DoD Bill Still Pending in Senate

Before recessing the Senate took up but did not finish work on its version of the annual DoD authorization bill (S-3001), although leaders there hope to bring it up in early September. The bill would provide new hiring authorities in certain occupations, improve certain benefits in downsizing situations and for employees assigned to combat zones, and allow some military reserve technicians—civilian employees who must hold a military position as a term of employment–to remain in the Reserves and thus in their civilian positions until age 60, when Reserve retirement benefits can begin, rather than retire at age 55. The House-passed version (HR-5658) would impose a three-year moratorium on contracting out at DoD, require that studies be completed within 540 days, require OMB to issue new government-wide guidance on what work is inherently governmental and thus off-limits to contracting, restrict the use of personal services contracts (under which federal retirees sometimes return to an agency) and require new guidance on a previous ban against privatization studies being ordered by OMB. It also would provide for expedited hiring authorities for certain acquisition, health care and research laboratory positions.