Defense Civilian Downsizing: Challenges Remain Even With Availability of Financial Separation Incentives
Abstract
The Congress has expressed much concern in recent years about the adequacy of DOD management of its civilian work force and the adequacy of planning for force reductions. Last year, in testimony before the Readiness Subcommittee, we outlined the limitations in DOD's initial efforts to outline a 5-year plan for downsizing its industrial and commercial work force. Limitations included projecting how, where, and when many reductions would occur, and identifying how many would involve involuntary separations, We highlighted important differences between DOD's approaches to downsizing its military and civilian forces-the former focusing on active management of continued accessions and losses to not only downsize but also to "shape" the force for the future; the latter relying primarily on hiring freezes and passive attrition, supplemented by reductions-in-force (RIF), to meet reduction targets. We noted growing concerns among DOD managers that their approach to civilian force reductions did little to shape the civilian force and was creating both short- and long-term problems. During that hearing, you asked us to continue monitoring Defense's management of downsizing activities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- AD1150684
Entities
People
- Mark E. Gebicke
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office