Personnel Policies on Agenda

By: fedweek

Both chambers of Congress are now back at work from the spring recess, facing a showdown with the White House over several potential changes in federal personnel policies. The first of those measures in line for action could be a war supplemental bill (HR-1591) that is in a House-Senate conference and which could have an impact on the DoD base closing process by barring the closing of the Walter Reed Army medical center in the District of Columbia, potentially leading to moves to pull out other facilities from the closings package approved in 2005. The Pentagon recently sent a letter to Congress urging that the needed funds be provided quickly, noting that in a similar situation last year, the Army had to take budget-cutting steps affecting its civilian employees including canceling travel, training and conferences, releasing temporary employees and freezing hiring.