OPM Director Nominee Faces Senate Hearing
On April 22, 2021, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs held a nominations hearing for Kiran Ahuja, President Biden’s pick to lead the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
From the beginning of the hearing, Ahuja said she would keep federal employees at the center of all personnel decisions and make sure their needs are prioritized. She explained, “I believe that people are and should be at the center of all policy decisions, and if I were fortunate enough to be confirmed, I would carry forward this guiding principle while working in service to the American public. It would be my mission to serve and support federal employees, and to restore, rebuild and retool the federal workforce.”
Ahuja previously held the role of OPM Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2017. When questioned by Senators about the lack of effectiveness seen in OPM, Ahuja responded by stating that a lack of permanent leadership and quick turnover between top level employees was to blame for instability.
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) questioned Ahuja about her thoughts on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, in which much of the federal workforce conveyed that they are dissatisfied with the handling of poor performers and believe promotions are not made based on merit.
He asked, “Thirty-nine percent of federal workers believe promotions are based on merit, which means that the rest do not. And only 34% believe poor performance is adequately addressed by management. How will you improve the hiring process at the federal level so that it maximizes merit and addresses poor performance?”
In answer to this question, Ahuja discussed a lack of clear performance metrics and mismatch of employee skills and talents to the position in which they serve. She also claimed that managers should focus more on day to day supervision and not just on their own work.
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) asked Ahuja about the likelihood of certain federal employees teleworking permanently. He mentioned that there could be more opportunities for federal employees if they are able to work remotely rather than being tied down to an office.
Ahuja replied, “We’re completely rethinking work at this moment, not just in the federal government but all across the country. I think not only does it give opportunities to individuals not necessarily based in an urban centers but a way to actually provide service and give our thanks especially to military spouses when they are located in remote locations.”
Furthermore, Ahuja also stated that IT modernization would be a major priority for her if confirmed as OPM director. She applauded the creation of the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) and plans to find ways to speed up the federal retirement processing systems. Outdated legacy systems have been a constant concern for the federal government, and refocusing priorities on IT modernization will have a major impact on the functioning of the federal government.
OPM is working on creating post-pandemic guidance on telework and remote work and adjusting locality pay zones to be better suited for federal employees after COVID-19.
Finally, Ahuja said diversity and inclusion are top priorities for her, if confirmed as OPM director. She explained, “It is a huge asset. It gives us a competitive advantage, and I think individuals want to see not only diversity all throughout the workforce but in the senior ranks, that they see individuals who come from their communities, that there’s a breadth of experience and people bringing those experiences from all walks of life.”
The committee is meeting again on April 28 to further consider and vote on the nominations of Ahuja and others.
