Senator Chastises DoD for Lack of Enthusiasm to Use Good Data
September 04, 2015
Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois recently sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter criticizing the way the department is managing its workforces, especially its tendency to use contractors to do the work even though they are two to three times more expensive than DoD civilians.
Due to shrinking budgets, the senator said it’s important to take advantage of savings derived from the use of civilians over contractors. But DoD’s congressionally mandated service contract inventories are still incomplete and lack the rigor to be useful. In addition, very few components have a point person whose job is to apply this data to future budget decisions.
“Better data will only do so much,” Durbin wrote. “The department also must reform the ways it uses that information, remove artificial barriers to more cost-effective management, and carefully police implementation.
”The senator urged DoD to require all components to use the same inventory system to correct some of the shortcomings. Durbin also expressed concern with the department’s use of PFI reservists in lieu of civilian employees.
AFGE thanks Sen. Durbin for his effort to protect the country’s limited resources. We thank AFGE Locals 15 and 2119 for raising the issue with the senator.
