New Guidance on When Federal Employees Can Use Administrative Leave

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is tightening the rules surrounding administrative leave for the federal workforce. In a new memo, OPM told agencies they have until September 13, 2025, to implement internal policies consistent with the new laws and regulations. 

Among the changes: agencies can only put workers on administrative leave for no more than 12 weeks unless a higher threshold is jointly approved by OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This does not start until 2026, and comes as the Trump Administration has faced blowback for its deferred resignation program, in which some federal employees have been on paid leave since the initial government-wide offer in February. 

The guidelines also include information on when use of administrative leave is appropriate. 

The memo says administrative leave is only appropriate in the following situations:

• The absence is directly related to the agency’s mission; 

• The absence is officially sponsored or sanctioned by the agency; 

• The absence will clearly enhance the professional development or skills of the employee in the employee’s current position; 

• The absence is in the interest of the agency or of the Government as a whole.

It also notes that administrative leave is “not an entitlement, but is an authority, entrusted to the discretion of the agency” and it should be provided on an “ad hoc, event-specific, or time limited basis.”

For example, the memo generally prohibits the use of administrative leave for situations in which sick leave is appropriate. Leave is also limited for an early dismissal before a holiday to two hours, unless approved by an agency head. Administrative leave may be granted for voting, but cannot be used to work at the polls on election day. 

OPM notes that this policy is a “living document that will be improved and refined to address issues that arise.” Agencies also have discretion to tweak parts of the policy.