Rightsizing IT

What is the right size of the federal workforce? A House subcommittee on Thursday sought out answers to that question, in part to determine how several proposals to cut federal jobs and freeze hiring should move forward, if at all.

Dennis Ross, R-Fla., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the federal workforce, argued that the size of the federal workforce now stands at over 2.1 million, the largest in modern history.

Still, federal employee unions and groups argued that despite the impression of a bloated government, the Census shows there are nearly the exact same number of federal employees today as there were in 1946. In addition, the U.S. population has more than doubled since then, while federal services have grown to account for needs like interstate highways, space exploration, technology and terrorism.

Two lawmakers have introduced legislation that would restrict federal hiring until the government eliminates the budget deficit. A bill introduced earlier this month by Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., would prohibit agencies from hiring until the budget deficit is eliminated, while another bill by Rep. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., would reduce the size of the workforce through attrition by hiring only one employee who retire or leave federal service.

But witnesses suggested that arbitrary cuts or freezes to federal hiring as proposed in the legislation may have other consequences. "The fact is that any savings generated would simply be shifted to private contractors who generally cost more, are less accountable, and are unable to do the work of the federal government as well or as effectively as federal workers," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

What are your thoughts? Is the federal government already "rightsized," and what impact would cuts or freezes to federal hiring have on your IT department and mission?