Action on Hill Could Be More Significant

By: fedweek

DoD has not indicated any new plan of action in light of the appeals court’s latest decision. All employees put in NSPS so far have been in positions not eligible for union coverage, so the labor relations provisions are a moot point for them, and DoD is likely to follow that pattern in further planned expansions of NSPS, potentially this fall and next spring. Meanwhile, restrictions on NSPS have been progressing in Congress, including a House vote to cut off funds for the program. The House took similar action last year but ultimately compromised by having the funding restriction apply only to the parts of the program that were enjoined by court order. Now that that order has been overturned, Congress this fall will have to decide whether to keep a broad funding restriction, craft a narrower one, or let the program go ahead, possibly with certain policy changes such as restoring union rights.