Congressionally mandated report envisions a more powerful OPM 4 days ago A long-anticipated National Academy of Public Administration study concluded that a stronger, independent Office of Personnel Management would be better for the government. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) A better federal workforce policy will require the Office of Personnel Management to become a more independent and authoritative agency, rather than being broken apart into other departments, a long-awaited National Academy for Public Administration study determined March 17. OPM was created by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to spearhead and improve human capital management in the federal government, and the NAPA report notes that the agency as it stands today is not fulfilling that original objective.