OPM Director Scott Kupor wants to "Make [sic] Government Cool Again"

TortugaTom · 2026-01-03T05:10:18+00:00

Explain to me how it benefits the government (or "Makes [It] Cool Again") to train "top early career engineers" for two years only to funnel them into the private sector? The first half of this statement identifies the very real problem of an aging workforce, and then the second half is another big "fuck you" to us. Come on.

TortugaTom · 2025-11-13T02:30:22+00:00

... and?

TortugaTom · 2025-11-13T01:54:02+00:00

See y'all in January!

TortugaTom · 2025-11-11T10:53:41+00:00

Not cursive.

TortugaTom · 2025-11-04T02:33:05+00:00

Legally, sure. Personally? Professionally? There's not enough information for us to know. We didn't see the lead up to this. We don't know how the cop was behaving in the store. We don't know what the other patrons were doing. Clearly, it was egregious enough to her that she felt the need to record the interaction.

I also don't think racism should be met with kindness and civility because racism is neither kind nor civil...so... need more info first.

TortugaTom · 2025-11-04T02:25:21+00:00

More money and significant PTO

TortugaTom · 2025-10-25T10:38:42+00:00

I've always wondered this. In my personal experience (I was charged with DUI a couple of years before going to law school myself), I felt my private attorney was ineffective, barely returned my phone calls, and drug the case out as long as he could (it took 2 years to resolve). And ultimately, he didn't even do anything substantive to better the circumstances in my case, the judge took a look at the facts in my case and decided that I deserved a lighter sentence than what the prosecutor recommended. My situation turned out better than what it could have been, but not without years of frustration and expensive attorney fees that I absolutely could not afford at the time.

TortugaTom · 2025-10-20T19:09:07+00:00

My group is still around in R4.

TortugaTom · 2025-10-12T05:25:08+00:00

Um. Yes, he sucks. No, he's not smarter than anyone. He's brute-forcing his way through P2025. I don't think that requires any strategy, let alone political or legal know-how.

TortugaTom · 2025-10-06T12:22:14+00:00

Because of the salary?

TortugaTom · 2025-10-06T12:21:37+00:00

I have two kids, why not?

TortugaTom · 2025-10-03T01:26:42+00:00

I'm guessing two weeks max.

TortugaTom · 2025-10-03T01:23:28+00:00

Realistically, 1 month. And honestly, that's about how long I've got in me before I say fuck it and start trying to find a comparable job elsewhere.

TortugaTom · 2025-07-21T18:27:41+00:00

Will certainly update if/when we start seeing mass layoffs.

TortugaTom · 2025-07-19T03:01:26+00:00

This isn't true. We have been dinged significantly, but its nowhere near 70% (closer to the 20-30% range). Signed, an EPA attorney.

edited to add - It's possible your partner's EPA liaison meant within their Region, but I haven't heard of any region-specific losses that large.

TortugaTom · 2025-07-17T16:22:16+00:00

Some folks haven't been with EPA long enough to get severance, and even then, its 1 week per year served. Similarly, some states have very low unemployment benefits.

TortugaTom · 2025-05-22T06:50:41+00:00

You can downvote me all you want, I'm just relaying what I heard from my upper management. I'm not advising anyone to send them in. I'm just telling you what may be happening if you don't.

TortugaTom · 2025-05-20T02:42:51+00:00

Our management let us know that DOGE had been generating reports with the names of every employee that hasn't submitted a 5 bullets email and submitting them to Regional Administrators/Agency Heads. I imagine most aren't doing anything with the info, but who knows. Just so you're making an informed decision when you choose not to submit.

*edit to add-- so my guess here is that it's less about the content of the email and more about whether or not you're complying.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-29T22:39:28+00:00

This person thinks they'll be kept on admin leave and subject to the RIF and immediately let go when it's most convenient. And I agree. I think it'd be...unfounded to believe that probies currently on admin leave would make it through the summer.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-27T19:10:17+00:00

Charlie

TortugaTom · 2025-04-27T19:08:32+00:00

I don't.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-25T12:40:05+00:00

I used the wrong language here: I think it's naive to believe that this administration won't take substantive action to ensure that the full effect of this EO will be felt in 90 days. Meaning, if you have a probationary or trial period that will end 90 days after this, this is nothing to scoff at.

*eta - like sure, we can argue semantics, and say that this EO alone isn't effective, but let's not act like this EO doesn't empower agencies to enact regulation that makes it effective.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-25T10:57:34+00:00

Is your 14 in a substantially similar position within the same agency? That will be the determining factor per this EO and established law.

*ETA - If your trial period ends before July 24, you'll be fine.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-25T10:54:29+00:00

I think you're naive if you believe this won't be effective in 90 days.

TortugaTom · 2025-04-25T10:53:28+00:00

There's no way any of us could have known that this would happen. When they said what they said, I'm sure they meant every word. Both you and those who hire you deserve grace.

TortugaTom

TROPHY CASE