CRS: Base Closing Effort Could Affect NSPS

The Congressional Research Service says that the Defense Department’s national security personnel system “could have implications in some respects for how DoD employees are affected” by the base closing process process. It noted that benefits such as health and life insurance, retirement, thrift savings plan, annual and sick leave, severance pay and moving expenses are untouched as a result of NSPS and that the department’s primary tools for transition assistance for its civilians, such as outplacement services, priority placement and separation incentives, will be available to employees under NSPS under the same terms. “Nevertheless, it is possible that NSPS implementation might affect collective bargaining agreements and RIFs, with attendant implications for employees,” said CRS. “It is not yet clear if or when the NSPS would be implemented for employees potentially affected by the BRAC process.” It noted that DoD has said BRAC will not affect the “overall implementation” of NSPS, and activities on the BRAC list will not automatically be excluded from “Spiral One” of the NSPS implementation. But DoD also has said that components will assess whether inclusion of a BRAC site in Spiral One is appropriate, considering such factors as the anticipated time frame for the closure/realignment and impact on the mission and the workforce, CRS noted.