Personnel Reforms Again Urged

The Bush administration once again has urged Congress to revamp federal personnel policies along the lines of the special authorities at DoD and DHS, asking in its recent budget proposal for passage of the “Working for America Act” that it previously proposed but that so far hasn’t been introduced as formal legislation. That proposal aims to eliminate the general schedule system and replace it with a pay banding arrangement with pay for performance elements. In its proposal, the White House said that the proposal is “based on lessons the government has learned implementing alternative pay systems over the past 25 years, and focus on creating a better system that attracts a motivated and capable workforce.”