DoD Seeks to Continue, Add Downsizing Authorities

The Defense Department has asked Congress to approve several changes in law that would continue and in some cases expand the Pentagon’s authority in downsizing. The request, part of the annual legislative package that DoD sends to Capitol Hill for possible inclusion in the annual defense authorization bill, cites the upcoming round of DoD base closings as justification. For example, DoD said that because of the impending base closing round, it is “critical” that Congress extend beyond October 1, 2006 the authority DoD has to pay the government’s share of health premiums for employees involuntarily separated due to a reduction in force—DoD is seeking a four-year extension. Similarly, DoD wants to extend through October 1, 2010 its authority to pay severance payments as lump-sums rather than as biweekly payments, and its authority to offer “voluntary RIFs” in which employees who would not be affected by the RIF can offer to be separated, with most RIF benefits, in order to save a position for an employee who might be separated but whose skills are in high demand.