Senate Details Planned Performance Changes for DoD Employees

The Senate has released further details of provisions in the DoD authorization bill regarding performance evaluations of its civilian employees. The provision would double, for those hired after the enactment date, the standard probationary period from one year to two—two-year periods already apply to certain positions—and would allow management to extend the period at its discretion. The probationary period is a job evaluation time in which employees have far fewer rights to appeal personnel actions up to and including firing. The measure also would change the law so that periods in which employees’ work performance is rated as unacceptable would not count in the time toward the employee’s next within-grade raise, again effective on enactment. Further, for RIFs, the bill says the determination of which employees are to be separated “shall be made primarily on the basis of performance, as determined under any applicable performance management system.” Currently in RIF retention decisions, the first priority is for permanent employees over term and temporary employees; then veterans over non-veterans; then length of service is considered—with favorable performance ratings adding credit to the time of service. Like the House bill, the Senate measure would bar another round of base realignments and closings; continue several special hiring authorities, mostly applying to cybersecurity and scientific fields; and continue special benefits for employees assigned to support active military operations. It also would require DoD to issue by next February a report on comparing costs of contractor versus in-house employees in certain functions and at certain bases.