New Personnel System Faces Dollar Scrutiny:

Four key senators have asked the GAO to take a closer look at proposed expenditures to institute the new National Security Personnel System. GAO senior analyst Derek Stewart told Government Executive that “it is rare” for the GAO to get a review request signed by both the chairmen and ranking members of a committee and one of its subcommittees. The senators have expressed concern that the Pentagon may not have set aside adequate resources to fund the new program. The four: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) heads the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.), is ranking member; Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), leads the oversight subcommittee; and Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) is ranking member. The Pentagon just last week put a slow down order out to the field.