WP: Growing the Workforce but Not the Payroll

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/04/AR2008020402598.html

By Stephen Barr
Tuesday, February 5, 2008; Page D04

President Bush seemingly wants to have it both ways in his final budget -- he wants the federal workforce to grow but he doesn't want the federal payroll to grow too much.

The number of federal civilian employees would increase to 1.92 million in fiscal 2009, according to the budget, which was sent to Capitol Hill yesterday. That represents a 5.2 percent increase in the executive branch since 2005 and more than 10 percent since 2001, Bush's first year in office.

As in most previous years, however, Bush continued an effort to limit the rise in federal civilian pay. For 2009, Bush recommends a 2.9 percent civilian pay increase, including locality adjustments, and a 3.4 percent increase in military pay.

Much of the growth in the federal workforce has been caused by efforts to improve national security and thwart terrorist threats following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, according to the budget. The U.S. Border Patrol would hire and train 2,200 officers, and the State Department would add 500 in jobs related to diplomacy plus another 500 in security, training and other positions.

The Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2010 census and plans to add staff as it opens 150 local offices next year, the budget says.

The departments of Energy and Veterans Affairs would add employees, as would the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

FULL 2 page story at link.