Disciplinary, Hiring Provisions Also Added

The Armed Services Committee meanwhile accepted language reflecting two bills recently passed by the House, further improving chances of those changes being enacted into law, since the DoD bill is considered “must-pass.” One would generally limit to 14 days paid administrative leave for federal employees under investigation for poor performance or misconduct, with employees generally required to return to work after that period. The other would require that if employees resign while being investigated, any finding against them would have to be put in their Official Personnel Folders–with the right to challenge such findings–and agencies would have to examine those folders when considering hiring a former federal employee. Also adopted was an amendment to allow certain DoD temporary employees with at least two years of service to apply for vacant permanent positions under internal merit-based promotion procedures.