Senators Urge Government To Streamline Hiring Process

Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, above, chairs the federal workforce committee, and George V. Voinovich is the panel's ranking Republican. (Mohammed Jalil - AP)

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In September, the OPM will urge agencies to hire applicants within 80 days, Bailey said. The OPM will ask agencies to measure and report their success in meeting the 80-day hiring goal by December 2009. She said the approach will not only shorten the time it takes an applicant to be hired but will improve how agencies communicate with job applicants.

Bailey also said the OPM is working to streamline job announcements for some entry-level positions and developing a model that can be used to hire entry-level contracting officials. Working with the Federal Acquisition Institute, officials have cut "verbiage by 75 percent," she said.

Voinovich said the subcommittee wants to monitor the OPM's efforts on hiring, in part to ensure the work gets done, and asked for the plan in writing. Bailey said the OPM would send it within two weeks.

Talk Shows

John Sigler of the National Defense University will be the guest on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on FederalNewsRadio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

Reginald F. Wells, deputy commissioner for human resources at the Social Security Administration, will be the guest on the "IBM Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. Saturday on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.

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