The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced today that Director Kiran Ahuja will step down from her role in the next several weeks.
Ahuja is the longest-serving OPM director in more than ten years, and played a major role in shaping Federal workforce policies since she first stepped in as director in 2021.
“Serving in the Biden-Harris administration, and in support of the 2.2 million Federal workers who dedicate themselves to the American people, has been the honor of my life,” Ahuja said in a press release.
“We have accomplished so much these last three years at OPM, but I am most proud of the friendships and bonds we built together in public service,” she added. “Thank you most to the OPM workforce for your service and dedication. We serve the people who serve the nation – and without you, our country could not move forward. Thank you.”
An OPM spokesperson confirmed that Ahuja is stepping down due to health concerns and a recent death in the family. OPM Deputy Director Rob Shriver will be acting director upon Ahuja’s departure, which will be in early May.
Under Ahuja’s leadership, OPM implemented strong protections for career civil servants, expanded access to telework and remote work during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, created the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (ODEIA), and launched the first-ever government-wide Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council to advance DEIA – just to name a few efforts.
“Kiran leaves an incredible legacy as a strong and indefatigable champion of the 2.2 million public servants in the Federal workforce,” said Shriver. “Under Kiran’s leadership, OPM has bounced back stronger than ever and partnered with agencies across government to better serve the American people. Kiran represents the very best of the Biden-Harris administration, and I am honored to call her a dear colleague and friend.”
