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Federal Diary Live
With Stephen Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 10, 2002; Noon EDT
What does the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security mean for
federal employees, especially the 170,000 caught up in the consolidation
and reorganization?
Edward V. Hickey III, the senior adviser for homeland security at the
Office of Personnel Management, joins The Post's Stephen Barr, who writes
the Federal Diary column, to take your questions on the potential impact of
the proposed department as it relates to the federal workforce.
Submit your questions and comments before or during the discussion.
While the department will not be officially formed until after the
legislation is passed, a number of issues are already being addressed by
OPM to allay fears and concerns about the impact on federal employees.
Hickey serves as a senior adviser to OPM Director Kay Coles James on
homeland security issues. He also chairs a Veterans Affairs Task Force,
which examines issues related to the employment of veterans in the federal
workforce, for James.
Prior to joining OPM, Hickey practiced law, advising corporations and
individuals on legal and security issues arising from corporate downsizing,
employee misconduct and industrial espionage. Hickey also has served as an
officer in the Marine Corps and was an administrative assistant to the late
representative Silvio Conte (R-Mass.). Hickey is a 1983 graduate of
Georgetown University and a 1992 graduate of the University of San Diego
School of Law.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control
over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests
and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
Stephen Barr:
Thanks to all of you who are joining us today, especially our guest, Ed Hickey of OPM. Ed, in his address to federal employees this morning, President Bush urged Congress to give the administration the "freedom to manage" in the new Department of Homeland Security. What kind of managerial freedoms are we talking about for the new department? Again, thanks for joining us to discuss this reorganization and consolidation, one of the largest ever in the government.
Ed Hickey: Thanks for having me. In his remarks, the President was referring to giving the new Secretary of Homeland Security flexibility when prescribing, among other things, hiring, pay, leave, benefit and performance standards that affect Department personnel. He wants to create a world class organization for the world class employees who will be performing this critical mission of securing our homeland.
Homeland Security Hopeful:
As a former NYker and in the wake of 9/11, would LOVE and would do anything to work with Homeland Security. Is there something I should/can be doing now? Any suggestions as to what I can do to further my chances? Thanks!
Ed Hickey: Thanks for your interest. You sound like just the kind of person we are looking for to work in the new Department.
The Bill creating the Department is still before Congress and until the new Department is actually created, we
won't be able to bring on new employees. However, as soon as jobs are available, those positions will be posted
on OPM's web site at www.usajobs.opm.gov.
Arlington, Va.:
Thanks for taking our questions. Do you know the types and numbers of security officials that will be asked to leave various agencies and go to work in the Homeland Security Department?
Ed Hickey: In his proposal, the President recognized that responsibilities for homeland security are currently dispersed among more than 100 different entities of the federal government. To create a unified homeland security structure, the President has recommended moving components of agencies such as Health and Human Services, General Services Administration and the department of Energy, as well as entire agencies, such as FEMA. We estimate that the total number of employees involved is 170,000.
Metro D.C.:
Any information on the support functions that provide services to INS? How are they to be split? Or is that level of detail not available yet? I am working at a Justice Data Center that provides support to that group.
Ed Hickey: Thanks for the question. We understand that a number of functions which are not transferred to the Department are still affected by the creation of the new Department. We are still working through the details for those who remain in their agencies and the implementation of those functions. That level of detail will be available during the transition.
Washington, D.C.
Regarding the personnel flexibilities: Is this a move to bust federal sector unions?
Ed Hickey: Absolutely not. Under the President's proposal, when the Department is established, employees represented by unions will continue to be represented; their bargaining rights move with them. Federal employees who belong to unions are as patriotic and dedicated as any other Federal worker, and they will play an important role in the success of the Department.
On the day after the President's proposal was announced, OPM Director Kay Coles James met with AFGE President Bobby Harnage and NTEU President Colleen Kelley to tell them exactly that.
Washington, D.C.:
How would you describe "the culture" that you're trying to create in this new department? Thanks.
Ed Hickey: The President, the Governor Ridge and Director James want to create an environment in the new department where people are knocking down the doors to work there. The want to attract the best, recruit the best and keep the best. There is no more important mission today than securing the American homeland and they want people who are excited about doing that.
Virginia:
Who will do the background checks? And what levels will be required? The FBI and CIA will not work with any people with a secret clearance. They prefer top secret.
Ed Hickey: It will be up to the new agency head to determine what level of clearance is necessary for each individual to perform his or her job.
Washington, D.C.:
Will the Homeland Security new personnel system be based on pay-for-performance and use broadbands instead of the Title 5 grades 1 through 15?
Ed Hickey: No decisions have been made on the new human resource management system. The President's proposal contemplates that it will be contemporary and flexible while still protecting the merit system principles.
Washington, D.C.:
How will OPM consolidate what Stephen, in his column today, said were seven pay and personnel systems? I've heard speculation that pulling the personnel part together will take about three years. True?
Ed Hickey: It is a huge task, and one which is critical to the success of the new Department. The President's proposal asks that the Secretary be given maximum flexibilities to accomplish such an undertaking. Without those flexibilities, what is a difficult task becomes virtually impossible.
Vienna, Va.:
Mr. Hickey: Why on earth was the CIA, the FBI, and the various military intelligence agencies such as DIA not included in the new Homeland Security Dept? I generally have a high opinion of President Bush and his policies, but this makes absolutely no sense to me at all, given that many of the previous intelligence failures were traced to FBI and CIA bureaucratic foul-ups.
Ed Hickey: The new Department will not have any new intelligence collection responsibilities or authorities beyond those traditionally conducted by the component services which join it. As for analysis, the new Department will have a different strategic focus, and will fulfill an important responsibility that did not clearly rest with any executive department or agency before September 11th. The new Department will integrate its own and others' threat analysis with its comprehensive vulnerability assessment for the purpose of identifying protective priorities and promoting proactive steps to be taken by all federal, state and local agencies, and by the private sector.
Stephen Barr:
Thanks to Ed Hickey for fielding questions today. Once again, we've run out of time with a lot of issues left on the electronic table, so to speak. Please join us at noon next Wednesday to continue a discussion of homeland security issues.
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