U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined Senate colleagues to urge the Trump Administration's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) against implementing two rules that would severely weaken longstanding civil service protections for federal employees. In the first letter, the Senators urged OPM to reject its proposed rule that would transfer jurisdiction over suitability action appeals... from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to OPM. In the second letter, the Senators urged OPM to reject its proposed rule that would transfer jurisdiction over RIF appeals from the MSPB to OPM.
Call on the Office of Personnel Management to reject proposed rules transferring federal employee suitability action and reduction-in-force appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board to OPM.
Occurrences
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Senator Blumenthal's office said he joined Senate colleagues in urging OPM not to implement two proposed rules on Suitability Action and Reduction in Force appeals, and that the senators submitted two letters during OPM's official comment periods. The release says the first letter urged OPM to reject transferring suitability action appeals from MSPB to OPM, and the second urged OPM to reject transferring RIF appeals from MSPB to OPM.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The March 9, 2026 letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor states opposition to OPM proposed rule OPM-2025-0173-0001 on Suitability Action Appeals, argues the proposal would transfer suitability appeals from MSPB to OPM, and urges OPM to withdraw the rule. Richard Blumenthal is listed as a signatory.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The March 12, 2026 letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor states opposition to the proposed Reduction in Force Appeals rule, document 2026-02576, because it would move RIF appeal venue from MSPB to OPM. The letter says the senators strongly urge OPM to reject the proposal, and Richard Blumenthal is listed as a signatory.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
OPM's Federal Register proposed rule says it would amend the review process for suitability actions and proposes to move the venue for suitability action appeals from the Merit Systems Protection Board to OPM. The notice set a March 9, 2026 comment deadline.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
OPM's Federal Register proposed rule says it proposes to transfer appeal rights for employees affected by reduction-in-force actions from MSPB to OPM. The notice set a March 12, 2026 comment deadline.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Blumenthal's office said he joined Senate colleagues urging OPM against two rules on Suitability Action and RIF appeals. The release says the senators urged OPM to reject the proposed transfers of suitability action appeals and RIF appeals from MSPB to OPM, and lists Blumenthal among the senators on both letters.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
MSPB's final rule says it is amending regulations to remove references to MSPB jurisdiction over suitability and reduction-in-force appeals, reflecting OPM's rescission of MSPB jurisdiction. The rule is effective September 2, 2026, while preserving pending or pre-effective-date cases.
Assessments
The promise was to call on OPM to reject the proposed transfers, not to ensure OPM ultimately rejected them. Evidence shows Blumenthal signed or joined Senate letters during OPM comment periods urging OPM to withdraw or reject both the suitability-action appeals transfer and the reduction-in-force appeals transfer. That satisfies the stated oversight commitment during his same Senate term, even though OPM later proceeded with the rules.
Blumenthal directly fulfilled the promised oversight action by joining Senate letters during OPM's official comment periods. The March 9, 2026 letter urged OPM to withdraw the proposed suitability-action appeals rule, and the March 12, 2026 letter urged OPM to reject the proposed RIF appeals rule; both addressed transferring appeals from MSPB to OPM and listed Blumenthal as a signatory. Because the promise was to call on OPM, not to secure OPM's final rejection, this counts as delivered in the same federal Senate term.