White House Officials Defend Federal Benefits Cuts, Management Agenda

Office of Personnel Management Director Jeff Pon defended the Trump administration's proposal to cut retirement benefits for federal workers before a House panel Wednesday, arguing the government should shift from pensions toward a defined contribution program. Pon, answering questions from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee during a hearing on the workforce implications of President Trump’s management agenda, described the Federal Employees Retirement System and the Civil Service Retirement System as “a bit out of whack.” Among the OPM director’s requests for legislative changes to retirement programs are proposals to eliminate FERS cost of living adjustments for current and future retirees, and to reduce CSRS COLAs by 0.5 percent.