Gates and NSPS

To me, one of the most interesting aspects of the amendment added to the Defense Authorization bill yesterday that provides a mechanism for ending the National Security Personnel System is the role it creates for Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Essentially, Gates would have to decide within six months of the amendment's passage if he wanted to keep NSPS, and issue a report defending the decision to do so. The amendment doesn't explain what happens if Gates' rationale isn't very strong, or if he can't demonstrate progress in making changes to the system--there's no arbitrator or committee or vote required by anyone.

Federal employee unions are thrilled by the amendment, but it seems to leave the decision pretty solely in Gates' hands, and Gates supports NSPS. During his confirmation hearing, he said ""Reforming civil service rules to make our civilian work force more adaptable, flexible and agile is critical to the future of the department....I believe NSPS is integral to the department's human capital strategy of developing the right mix of people and skills across the total force." Now, Gates may have changed his mind, or Obama may change it for him. But the bill may be less of a death knell for NSPS than it sounds like, as long as Gates is in the SecDef slot.