OPM Releases Report Highlighting Millions in Taxpayer-Funded Collective Bargaining Costs

WASHINGTON, DC — The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today released a supplemental report detailing the scope and cost of taxpayer-funded collective bargaining activities across the federal government for Fiscal Year 2024. The report reveals federal agencies reported approximately $181.6 million in collective bargaining-related expenses paid by American taxpayers.

The findings show a substantial majority of these costs stem from personnel compensation, reflecting the extensive amount of agency time spent negotiating agreements, processing grievances, and resolving disputes rather than carrying out mission-critical work. Additional costs include arbitration fees, travel, technology, office space, and penalties or settlements—all expenses footed by hard-working taxpayers.

“Civil servants are already allowed significant protections without a union,” OPM Director Scott Kupor said. “This nearly two hundred million dollars in taxpayer funds is on top of those already existing protections. Transparency is the first step toward accountability, and this report makes clear the federal government must take a hard look at whether these costs are reasonable, justified, and aligned with its core mission.”

Read Director Kupor’s blog on this here and the report here.