Lawmakers queried Robert Gates, now Defense Secretary designate, about his view of the National Security Personnel System, now in partial implementation due to ongoing litigation. In his set of advance policy questions, Gates replied: “Reforming civil service rules to make our civilian workforce more adaptable, flexible, and agile is critical to the future of the department.” He continued, saying NSPS is necessary to develop “the right mix of people and skills” and that he planned to review NSPS “to see if any further changes are required.”
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
