Biden sets acting-director order for the Office of Personnel Management

President Joe Biden issued a January 3, 2025 memorandum setting the order of officials who could act as director of the Office of Personnel Management when both the director and deputy director are unable to serve. The memo placed OPM’s chief of staff first, followed by the general counsel, chief management officer, workforce-policy leadership, chief financial officer, retirement-services leadership, and other associate directors by seniority. It relied on the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and revoked a December 10, 2020 OPM succession memorandum. The action mattered because OPM manages core federal workforce policy, including hiring, pay, benefits, retirement, and civil-service rules.