Defense Department's New NDAA Proposal Aims to Reform Civilian Workforce Management
The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes significant reforms for the Defense Department's civilian workforce. The proposed changes would allow the department to promote employees based on skills and qualifications, bypassing the traditional time-in-grade requirements. This move is part of a broader effort to tailor the management of the DoD's civilian workforce to its unique mission, distinct from other federal civil services. The bill also proposes using skill-based assessments for hiring and sharing top candidate certificates across the department. Additionally, the legislation seeks to expand the Cyber Excepted Services, increasing the number of positions and offering higher pay for cyber talent. However, the American Federation of Government Employees has criticized the bill for removing collective bargaining rights for many civilian employees. 
