Defense Department to implement further cuts in the civilian workforce
Defense Technical Information Center Undergoes Major Reorganization
The Defense Department is currently undergoing a significant transformation at the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC). The aim is to reduce the civilian workforce at DTIC by approximately 74-80%, slashing the number of employees from 154 to around 40 mission-essential staff. This reorganization is part of a "targeted, deliberate, and expeditious civilian reduction-in-force" aimed at refocusing DTIC back to its core statutory mission of managing a library of technical information and enhancing user experience.
Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Emil Michael is leading this reorganization, which seeks to preserve four core priorities at DTIC: preserving and disseminating defense-related research, enabling the research and engineering community, fostering innovation via public access to DoD research, and maximizing investment value through data analysis. The adjustments are expected to save more than $25 million annually and contribute to broader federal workforce reduction goals initiated under the Trump administration.
The legacy organizational model and outdated information infrastructure at DTIC have been identified as incompatible with current global research and development needs, integration of artificial intelligence, or connection with other critical data systems supporting strategic defense investments. The reorganization includes a zero-based core mission review of contractor personnel augmenting DTIC staff, with possible stop-work orders as the review progresses. These changes reflect a broader DoD initiative to improve efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and leverage emerging technologies for technological superiority.
DTIC expects to issue RIF notices by Aug. 25 and will conduct a zero-based core mission review for contractor personnel. The reorganization is expected to save more than $25 million per year.
In other news, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received retirement paperwork from over 28,000 federal employees between May and June. The FedRAMP program office found initial success with its 20x pilot, approving four vendors for cloud security authorizations in about a month.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced a key software security initiative and launched a consortium to lead implementation of software security standards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to develop a universal disaster assistance application under a bipartisan bill in the Senate. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is recruiting retired Border Patrol agents who left between July 2020 and June 2024. Additionally, CBP could offer re-employed annuitants a dual compensation waiver, allowing them to collect a full salary and a full annuity. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is expected to release new federal retirement numbers today.
- The reorganization at the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) aims to reimagine the federal workforce, focusing on a reduced staff of around 40 mission-essential employees, thus aligning with the broader federal workforce reduction goals.
- The adjustments in the DTIC, which are expected to save more than $25 million annually, involve a review of contractor personnel, indicating a possible shift in the DTIC's business approach towards a more streamlined and efficient model.
