FederalDaily.com > Proposed Increases and Cuts to Federal Jobs

FederalDaily - February 8, 2006

Proposed Increases and Cuts to Federal Jobs

President Bush proposed staffing increases—and one work force reduction—for federal agencies in his 2007 budget, released on Monday. The budget request recommends additional staffing for the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Justice and Veterans Affairs. The Social Security Administration (SSA), meanwhile, projects a staffing decrease of approximately 1,200 employees. The rationale for the reduction is that the increased workload associated with implementing the Medicare Modernization Act implementation is winding down. But the American Federation of Government Employees said the SSA reduction is unwarranted, particularly with the impending retirements of federal employees in the baby boomer generation. SSA Spokesperson Mark Lassiter countered that the move does not mean the loss of any current employees, but that workers lost through attrition (such as retirement) would not necessarily be replaced on a one-for-one basis. For more information on the budget proposal, visit www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/.

DoD Backs Off Proposed National Guard Cuts

After receiving pressure from Congress, the Department of Defense (DoD) reversed a plan to propose funding cuts to the Army and Air National Guard, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., announced late last week. According to Thune, DoD’s 2007 Defense Budget submission originally contained a proposal to cut 17,000 personnel from the Army National Guard, with significant end-strength reductions for the Air National Guard as well. A group of 75 senators submitted a letter to DoD Secretary Donald Rumsfeld opposing the move. Thune confirmed that DoD officials announced that there would be no reduction in National Guard end-strength. “It is important for Congress to cut wasteful spending from the federal budget, but as we have seen, the contributions made by the National Guard both in Iraq and Afghanistan, and here at home, are critical to preserving the strength and security of America,” Thune said.

CBP Steps Up Textile Enforcement

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff informed Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., that DHS is hiring to fill 72 positions for textile transshipment enforcement operations. All 72 positions are to be filled by the end of Dec. 2006 and will include overseas positions, import specialists, and audit, analytic, and investigative staff, according to Dole. Last week, Dole said Customs and Border Protection has seized more than $10 million (over the last four months) in goods that were illegally transshipped in an effort to circumvent trade laws and regulations. “This is a good indicator that textile enforcement is producing results,” said Dole. “I am pleased that we were successful in pressing the administration to hire Customs agents to focus specifically on keeping out illegal textiles,” she added.

Protecting Federal Judges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is doing more to protect federal judges. Assistant Attorney General William Moschella wrote a letter to Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama (both Illinois Democrats) saying that the United States Marshall Service (USMS) awarded a $3.5 million-contract to purchase and install home intrusion detection systems in the homes of federal judges. The letter also said that the USMS is in the process of negotiating a national maintenance contract to cover the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of these systems after they are installed. Moschella said the USMS intends to have all systems installed by the end of 2006. “I am relieved that this money is no longer being held up unnecessarily, forcing our federal judges to stand by without adequate security,” Durbin said.