The Department of Defense budget bill would impact personnel policy across the government

The annual defense authorization bill (HR-8070) scheduled for a vote in the House this week includes a number of provisions that would impact federal employment policy, some of which would affect the entire government and others would affect only the Department Defense.

Among the government-wide rules is one that requires federal employees who are spouses of active-duty military personnel to be able to work remotely “to the extent practicable” if the position is suitable for it. Otherwise, agencies would have to offer a position that gives the soldier “equal status and base pay” for which the individual is qualified, or an equivalent position that could be performed remotely.

Other government-wide provisions include: extending the special civil service recruitment authority for spouses of military personnel until 2033; the continued operation of several special compensation authorities for federal employees working abroad in hazardous areas; and an increase from 15 to 20 days per year of leave granted to federal employees for active military service.

The provisions that apply only to the Department of Defense include: the creation of a “chief talent officer” position to oversee matters including off-site recruiting, training and work practices; allowing Department of Defense employees to voluntarily work on overseas assignments longer than the overall current five-year limit; imposing an obligation on the department to develop a new employment and remuneration model for child care positions; and requiring a similar review of “critical” occupations.

The Department of Defense would also be required to produce a report on the “disparity between cost of living and current local wage rates” for its GS employees, and GAO would be tasked with reviewing potential alternative models for measuring white-collar wages versus the private sector. The Department of Defense would also be required to report on the accuracy of comparisons to local wages for blue-collar workers under the wage-grade compensation system.

This week, the Senate Armed Services Committee will write an appropriate bill.

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote this week on a separate, key bill dealing with federal workplace issues, the Government Appropriations Act. The measure offers the best chance for supporters of a January 2025 federal workers’ raise larger than Biden’s recommended 2% to set a higher amount.

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