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When the history of the Bush administration is written, it will include detailed chapters on the Sept. 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the effort to revamp Social Security. It's also likely to include a section on a less heralded initiative to hammer home the most far-reaching civil service changes in more than a quarter-century.

In his 2006 budget request, President Bush proposed allowing all executive branch agencies to dismantle the General Schedule pay system, tighten disciplinary rules and reduce union bargaining rights. Just days earlier, the Homeland Security Department became the first Cabinet agency to announce its plan to revamp civil service rules, using authority it won from Congress in 2002. The Defense Department, granted similar power in 2003, followed with its rules in February.

Comptroller General David M. Walker, head of the Government Accountability Office, is relieved that the administration wants to bring consistency to civil service reform. Last December, he expressed concerns about the piecemeal approach taken by DHS and Defense. What was lacking, said Walker, was a clear delineation of the "core set of values and principles" that define the civil service, "the glue that binds us together."

In the March 1 issue of Government Executive staff correspondent Shawn Zeller examines the Bush administration's mission to makeover the federal workforce. To read the full story, click here.

COMMENTS

• Contracting out is to help businesses and cronies - family and friends who own the businesses that supply the workers. And these cronies and businesses will make money at the expense of the civil service employee. We have almost eroded the concept of civil service, and just keep chipping away at whatever is left. Viva la France -- they protest in the streets when the government threatens to chip away at their 35 hour work week and their benefits. The common person in this country falls for the phony "framing" by this administration. GovExec.com reader Posted March 16, 2005 11:01 AM
• The Bushwacker administration SUCKS big time, but thanks to all fellow federal government employees that serve the public, you're doing an outstanding job and have served the public well for many years. GovExec.com reader Posted March 9, 2005 9:38 PM
• Yes Robert, I've noticed the last 20 years of reform and I am tired of it, it's gotten to the point that I ignore most of it and don't enforce any of it unless I'm being monitored etc... and I also agree with the last poster regarding trying to remove the federal work force, at least this administration has been trying to do this and may well exceed, I guess I'm fortunate in that I'll have my 30 years in this spring. GovExec.com reader Posted March 9, 2005 7:22 PM