Senator King and Representative Pingree Oppose Rule Threatening Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Workforce
U.S. Senator Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree are leading efforts to oppose a proposed rule by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) that could weaken civil service protections for federal employees, including nearly 8,000 civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The lawmakers argue that the rule, which aims to promote employee accountability, would undermine the recruitment and retention of skilled workers essential for maintaining the Navy's submarine fleet, thereby threatening national security. The proposed rule would alter longstanding civil service protections by imposing a 30-day limit for performance improvement periods and making termination the default penalty, potentially leading to the loss of skilled workers. The lawmakers, joined by other New Hampshire officials, have expressed their concerns in a letter to OPM Acting Director Charles Ezell and MSPB Chairman Cathy Harris, urging the withdrawal of the rule. 
