GPO Workforce at Lowest Level in a Century
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) workforce is at its lowest level in the past century. This is the result of buyouts, early outs and employees leaving the agency for other reasons.
GPO offered buyouts and early outs to the agency's employees during the second half of calendar year 2011 as a result of overall government cutbacks and projected reductions in appropriated funding. The buyout program targeted a reduction of 15%, or 330 employees, while ensuring that critical agency functions were not depleted of essential staff strength.
When the buyout program began, GPO employed 2,232 people. When it ended on December 31, there were 1,920 employees. GPO anticipates saving nearly $17.9 million for the remainder of FY 2012 and $23.9 million in FY 2013, the first full year of saving after implementing the buyouts/early outs.
"The buyout we conducted last year will make GPO more efficient in meeting the information dissemination needs of our customers as the digital information platform for the Federal Government," says Acting Public Printer Davita Vance-Cooks.
Just this week, the GPO made President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address available in electronic form on GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys). GPO authenticated the document by digital signature. This signature assures the public that the document has not been changed or altered.