Judge Again Rules Against DHS Rules

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has issued another ruling against parts of the revised personnel rules planned at the Department of Homeland Security, rejecting the Bush administration’s argument that its proposed changes in some of the language at issue would merit lifting the injunction she issued in August. The injunction focuses on the bargaining and employee appeals rights portions of the rules, which for now at least are in limbo. Primarily at issue are the scope of allowable bargaining and the roles of the Federal Labor Relations Authority and the Merit Systems Protection Board for DHS employees. DHS earlier announced a delay until next year in the startup of the pay and job classification portions of the rules. Both sides could appeal, with the administration arguing that judge’s action goes too far and unions arguing that it doesn’t go far enough.