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OPM's Retirement Backlog Surges Amid Digital Application Shift

12/17/2025

Summary

Story summary

OPM's retirement application backlog has reached 49,400, up from 34,600 in October 2025.
OPM attributes the rise to retirements after the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and the move to online applications.
OPM received nearly 44,000 retirement applications in October and November, up from 13,680 in 2024.
Digital applications average 38 days to process.
Some retirees report feeling pressured to leave, contradicting OPM's claim that the DRP was voluntary.

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Story summary

OPM's retirement application backlog has reached 49,400, up from 34,600 in October 2025.
OPM attributes the rise to retirements after the Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) and the move to online applications.
OPM received nearly 44,000 retirement applications in October and November, up from 13,680 in 2024.
Digital applications average 38 days to process.
Some retirees report feeling pressured to leave, contradicting OPM's claim that the DRP was voluntary.