planning practices, such as developing hiring goals and succession planning.
OPM Advises Agencies on Conducting RIFs During Shutdown
Updated Shutdown Contingency Plans Show Range of Impacts
Use Shutdown as Justification for More RIFs, OMB Tells Agencies
Unions Win a Round in Court Disputes over Anti-Representation Orders
Deferred Resignation Periods End for Many; Overall 12% Drop
Senate Bill Would Override Trump Orders against Unions
See also,
How to Handle Taxes Owed on TSP Roth Conversions? Use a Ladder
The Best Ages for Federal Employees to Retire
Best States to Retire for Federal Retirees: 2025