The House counterpart measure also would extend direct hire authority at the IRS. Image: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe general government spending bills pending floor votes in both the House and Senate voice concerns about hiring by federal agencies in general as well as about specific agencies and specific categories of employee.
The Senate Appropriations Committee for example said it is “concerned with the length of time it often takes the federal government to hire qualified employees and directs OPM to continue to find ways to reduce barriers to federal employment and reduce delays in the hiring process. Rigid rules and long delays in the hiring and interview process discourage top candidates from applying for or accepting federal positions.”
“Specifically, the committee encourages OPM to seek input from hiring managers on the type of challenges they face, improvements that could be made to make the federal hiring process more efficient and effective, and which hiring authorities they find most beneficial,” it said.
The bill also calls on OPM and agencies that employ veterinarians to work to improve recruitment and retention, “including the potential use for special pay rates.” It also would continue direct hire authority for the IRS, although encouraging it to “improve its use of competitive hiring and other existing hiring authorities and ensure adherence to the merit system when filling vacancies and to not use the direct hire authority provided in this bill as the agency’s main method of hiring.”
The House counterpart measure also would extend direct hire authority at the IRS, while expanding such authority at the Bureau of Prisons, out of concern about the “consistently low staffing levels” there.
That bill also orders OPM to “expand efforts to teach federal personnel responsible for hiring, retention, and employee development programs government-wide to more effectively utilize existing hiring authorities, compensation flexibilities, employee development programs, and other resources for federal cyber workforce development.”
Both the House and Senate versions of the separate Defense Department authorization would begin or expand direct hire authorities for several occupations at DoD, as well.
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