119 HR Systems, One Shot to Fix It: Why OPM’s ‘Pay Up Front’ Gamble Might Finally Work

OPM is moving to consolidate the federal government’s many disconnected HR IT systems into a single, mandatory shared service, and former Chief Human Capital Officers Ron Sanders and Tracy DeMartini explain why the effort has failed for decades—and what could make it work now. They point to politics, agency “we’re different” resistance, and weak requirements as the usual dealbreakers, but note this attempt has a better shot if OPM sets firm standards, agencies get a real voice in implementation, and funding is sustained beyond a single year. Sanders argues the proven path is paying up front and rolling out over years, while DeMartini stresses designing a core system that covers Title 5 while accounting for mission-unique needs like DoD, VA, and law enforcement.

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