Reforming Human Resource Management in the Federal Sector

Abstract

In the past decade, the federal government has initiated major personnel reforms in several large agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Defense (DoD). Reforms have centered on providing managerial flexibility to tie personnel practices to organizational performance. DHS and DoD in particular have linked such flexibility to security requirements. In making reforms, these three organizations have crafted new labor–management systems that reflect vastly different views about the role of unions. The Bush administration has expressed interest in extending reforms to other federal agencies.