5 USC 9902 - Department of Defense personnel authorities

View all text of Chapter 99 [§ 9901 - § 9905]

§ 9902. Department of Defense personnel authorities

(a)Performance Management and Workforce Incentives.—

(1) The Secretary, in coordination with the Director, shall promulgate regulations providing for the following:

(A) A fair, credible, and transparent performance appraisal system for employees.

(B) A fair, credible, and transparent system for linking employee bonuses and other performance-based actions to performance appraisals of employees.

(C) A process for ensuring ongoing performance feedback and dialogue among supervisors, managers, and employees throughout the appraisal period and setting timetables for review.

(D) Development of attractive career paths.

(E) Development of “performance assistance plans” that are designed to give employees formal training, on-the-job training, counseling, mentoring, and other assistance.

(2) In developing the regulations required by this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director, may waive the requirements of chapter 43 (other than sections 4302 and 4303(e)) and the regulations implementing such chapter, to the extent necessary to achieve the objectives of this subsection.

(3)

(A) The Secretary may establish a fund, to be known as the “Department of Defense Civilian Workforce Incentive Fund” (in this paragraph referred to as the “Fund”).

(B) The Fund shall consist of the following:

(i) Amounts appropriated to the Fund.

(ii) Amounts available for compensation of employees that are transferred to the Fund.

(i) Incentive payments for employees based on team or individual performance (which payments shall be in addition to basic pay).

(ii) Incentive payments to attract or retain employees with particular or superior qualifications or abilities.

(D) The authority provided in this paragraph is in addition to, and does not supersede or replace, any authority or source of funding otherwise available to the Secretary to pay bonuses or make incentive payments to civilian employees of the Department.

(4)

(A) Any action taken by the Secretary under this subsection, or to implement this subsection, shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (c) and chapter 71.

(B) Any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed an agency rule or regulation under section 7117(a)(2), and shall not be deemed a Government-wide rule or regulation under section 7117(a)(1).

(b)Flexibilities Relating to Appointments.—

(1) The Secretary, in coordination with the Director, shall promulgate regulations to redesign the procedures which are applied by the Department of Defense in making appointments to positions within the competitive service in order to—

(A) better meet mission needs;

(B) respond to managers’ needs and the needs of applicants;

(D) support timely decisions;

(E) uphold appointments based on merit system principles; and

(F) promote competitive job offers.

(2) In redesigning the process by which such appointments shall be made, the Secretary, in coordination with the Director, may waive the requirements of chapter 33, and the regulations implementing such chapter, to the extent necessary to achieve the objectives of this section, while providing for the following:

(A) Fair, credible, and transparent methods of establishing qualification requirements for, recruitment for, and appointments to positions.

(B) Fair and open competition and equitable treatment in the consideration and selection of individuals to positions.

(3) In implementing this subsection, the Secretary shall comply with the provisions of section 2302(b)(11), regarding veterans’ preference requirements, in a manner consistent with that in which such provisions are applied under chapter 33.

(4)

(A) Any action taken by the Secretary under this subsection, or to implement this subsection, shall be subject to the requirements of subsection (c) and chapter 71.

(B) Any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall be deemed an agency rule or regulation under section 7117(a)(2), and shall not be deemed a Government-wide rule or regulation under section 7117(a)(1).

(5) The Secretary shall develop a training program for Department of Defense human resource professionals to implement the requirements of this subsection.

(6) The Secretary shall develop indicators of effectiveness to determine whether appointment flexibilities under this subsection have achieved the objectives set forth in paragraph (1).

(c)Criteria for Use of New Personnel Authorities.—In establishing any new performance management and workforce incentive system under subsection (a) or utilizing appointment flexibilities under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—

(1) adhere to merit principles set forth in section 2301;

(2) include a means for ensuring employee involvement (for bargaining unit employees, through their exclusive representatives) in the design and implementation of such system;

(3) provide for adequate training and retraining for supervisors, managers, and employees in the implementation and operation of such system;

(4) develop—

(A) a comprehensive management succession program to provide training to employees to develop managers for the agency; and

(B) a program to provide training to supervisors on actions, options, and strategies a supervisor may use in administering such system;

(5) include effective transparency and accountability measures and safeguards to ensure that the management of such system is fair, credible, and equitable, including appropriate independent reasonableness reviews, internal assessments, and employee surveys;

(6) provide mentors to advise individuals on their career paths and opportunities to advance and excel within their fields;

(7) develop appropriate procedures for warnings during performance evaluations for employees who fail to meet performance standards;

(8) utilize the annual strategic workforce plan, required by section 115b 1

1 See References in Text note below.

of title 10; and

(9) ensure that adequate agency resources are allocated for the design, implementation, and administration of such system.

(d)Development of Training Program for Supervisors.—

(1) The Secretary shall develop—

(A) a program to provide training to supervisors on use of the new authorities provided in this section, including the actions, options, and strategies a supervisor may use in—

(i) developing and discussing relevant goals and objectives with the employee, communicating and discussing progress relative to performance goals and objectives, and conducting performance appraisals;

(ii) mentoring and motivating employees, and improving employee performance and productivity;

(iii) fostering a work environment characterized by fairness, respect, equal opportunity, and attention to the quality of the work of employees;

(iv) effectively managing employees with unacceptable performance;

(v) addressing reports of a hostile work environment, reprisal, or harassment of or by another supervisor or employee; and

(vi) otherwise carrying out the duties and responsibilities of a supervisor;

(B) a program to provide training to supervisors on the prohibited personnel practices under section 2302 (particularly with respect to such practices described under subsections (b)(1) and (b)(8) of such section), employee collective bargaining and union participation rights, and the procedures and processes used to enforce employee rights; and

(i) sharing knowledge and advice in areas such as communication, critical thinking, responsibility, flexibility, motivating employees, teamwork, leadership, and professional development; and

(ii) pointing out strengths and areas for development.

(2) Each supervisor shall be required to complete a program at least once every 3 years.

(e)Provisions Regarding National Level Bargaining.—

(1) The Secretary may bargain with a labor organization which has been accorded exclusive recognition under chapter 71 at an organizational level above the level of exclusive recognition. The decision to bargain above the level of exclusive recognition shall not be subject to review. The Secretary shall consult with the labor organization before determining the appropriate organizational level of bargaining.

(2) Any such bargaining shall—

(A) address issues that are—

(i) subject to bargaining under chapter 71 and this chapter;

(ii) applicable to multiple bargaining units; and

(iii) raised by either party to the bargaining;

(B) except as agreed by the parties or directed through an independent dispute resolution process agreed upon by the parties, be binding on all affected subordinate bargaining units of the labor organization at the level of recognition and their exclusive representatives, and the Department of Defense and its subcomponents, without regard to levels of recognition;

(C) to the extent agreed by the parties or directed through an independent dispute resolution process agreed upon by the parties, supersede conflicting provisions of all other collective bargaining agreements of the labor organization, including collective bargaining agreements negotiated with an exclusive representative at the level of recognition; and

(D) except as agreed by the parties or directed through an independent dispute resolution process agreed upon by the parties, not be subject to further negotiations for any purpose, including bargaining at the level of recognition.

(3) Any independent dispute resolution process agreed to by the parties for the purposes of paragraph (2) shall have the authority to address all issues on which the parties are unable to reach agreement.

(4) The National Guard Bureau and the Army and Air Force National Guard may be included in coverage under this subsection.

(5) Any bargaining completed pursuant to this subsection with a labor organization not otherwise having national consultation rights with the Department of Defense or its subcomponents shall not create any obligation on the Department of Defense or its subcomponents to confer national consultation rights on such a labor organization.

(f)Provisions Related to Separation and Retirement Incentives.—

(1) The Secretary may establish a program within the Department of Defense under which employees may be eligible for early retirement, offered separation incentive pay to separate from service voluntarily, or both. This authority may be used to reduce the number of personnel employed by the Department of Defense or to restructure the workforce to meet mission objectives without reducing the overall number of personnel. This authority is in addition to, and notwithstanding, any other authorities established by law or regulation for such programs.

(2)

(A) The Secretary may not authorize the payment of voluntary separation incentive pay under paragraph (1) to more than 25,000 employees in any fiscal year, except that employees who receive voluntary separation incentive pay as a result of a closure or realignment of a military installation under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 (title XXIX of Public Law 101–510; 10 U.S.C. 2687 note) shall not be included in that number.

(B) The Secretary shall prepare a report each fiscal year setting forth the number of employees who received such pay as a result of a closure or realignment of a military base as described under subparagraph (A).

(C) The Secretary shall submit the report under subparagraph (B) to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Government Reform of the House of Representatives.

(3) For purposes of this section, the term “employee” means an employee of the Department of Defense, serving under an appointment without time limitation, except that such term does not include—

(A) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84, or another retirement system for employees of the Federal Government;

(B) an employee having a disability on the basis of which such employee is or would be eligible for disability retirement under any of the retirement systems referred to in subparagraph (A); or

(C) for purposes of eligibility for separation incentives under this section, an employee who is in receipt of a decision notice of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable performance.

(4) An employee who is at least 50 years of age and has completed 20 years of service, or has at least 25 years of service, may, pursuant to regulations promulgated under this section, apply and be retired from the Department of Defense and receive benefits in accordance with chapter 83 or 84 if the employee has been employed continuously within the Department of Defense for more than 30 days before the date on which the determination to conduct a reduction or restructuring within 1 or more Department of Defense components is approved.

(5)

(A) Separation pay shall be paid in a lump sum or in installments and shall be equal to the lesser of—

(i) an amount equal to the amount the employee would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c), if the employee were entitled to payment under such section; or

(ii) $25,000.

(B) Separation pay shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be included in the computation, of any other type of Government benefit. Separation pay shall not be taken into account for the purpose of determining the amount of any severance pay to which an individual may be entitled under section 5595, based on any other separation.

(C) Separation pay, if paid in installments, shall cease to be paid upon the recipient’s acceptance of employment by the Federal Government, or commencement of work under a personal services contract as described in paragraph (6).

(6)

(A) An employee who receives separation pay under such program may not be reemployed by the Department of Defense for a 12-month period beginning on the effective date of the employee’s separation, unless this prohibition is waived by the Secretary on a case-by-case basis.

(B) An employee who receives separation pay under this section on the basis of a separation occurring on or after the date of the enactment of the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–226; 108 Stat. 111) and accepts employment with the Government of the United States, or who commences work through a personal services contract with the United States within 5 years after the date of the separation on which payment of the separation pay is based, shall be required to repay the entire amount of the separation pay to the Department of Defense. If the employment is with an Executive agency (as defined by section 105) other than the Department of Defense, the Director may, at the request of the head of that agency, waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is within the Department of Defense, the Secretary may waive the repayment if the individual involved is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is with an entity in the legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position. If the employment is with the judicial branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.

(7) Under this program, early retirement and separation pay may be offered only pursuant to regulations established by the Secretary, subject to such limitations or conditions as the Secretary may require.

(g)Provisions Relating to Reemployment.—

(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), if an annuitant receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund becomes employed in a position within the Department of Defense, his annuity shall continue. An annuitant so reemployed shall not be considered an employee for purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84.

(2)

(A) An annuitant retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) receiving an annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, who becomes employed in a position within the Department of Defense after the date of enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108–136), may elect to be subject to section 8344 or 8468 (as the case may be).

(B) An election for coverage under this paragraph shall be filed not later than the later of 90 days after the date the Department of Defense—

(i) prescribes regulations to carry out this subsection; or

(ii) takes reasonable actions to notify employees who may file an election.

(C) If an employee files an election under this paragraph, coverage shall be effective beginning on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after the date of the filing of the election.

(D) Paragraph (1) shall apply to an individual who is eligible to file an election under subparagraph (A) and does not file a timely election under subparagraph (B).

(3) Benefits similar to those provided by paragraphs (1) and (2) may be extended, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the President, so as to be made available with respect to reemployed annuitants within the Department of Defense who are subject to such other retirement systems for Government employees (whose annuities are payable under authorities other than subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 5) as may be provided for under such regulations.

(4) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this subsection, excluding paragraph (3).

(h)Reports.—

(1)In general.—Not later than 1 year after the implementation of any performance management and workforce incentive system under subsection (a) or any procedures relating to personnel appointment flexibilities under subsection (b) (whichever is earlier), and whenever any significant action is taken under any of the preceding provisions of this section (but at least biennially) thereafter, the Secretary shall—

(A) conduct appropriately designed and statistically valid internal assessments or employee surveys to assess employee perceptions of any program, system, procedures, or other aspect of personnel management, as established or modified under authority of this section; and

(B) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing the results of the assessments or surveys conducted under subparagraph (A) (including the methodology used), together with any other information which the Secretary considers appropriate.

(2)Definition.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “appropriate committees of Congress” means—

(A) the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives;

(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and

(Added Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title XI, § 1101(a)(1), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1621; amended Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title XI, § 1106(a), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 349; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title XI, § 1106, Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4617; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title XI, §§ 1113(b)(1), (d), (f)(1), 1121, Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2498, 2499, 2502, 2505; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title X, § 1075(a)(2), title XI, § 1101(c), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4368, 4382; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title XI, §§ 1101(a)–(c), 1102(a), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1610, 1611; Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title XI, § 1120, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 435.)