Performance Fund Also on Table

The appropriations bill also could become the vehicle for creating the proposed $500 million fund to reward high-performing employees. The House-passed Defense authorization bill (HR-1588) would authorize such a fund, but action by appropriators would be needed to actually create it. The pertinent House appropriations subcommittee voted for what amounts to a $15 million seed fund to get the program on the books and underway, pending a more thorough explanation from the administration of how the fund would work. However, backers of the fund may push for full immediate funding by arguing that provisions crafted for the DoD bill provide enough guidance and protections.