FOIA Requests to OPM Mired in Delays After Agency Staffing Cuts

A veteran FOIA requester recounts how the Office of Personnel Management’s public-records office was crippled by the 2025 Department of Government Efficiency cuts, leaving the agency unable to handle even basic inquiries. Since the reductions, more than 600 government information specialists have resigned or been fired, and OPM alone lost 12 staff members, hiring only one replacement. Consequently, the agency’s backlog swelled to over 1,600 pending requests—seven times the previous year—and the average time to process a simple request climbed to over 84 days.

In early July, the author’s attempt to obtain human-resources data triggered a portal error and a bounced support email, prompting contact with contractor Opexus, which acknowledged the issue on July 10 and restored access by July 23. Opexus asserted no data breach occurred and that alternative submission methods remained functional, while OPM declined to comment. The requester still awaits the desired records.