The Volcker Alliance Launches the Accountability and Reform Research Consortium to Study Impacts of Federal Cuts
The Accountability and Reform Research Consortium will study the impact of changes to the federal workforce on public service delivery, citizens, and democratic governance
New York, NY – As the federal government undergoes significant workforce reductions and program cuts, the Volcker Alliance announces the launch of the Accountability and Reform Research Consortium (ARRC), a cross-university research collaborative that will deliver rigorous and timely research on how these changes affect public service delivery, citizens, and democratic governance in the United States.
The consortium will document and assess the impact of recent federal workforce reforms, including mass reductions in force (RIFs), agency restructuring, and program eliminations across multiple departments. ARRC brings together researchers from schools of public service to pursue priority, high-impact research that individual institutions cannot tackle as quickly or comprehensively on their own.
“The speed and breadth of changes to the federal workforce have been stunning,” said Sara Mogulescu, president of the Volcker Alliance. “It is critical that we understand the impacts of these changes—on services, on citizen outcomes, and on state and local governance. Scholars and researchers at schools of public service have the expertise to do just that, and there has never been a more critical time for the academic community to step up.”
Led by co-chairs William Resh, Professor and Chair of Public Management and Policy at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, and Chris Koliba, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration, Policy & Governance at the University of Kansas (KU) School of Public Affairs and Administration, ARRC represents a unique opportunity for the academic research community to coordinate strategic, real-time studies during an unprecedented period of federal workforce transformation. ARRC will provide participating researchers with catalytic resources, including stipends, subsidized graduate research assistant support, and high-quality aggregated datasets.
"ARRC presents a unique opportunity for schools of public service to collaborate on a shared research agenda and produce incisive, methodologically sound findings about the impact of significant changes to the federal workforce," said Carissa Slotterback, dean of the School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. "SPIA is proud to be part of ARRC and to help advance our collective understanding of the implications of recent policies on citizens and systems."
"Schools of public service are uniquely equipped for solving public problems, including how to improve government performance and accountability," said David Wilson, dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley. "We have an imperative to leverage our expertise, our methods, and our values to inform a viable path forward for government leaders, public servants, and the American public writ large."
More information about ARRC and how institutions and scholars can participate can be found here.
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About The Volcker Alliance
The Volcker Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul A. Volcker to empower the public sector workforce to solve the challenges facing our nation. Our portfolio of work focuses on the people at the core of government service delivery—people who provide a steadfast source of optimism during an unsettled time for our democracy. We promote innovation in public service education, empower rising leaders to build the democracy of our future, connect talent to city, state, and federal government jobs, and inspire others with the story of Mr. Volcker’s commitment to public service. Follow the Alliance on social media @VolckerAlliance and subscribe to the Volcker Alliance newsletter for the latest news and developments. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization.
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