OPM Director Scott Kupor’s Sept. 21 memo lets federal agency heads approve individual cash and performance awards above $10,000 and up to $25,000 without prior OPM sign-off, if they certify the achievement is highly exceptional and unusually outstanding.
Kupor said the change removes a hurdle to recognizing employee performance more quickly and is part of broader federal performance-management reforms. Agency heads may delegate the authority to a chief of staff, chief human capital officer, or bureau or component head, but those officials cannot delegate it further.
The memo excludes presidential awards, presidential rank awards, and performance awards for career members of the Senior Executive Service. Awards above $25,000 still require presidential approval. The Department of Defense and Internal Revenue Service already had separate authority to approve awards up to $25,000 without OPM approval, according to My Federal Retirement.
