What is the primary function of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?

The primary function of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is managing the federal workforce. This includes overseeing the hiring process, setting policies and regulations related to federal employment, and ensuring that the federal workforce is effectively utilized and managed. OPM is responsible for recruiting, retaining, and training federal employees, as well as developing guidelines for employee benefits and performance evaluation systems.

This focus on managing human resources within the federal government emphasizes the importance of having a skilled and effective workforce to implement government programs and services. By providing guidance and oversight, OPM plays a vital role in ensuring that the federal government can attract and retain talented individuals who contribute to the overall mission of public service.

The other options, while important functions within the government, fall outside the primary duties of OPM. For example, overseeing the federal budget is primarily a function of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and enforcing federal laws is largely the purview of agencies such as the Department of Justice. Regulating foreign trade is typically handled by the U.S. Department of Commerce and other specialized agencies.