DoD Reform Costs Unknown

One issue being raised with respect to Defense Department authorization bill (HR-1588) now in a House-Senate conference is whether the personnel reforms under consideration for the agency would cost more or less than the current system. The concern on one side is that creating pay-for-performance for white collar employees and other proposed reforms would end up boosting costs, while on the other side the concern is that the department would shortchange some employees to keep costs from rising. The Senate version of the bill, for example, dictates that through 2008 the overall amount allocated for compensation of civilian employees under the new personnel system cannot be less than that which would have been allocated under the old personnel system.