Lawmakers push rotational assignments for security workers

Lawmakers are seeking improved interagency collaboration on national security issues by rotating federal employees through different jobs.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., on Thursday introduced legislation that would move federal employees in certain homeland and national security positions through different assignments in an effort to boost efficiency and communication. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, co-sponsored the bill. Reps. Geoff Davis, R-Ky., and John Tierney, D-Mass., introduced companion legislation in the House.

"Our government needs to constantly look for ways to increase its efficiency and effectiveness," Collins said in a statement. "Based on the experience of the Department of Defense in promoting 'jointness,' I believe a key way to strengthen our capabilities across the government is for personnel to do rotational assignments in different agencies to share expertise and best practices so that we capitalize on the knowledge of the best and brightest minds."

The legislation would create the Committee on National Security Personnel, charged with developing a human capital plan to integrate security employees and activities governmentwide. The committee also would work with agencies to identify jobs open for rotation, such as those in engineering, information technology and cybersecurity. Administrative and technical positions would not be eligible. Agencies would set the minimum and maximum length of each assignment, but the bill requires that "the period of rotational service be sufficient for employees to gain an adequately detailed understanding and perspective of the agencies or interagency bodies to which they are rotating."

With a few exceptions, the bill would allow employees to participate voluntarily in rotational assignments. Collective bargaining rights would remain in place for rotating workers, and hiring for open positions would be required to meet merit systems principles. Within 15 years of passage, the legislation would require 85 percent of Senior Executive Service security positions to include rotation in their selection criteria.

Carol A. Bonosaro, president of the Senior Executives Association, said the devil is in the details when it comes to defining which positions are open for rotation. It's important to give employees enough lead time to prepare for new assignments, she said.

"If you want to more assurance that [agencies] collaborate and cooperate, implement this kind of requirement," she said. "But on the other hand, each one of these agencies by and large has its own culture. So to some degree having people move around is almost like a shotgun wedding. That's why it's so important to understand how it's going to happen."