{"abstract":"The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to revise how an employee may appeal a furlough of more than 30 days, separation, or demotion by a reduction-in-force (RIF) action. OPM will replace the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) as the adjudicative agency for such appeals. The rule establishes a uniform, record-based OPM appeal process; clarifies the appellant's burden; requires production of the complete agency record; preserves collateral statutory remedies; and applies prospectively to improve timeliness, consistency, and cost-effectiveness while maintaining administrative review.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT","name":"Personnel Management Office","id":406,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/personnel-management-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/406","parent_id":null,"slug":"personnel-management-office"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2026/08/03/2026-15666.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":"351","title":5}],"citation":"91 FR 49230","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective September 2, 2026. This final rule applies only to a RIF action for which an agency issues the employee a specific RIF notice under 5 CFR 351.802 on or after September 2, 2026.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket ID: OPM-2025-0239"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2026-15666","effective_on":"2026-09-02","end_page":49267,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2026/08/03/2026-15666.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/03/2026-15666/reduction-in-force-appeals","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2026-15666?publication_date=2026-08-03","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2026-08-03/2026-15666/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":38,"page_views":{"count":66,"last_updated":"2026-08-02 08:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-03/pdf/2026-15666.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2026-08-03","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2026/08/03/2026-15666.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"3206-AO99":{"issue":"202504","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3206-AO99/reduction-in-force-appeals","title":"Reduction in Force Appeals","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202504&RIN=3206-AO99&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["3206-AO99"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":49230,"subtype":null,"title":"Reduction in Force Appeals","toc_doc":"Reduction in Force Appeals","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Government employees"],"type":"Rule","volume":91}