US District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Thursday afternoon that the Pentagon’s new National Security Personnel System fails the union litmus test. Sullivan decided that NSPS “fails to ensure” collective bargaining, “does not meet” the Congressional requirement for independent third party review, and “fails to provide” fair treatment for employees who appeal adverse actions. (Read his opinion here.) What does this portend for NSPS? The Pentagon already has slowed implementation training. Officials say the DOD legal eagles are reviewing the decision.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
