At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., introduced a proposal to cut red tape for federal agencies “to make appointments to positions for which there is a severe shortage of candidates.”
The congressman’s office weighed in on the bill which “would give direct-hire authority to all federal agencies.”
“Currently, this privilege is only applicable to certain positions and certain agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), if they can prove there is an ‘urgent’ need or ‘severe shortage of qualified candidates,’” the congressman’s office noted. “However, most jobs should fit this description because of requirements from the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This legislation seeks to deregulate the federal government’s hiring process to increase fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.”
Earlier this week, Steube offered some of the reasons why he introduced the bill.
“Federal agencies are victims of burdensome red tape that hold up the hiring process and waste time and taxpayer dollars,” Steube said. “Agencies should have the authority to hire their own employees and not be subjected to unnecessary regulations.”
The bill was sent to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee at the end of last week. So far, there are no cosponsors and no companion measure over in the U.S. Senate.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
