Defense
Bush signs homeland bill; fills top jobs in department
President Bush Monday signed legislation establishing a Homeland Security Department and announced he will nominate White House homeland security adviser Tom Ridge to be its first secretary.
Defense
Homeland officials must work with employees on civil service rules
The Homeland Security Department’s leaders must consult with employee organizations before making any changes to civil service rules for the department’s 170,000 employees, under the law creating the new Cabinet-level agency.
Defense
House approves homeland bill; Bush to sign Monday
The House Friday afternoon passed the final version of legislation to create a Homeland Security Department, sending the bill to the White House for the president's signature.
Defense
Homeland Security leaders win broad power over civil service rules
Civil service laws governing pay and promotions, job classification, collective bargaining, performance appraisals, discipline and firing will not apply to the 170,000 employees of the new Homeland Security Department under the homeland legislation approved by Congress this week.
Defense
Homeland Security employees will retain whistleblower rights
Most, and possibly all, employees of the new Homeland Security Department will have full whistleblower protections under a provision in the homeland security bill.
Defense
Bush, Senate GOP win big on homeland security bill
President Bush won a hard-fought victory Tuesday on homeland security legislation when the Senate rejected a Democratic effort to strip controversial amendments to the bill and then passed it on a 90-9 vote.
Defense
Homeland bill includes personnel, benefits changes for all agencies
Agencies across the federal government will get new personnel powers and incentives for employees under the bill creating the new Department of Homeland Security.
Defense
Pentagon takes expanded role in closing bases
The Pentagon is taking a far greater role than it has in the past in deciding which military bases should be closed in 2005. As a result, the military services will have less say in deciding which bases are shut down or realigned.
Defense