GovernmentExecutive.com

A new policy adopted to protect Defense Department workers from terrorist attacks is creating a backlog of requests for information about the federal workforce at the Office of Personnel Management, according to an OPM official.

In a March 29 memorandum, Defense Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness David Chu asked OPM not to release lists of names and related information about Defense employees and to refer requests for such information to the Defense Department's Office of Freedom of Information and Security. Under the new policy, names and street and e-mail addresses of Defense employees will no longer be released.

But OPM also is clearing requests for general statistics from the Central Personnel Data File through Defense, a process that has caused backlogs and delays and slowed responses to Freedom of Information Act requests, an OPM official said.

A request from Government Executive for general statistics about federal managers was delayed for a week earlier this month as it underwent Defense review. The information, which included general statistics about the number of federal managers, their racial breakdown, average salary and length of service, was eventually granted.

A Pentagon spokesman confirmed that Defense is vetting requests for personnel information sent to OPM and deciding whether to release the data.

The March 29 policy is an expansion of one adopted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that denies FOIA requests about specific Defense employees, or redacts such information when it would be revealed by another request. The original policy was implemented, according to an October 2001 memo, "because of the heightened interest in the personal privacy of [Defense] personnel that is consistent with the increased security awareness demanded in times of national security."

The policy was broadened last month to include requests for information from the Central Personnel Data File - the government's repository of statistics about the federal workforce - because FOIA guidelines are used to determine what information from the repository is released, according to the Pentagon spokesman.

COMMENTS

• Boy oh boy the government is really really stupid! Why would they ever release personal information on employees? The government does not have the right to release personal information on employees to anyone and they should be working to make such information very private. Now I know where all the junk mail ifs coming up with my address. The lawyers that decided release of this information was proper should be fired immediately without recourse! The OPM should be gotten rid of because this simply indicates total incompetence, which we all knew anyway! Hey Kay Coles where do you live and what is your phone number? Are you releasing social security numbers also? No wonder identity theft is on the increase, OPM makes is very simple! This is not faith based employment and my personal data should never be release by the government! Are they releasing IRS information as well - remember that Nixson had it. Do they release social security information or medicare information on individuals? This is outstanding for the Bush administration and ranks right up there with the unpatriotic Patriot Act. Get rid of the Patriot Act and Geogre Bush in November. This guy is a total afront to the American way. Hello police state brought by George and his Patriot Act. tax payer Posted April 29, 2004 7:18 AM
• I was unaware that personal information such as telephone nos. and addresses had been released to outsiders in the past. However, there was a case some time ago about an agency refusing to release mailing addresses of employees to a union; I wonder if this is an anti-labor ploy. GovExec.com reader Posted April 14, 2004 5:09 PM
• Why would the Pentagon release the names of employees and their home addresses and emails? No one needs to know this information. In any place of employment, this information is not given to anyone in or outside the office. If any information is to be released, maybe their work email and address but certainly not their private residence. Pretty stupid! GovExec.com reader Posted April 14, 2004 12:32 PM