Under the bill, recruitment and relocation bonuses could be paid as an initial payment, in
installments, as a final lump sum upon the completion of the service period, or in a combination;
retention bonuses could be paid in installments after completion of specified periods of service or
in a single lump sum at the end of the full period of service. Also, retention bonuses could be paid
if an agency determines that the employee would be likely to leave for another agency, not just when
the employee is at risk of leaving the government entirely. The enhanced bonus authority could not be
used for political appointees.
