DHS Regs Suit Also Progressing

Unions challenging a similar set of personnel rules at the Department of Homeland Security and the government have until February 27 to file legal briefs before the federal appeals court in the District of Columbia. Last summer, the same federal district court—although a different judge—held invalid parts of the DHS rules involving labor relations and employee appeal rights provisions. The judge then refused the government’s request to narrow the ruling and the government filed an appeal. It’s uncertain when the appeals panel will hold oral arguments and ultimately issue a decision in that case, although any further action likely is months away. In the meantime, the entire set of DHS personnel regs—including provisions not directly affected by the court’s ruling—is on hold