UNITED STATES
A group of US Republican Senators has introduced legislation that will make it easier to sack underperforming Public Servants.
The group of six legislators want the currently lengthy process to take no more than a year.
A member of the group, David Perdue (pictured) said Government employees should be held to the same standards as private sector employees.
“At the moment, it is nearly impossible to fire bureaucrats for failing to do their jobs,” Senator Perdue said.
“Right now, it can take more than a year to fire or replace a Civil Service employee, even for poor performance or misconduct.”
He said with a US$22 trillion (A$31.4 trillion) debt crisis, the US could not afford to hold on to bureaucrats who were not doing their jobs.
The Bill would apply throughout the Federal career Public Service and add to reforms approved by Congress and already implemented by President, Donald Trump at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“Since President Trump took office, more than 4,300 bad actors have been fired, demoted, or suspended at the VA,” Senator Perdue said.
“It’s time to expand those efforts and address problems across the entire Federal Government.”
The VA personnel changes were approved by the 115th Congress, which included Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
This proposal, according to its backers, will permit Agencies to remove a senior executive for performance reasons, rather than merely demoting them; limit retirement benefits of employees who are removed from their position due to a felony conviction related to their official duties; and authorise Agencies to recoup bonuses and awards when performance or conduct issues are discovered.
It will also extend the probationary period for competitive appointments and promotions from one year to two years.
A companion version of the measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Washington, DC, 24 June 2019
