| Comment Number: | OL-10500426 |
| Received: | 2/17/2005 8:21:53 AM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been a federal civil service employee for almost thirty years, and have worked for several agencies. I find the proposed regulations to be appalling. The proposed regulations will not better protect the United States, rather they will further demoralize the federal workforce. Basically, the federal worker will no longer have any rights. DOD management will be able to control and change where you work, the job you hold, pay increases if any, and employee protections. The proposed regulations are filled with vague generalities that DOD wishes to get past Congress. Once the regulations are passed, DOD plans to implement their own internal guidance without any congressional oversight. One specific example that highlights my statement is a direct quote from Sec. 9901.106, "For example, the proposed regulations provide for an administrative process in which employees may seek reconsideration of their performance ratings: this is to ensure transparency in the performance management system. The specific procedures for that reconsideration process are not spelled out in these proposed regulations; rather, they will be established in internal DOD issuances." The above is about as transparent as mud. The performance rating is one of the cornerstones of the NSPS, and yet DOD will not spell out how an employee can seek a change in their evaluation. This is one of many examples that can be found in reading through the proposed regulations. Although the present civil service system is not perfect, and could use a little "tweaking", the worker at least felt a partnership with management to get the work done and accomplish the mission. Under the proposed new system its their way or the highway. I think that the goal of this administration is to get rid of as many government workers as they can, and replace them with private contractors.