DHS Seeks Mandatory Firing in Some Cases

Among the provisions of the new DHS personnel system would be creation of certain “mandatory removal offenses”-that is, conduct by employees that would require the manager to order the employee to be fired. Although such offenses are still to be defined, officials say they expect the authority would be most commonly used for serious misconduct such as accepting bribes. Employees alleged to have committed these offenses will have the right to advance notice, an opportunity to respond, a written decision, a review by an adjudicating official, and a further appeal to an independent DHS panel. But only the departmental Secretary or a designee could lessen the penalty.