A group of House Democrats has come out in opposition to language in the Senate version of a DoD budget bill aimed at boosting the role of performance in several types of personnel decisions affecting DoD civilian employees.
While the House version of the bill does not contain parallel language, that chamber initially considered some similar provisions before dropping them. If enacted into law, such changes affecting the government’s largest employer could set precedent for application to the federal workforce as a whole.
In particular, the group opposes a provision that would extend probationary periods for DoD employees, including new senior executives, from one year to two and allow those periods to be extended indefinitely at management’s discretion; another to delay step increases for employees for periods in which their work is deemed unacceptable; and a third to make performance the first rather than the last factor to be considered in RIF retention standing.
“What civil servants always depended upon had been statutory protections that ensure decisions are merit-based. Our DoD employees are among our most valuable and irreplaceable. The least they are entitled to are their due process rights, veterans’ preference, and civil service protections,” said Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., one of the signatories, in a statement.
Other members signing the letter issued statements asserting that the changes would make it easier for managers to retaliate against whistleblowers and would discourage recruitment and retention of valued employees, ultimately hampering DoD’s mission.
The bill is currently in a House-Senate conference and likely will come to final voting in the fall.
