The main surviving provisions of the civil service reform
measure (S-129) awaiting a House vote have to do with
improved recruitment and retention benefits, and technical
fixes to retirement benefits. The bill also would to
require agencies to link training activities with
performance plans and strategic goals in performing the
agency mission, in order to help ensure that the federal
government’s training resources are appropriately used.
The bill would require each agency to appoint or designate
a training officer, who would be responsible for
developing, coordinating and administering agency training.
The individual could be the same person as the Chief Human
Capital Officer.
Agencies would also be required to institute comprehensive
management succession programs designed to develop future
leaders; and provide special training to managers to help
them deal with poor performers. The training plans would
be developed in consultation with the Office of Personnel
Management. Several agencies already have such initiatives,
such as the Defense Leadership Management Program at the
Department of Defense.