Threats of shutdowns, furloughs, extended pay freezes and cuts to benefits become the norm as a bitterly divided Congress seeks to cut the federal deficit.

USPS seeks to cut more than 100,000 workers, but its plan gets a lukewarm response on Capitol Hill. The agency buckled under political pressure and postponed closing post offices until 2012.

The Office of Personnel Management takes control of federal hiring website USAJobs.gov. The site crashes at a time when the White House says “jobs, jobs, jobs” are its top priority.

For some agencies, it’s about saving money. For others, buyouts and early outs free up jobs for fresher faces.

OPM updates its emergency dismissal policy to prevent gridlock on Washington roads. But will feds actually “shelter in place” or rush home during the next snow emergency?

With a presidential election at the end of the year, lawmakers will continue to look for ways to cut federal spending, and feds’ paychecks and programs will continue to be targets.

Agencies are piloting new employee evaluation systems, orientation programs and other initiatives to make feds happier and more productive in tight times.

Even if 2012 isn’t the year of the “retirement tsunami,” the increase in federal retirements will test OPM’s antiquated annuity-calculation process. The system has a backlog of 60,000 cases.

The White House has told agencies to diversify and hire more veterans and disabled people. VA for Vets will go federal; Agencies will look to Pathways, a revamped internship program, over unions’ objections.

Look for an expansion of HR University, an online platform that allows agencies to access each others’ training programs.