DoD Bills Also on Plate

One high priority bill for the upcoming work period—which will be interrupted only by a week-long recess around July 4—is the DoD authorization. In addition to setting the military raise, the House version-passed (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 studies being ordered by OMB. It also would provide for expedited hiring authorities for certain acquisition, health care and research laboratory positions.