DOD promises a simpler NSPS

Officials in charge of the National Security Personnel System expect to issue a draft version of their revised rules sometime later this month.

Defense Department officials indicated this week that they are close to completing their latest revision of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS). They expect to issue a draft version of the new performance management system rules later this month.

The new rules, which DOD officials said are simpler and easier to understand, require managers to award pay increases based on how much each employee has contributed, in concrete terms, to measurable national security objectives for that year.

NSPS officials said the purpose behind the latest changes is to make the system more results-focused and performance-based. NSPS must collaborate on the changes with DOD’s unions, which are fighting the system in federal court.

A judge hearing that case is expected to rule March 1 on the union lawsuit, which seeks to bar DOD’s implementation of NSPS.

NSPS officials, who are now revising their training materials and schedules, said they expect to resume training on NSPS rules next month.