Trump administration proposes that employee performance be a top factor during federal layoffs Eric Yoder In the latest of a string of moves to put its stamp on federal workplace policies, the Trump administration is set to propose rules to make employees’ performance ratings a top consideration in deciding who stays or goes during layoffs. A proposal to be published Thursday by the Office of Personnel Management would elevate job ratings among the considerations during the process called reduction in force, commonly known by its acronym RIF. The proposed rules come with a 30-day public comment period. Given the requirement that those comments be considered before rules can be finalized, it’s uncertain whether they could be in place before President-elect Joe Biden takes office Jan. 20. If they are finalized, new rulemaking would be required to repeal them.