FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2005
September 15, 2005
Jemarion Jones
(202) 639-6405
(202) 639-6405
Department of Defense Refuses to Reveal Costs of National Security Personnel System
(WASHINGTON)—The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents 300,000 workers at the Department of Defense (DoD), decried DoD’s refusal to reveal the costs of its new National Security Personnel System (NSPS). For nearly two years, DoD has been developing NSPS for its 700,000 workers. AFGE is working to ensure that the personnel system does not impair national security by undermining the civilian defense workforce.
AFGE filed a request for information under United State Code 7114, with DoD in August regarding NSPS implementation costs. DoD recently turned downed the request.
“It is amazing that DoD can’t answer a simple request for information,” says AFGE National President John Gage. “Americans have a right to know how many of their tax dollars the government will waste in creating a system that will curtail worker rights, lower worker morale, gut pay and threaten national security.”
In addition to the 5 USC 7114, AFGE filed an additional information request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA request is still pending.
“We simply want to know how much this system is going to cost,” says Gage. “It’s a simple question that deserves a straightforward answer.”
Gage noted that Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract for $175 million solely for the purpose of designing the new personnel system for the Department of Homeland Security.
“If NSPS is going to cost as much as the new personnel system for DHS, then we all should be concerned,” says Gage. “This money would be better spent supporting the men and women who protect America especially in light of Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people are jobless and homeless and our government wants to spend millions, if not billions, on a personnel system that will undermine the civilian workforce? This clearly shows that the priorities of DoD and the administration are not in order.”
AFGE filed a request for information under United State Code 7114, with DoD in August regarding NSPS implementation costs. DoD recently turned downed the request.
“It is amazing that DoD can’t answer a simple request for information,” says AFGE National President John Gage. “Americans have a right to know how many of their tax dollars the government will waste in creating a system that will curtail worker rights, lower worker morale, gut pay and threaten national security.”
In addition to the 5 USC 7114, AFGE filed an additional information request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The FOIA request is still pending.
“We simply want to know how much this system is going to cost,” says Gage. “It’s a simple question that deserves a straightforward answer.”
Gage noted that Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract for $175 million solely for the purpose of designing the new personnel system for the Department of Homeland Security.
“If NSPS is going to cost as much as the new personnel system for DHS, then we all should be concerned,” says Gage. “This money would be better spent supporting the men and women who protect America especially in light of Hurricane Katrina. Hundreds of thousands of people are jobless and homeless and our government wants to spend millions, if not billions, on a personnel system that will undermine the civilian workforce? This clearly shows that the priorities of DoD and the administration are not in order.”
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