Other Contracting Restrictions Controversial

The White House also objects to privatization-related provisions in the fiscal 2003 Defense Department authorization bill (S-2514 and HR-4546), which is heading for a House-Senate conference. The House version excludes certain expenditures from the requirement that at least half of depot maintenance work be performed in-house and changes the definition of what is considered “core” logistics work to include acquisition logistics and certain management functions. The Senate version increases the number of logistics support jobs at the agency exempt from contracting out. As with the overall numeric goals issue, the administration contends such language would undermine one of its high priority management agenda items.