End of NSPS, FERS flu, and more from the Defense Authorization Bill

By Emily Jarvis
Internet Editor
FederalNewsRadio

The Defense Authorization bill is expected to pass and in it come big changes for the National Security Personnel System.

"The Defense Authorization Bill says NSPS should go away. The Defense Department has six months to come up with a new plan that would fix the many and varied flaws that have pegged NSPS. Then the Congress would have to vote on that proposal on the new system one way or another up or down. In the absence of that NSPS program, employees would revert back to whatever pay system they came from mostly likely the General Schedule," said Jackie Simon from American Federation of Government Employees. Simon was speaking on the Your Turn Program with Mike Causey.

Assuming that the Defense Authorization Bill passes as expected NSPS would immediately stop in its tracks.

"My understanding is that they are supposed to get to work right away at getting people back into the GS System," said Simon.

"Lets admit this is a failure and a very politicized system and move on," said Simon.

On top of the probable elimination of NSPS, there is a major benefits package for federal workers and federal retirees.

Just one of the many goodies in this new bill is a $250 dollar payment for retirees who do not get social security. Legislative Director for National Active and Retired Employees (NARFE), Dan Adcock, is thrilled with the amendment but warns, "unfortunately it is not a done deal yet."

The provisions are well backed by the president and federal retirees.

Also on tap in the Defense Authorization bill is a few provisions that would correct problems for retired feds who come back to work part time.

The way it stands right now those people are taking a hit in their annuities for coming back part time. The new provisions would fix this problem.

It would also fix the problem for people who specialize in one field who are brought into government for the short term run into a problem with the Dual Compensation Act. The Act says they can get their full federal annuity but they can't get their full salary.

"There is an existing authority that you can waive this but it is a lengthy process. What is in the Defense Authorization Bill would allow agencies without having to go through OPM to hire re-employed annuitiants without offset to either their salary or their annuity but would work on a part time basis for a limited duration," said Adcock.

"These are people that we needed to hire yesterday," said Adcock.

All in all the Defense Authorization Bill would mean big things for federal employees. As Mike Causey says, even if a third of the things proposed in the bill are passed it would be the biggest year for feds in a decade.

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