Senate Bill Could Affect Employment Levels

Both measures would deny another round of base closings and realignments, which have caused the loss or transfer of many thousands of civilian jobs in the past. And while the House version expresses frustration with how DoD has handled an announced 20 percent cut in headquarters costs—saying there are no reliable figures on resulting personnel reductions—the Senate bill goes farther by imposing a new 30 percent spending reduction in departmental, military service and major component headquarters over four years. It further specifies equivalent cuts in personnel, including military, civilian and contractors. The Senate bill also would require a report on the comparison of cost of performance of functions by civilian personnel with cost of performance by contractors; and extend or begin several special hiring authorities for positions in the acquisition, science, engineering and technology fields. Fuller details of the Senate provisions likely will emerge in the weeks ahead.