Bill Would Help Former Federal Employees Obtain Personnel Records, Correct Errors

Proposed legislation aims to make it easier for former federal employees and retirees to obtain their personnel records after leaving federal service and avoid being “trapped in bureaucratic limbo.”

The Federal Employee Records Relief Act (H.R. 10718) would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and an employee’s agency to provide personnel records and correct any administrative errors. 

It would also require OPM to offer written information on benefits and coordination assistance, including information about continuing health care coverage.

Federal employees who separated for any reason on or after January 20, 2025, including retirees, would be eligible to request assistance. They would have four years from the bill’s enactment to submit requests.

Personnel records can be essential for retirement processing, maintaining health care coverage, and documenting federal service for future employment.

“They (federal employees) should not have to chase down missing paperwork to document their service and access the benefits they earned,” said sponsor Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA). “My bill would require the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and federal agencies to help former employees get their records, fix errors and get clear answers about their benefits.”

The legislation garnered support from federal employee groups, including the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) and the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU).

NFFE said the bill would help federal employees “trapped in bureaucratic limbo, waiting months for agencies and OPM to correct records or process paperwork they need to collect benefits, secure loans, or move on to their next job.”

The legislation was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where it is pending.