Disciplinary, Other Personnel Policies Also at Stake

Also left over from before the recess are numerous proposed changes in federal personnel policies, mainly focused on the VA and DoD but with potential broader application to other agencies. The House has passed several bills applying to the VA, to extend probationary periods for new employees, restrict appeal rights for all employees, limit the circumstances and amounts of performance awards, impose required discipline against those who retaliate against whistleblowers, and more. Similar bills are pending in the Senate but the way forward became murkier after the White House threatened to veto the main House VA-related bill. Also pending is a DoD authorization bill, the Senate version of which similarly would extend probationary periods there while increasing the role of performance ratings in RIF retention standing, among other changes. And there is restrictive language regarding awards and certain other personnel policies at the IRS in both versions of the pending appropriations bill funding that agency.