Many Moving Parts on Reorganization Ideas

Image: Mark Van Scyoc/Shutterstock.com

By: FEDweek Staff

Language in budget bills advancing in Congress to restrict agency reorganization authority could be just the first of many such moves against other controversial provisions of the administration’s government reorganization plan, although there also is pressure to move ahead.

After already having passed a measure restricting the planned reorganization of the Army Corps of Engineers and several other smaller agencies, Congress is set to consider next week a bill (HR-6157) saying that agencies it funds—DoD, Labor, HHS, Education and related agencies—“shall not reallocate resources or reorganize activities except as provided” in the bill. That bill is considered a high priority item because it also extends through December 7 spending authority for agencies whose regular appropriations bills won’t be enacted by the end of the current fiscal year September 30.

Also, the House version of a third multi-agency bill in progress, which contains government-wide policies, requires agencies to notify and consult with Congress before “any significant reorganization or restructuring of offices, programs, or activities” while the Senate version requires similar notice before reprogramming funds.

Also, some members of Congress want to add language to block Agriculture’s plans to shift two of its components out of the national capital area, a move the department says it expects to carry out—even with no destination yet chosen—by the end of next year.

Other controversial elements of the reorganization plan announced in the summer that could be similarly targeted include privatizing air traffic control functions and the Postal Service, and turning OPM into a policy arm of the White House while shifting its operational parts to GSA and DoD.

Meanwhile, though, a bill newly introduced in the House (HR-6787) would create an expedited process for Congress to consider legislation that the administration proposes to carry out reorganizations. A companion bill (S-3137) previously was offered in the Senate.

Also, the White House recently convened a “summit” on federal workforce-related issues which was not open to the media or federal unions. According to accounts from participants on social media, the session focused on familiar themes of the administration including restructuring agencies and retraining affected employees as the government increasingly uses robotics, artificial intelligence and other arising technologies.