Fedweek

The Senate has joined the House in passing its own version (S-2943) of the annual DoD authorization bill, although the two differ in several important ways that will have to be resolved in an upcoming conference. Both bills would provide DoD with several hiring and pay flexibilities targeted at high-demand occupations and at employees taking lengthy or potentially dangerous temporary assignments; both also seek reductions in headquarters positions and spending. However, the Senate is alone in moving to: increase the buyout maximum for DoD employees from $25,000 to $40,000; limit veterans preference in hiring to only the individual’s first federal job; shift responsibility for conducting background investigations on DoD employees from OPM to DoD; and lift a ban on studying jobs for possible contracting out. The House version meanwhile contains language not in the Senate bill to generally limit administrative leave government-wide to 14 days when employees are the subject of investigations that may lead to disciplinary action, and to require that findings of disciplinary investigations become part of the employees’ official personnel files, even if they resign or retire before any discipline is taken—agencies considering hiring a former federal employee further would have to examine their files. The White House objected to both of those House provisions, which previously passed there as separate bills, as well as to the Senate moves to restart contracting out studies and shift background investigations.