CARH’S BROADCAST E-MAIL

April 13, 2017

On March 13^th, the President signed an Executive Order instructing agencies to provide plans for reorganizing the Executive Branch. At CARH’s Spring Board meeting, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Rural Development (RD) explained they were awaiting implementing instructions on reorganization of the government and federal workforce. On April 12^th, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a Memorandum to all heads of federal government agencies and executive departments entitled, Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government and Reducing the Federal Civilian Workforce. The Memorandum provides the implementing guidance.

The Memorandum requires all agencies to:

• Begin taking immediate actions to achieve near-term workforce reductions and cost savings, including planning for funding levels in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget Blueprint;

• Develop a plan to maximize employee performance by June 30, 2017; and
• Submit an Agency Reform Plan to OMB in September 2017 as part of the agency’s FY 2019 Budget submission to OMB that includes long-term workforce reductions. An initial, high-level draft of the Agency Reform Plan is due to OMB by June 30, 2017.

The Memorandum further outlines the steps that OMB will take to formulate a government-wide reform plan for publication in the President’s FY 2019 budget, including both legislative proposals and administrative actions. The plan will rely on three primary sources of input: agency reform plans, OMB-coordinated cross-cutting proposals, and public input.

According to OMB, when implemented, these reform efforts should accomplish the following objectives:

• Create a lean, accountable, more efficient government that works for the American people;
• Focus the Federal government on effectively and efficiently delivering those programs that are the highest needs to citizens and where there is a unique Federal role rather than assuming current programs are optimally designed or even needed;

• Align the Federal workforce to meet the needs of today and the future rather than the requirements of the past; and

• Strengthen agencies by removing barriers that hinder front-line employees from delivering results

CARH will perform an extensive review of this plan, and all relevant agency reform plans. We will continue to work with our members and industry stakeholders to ensure that staffing and regulatory and financial resources are maintained to provide adequate resources for the affordable rural rental housing industry.

If you have any questions, please contact us at carh@carh.org or 703-837-9001.