Agencies also reported best practices in their use of the program. The Agency for International Development said high-level management support was crucial in obtaining the funding needed to implement a program, which comes out of agency budgets.
Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., introduced a bill recently however that would make federal employees eligible for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness if they serve for five consecutive years and have completed an undergraduate or graduate degree. That money would come from a special Department of Education fund.
USAID also said it has success using workforce planning analysis to make a case for authorizing student loan repayments for employees assigned to difficult-to-fill overseas locations, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sudan, regardless of the position title or grade level.
NASA said offering the program twice a year allows it to offer the incentive to new interns entering the workforce at various times as well as for employees to participate immediately or within a short waiting period.
The Department of State recommended ensuring adequate funds are available before announcing a program, and verifying funds are sufficient to allow payments significant enough to have an impact on recruitment and retention.
