Federal Daily - December 23, 2008

CBP Meets 2008 Hiring Goal of 6,000 New Agents

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials on Dec. 17 announced that the agency had met its ambitious goal of hiring 6,000 new Border Patrol agents by the end of this year. CBP reached its target weeks ahead of schedule and now employs more than 18,000 agents, the agency said. In the last two years, CBP implemented a far-reaching recruiting effort that included sponsorship of a NASCAR race car, a partnership with a professional bull riders group and an internal effort to improve minority recruitment. During the recruiting push, CBP received an average of 3,500 applicants per week, with applications from all 50 states—including more than 10,000 from the border states of California, Texas and Arizona. The top recruiting locations outside the Southwest were: New York (1,691 applicants), Florida (1,310 applicants) and Michigan (819 applicants). Candidates completed screening that included an interview and written exam, testing for language aptitude or Spanish proficiency, and a physical fitness test and medical examination. “I’m tremendously proud of all the hard work and determination put into recruiting, vetting, hiring and training these agents who will secure the nation’s borders,” said CBP Commissioner W. Ralph Basham. To see more, go to: www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/12172008_9.xml.

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OPM Issues End-of-Year Workforce Report

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Dec. 19 issued a year-end Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council report that OPM says can serve as transition guide for the incoming administration in managing the federal workforce. The annual report provides a detailed guide to near-term federal human capital issues, OPM said. Among emerging issues highlighted by the report is the need to transform the federal human resource profession to meet changing demands. Specifically, the report said, agencies need to have a strong infrastructure in place to enable them to recruit and retain a competent workforce. Agencies also need to integrate and optimize a diverse and “blended” federal workforce made up of civil servants, contractors and other employees. The report also recommends that agencies strive to do a better job of communicating and cooperating on crisis management, cyber security, information technology, acquisition and other critical issues. To see more, go to: www.opm.gov/news/chief-human-capital-officers-council-issues-report-to-serve-as-transition-guide,1447.aspx.

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Former GSA Chief of Staff Convicted of Obstruction, Making False Statements

David H. Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Services Administration (GSA), was convicted on Dec. 19 for a second time for lying about his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A federal jury found Safavian guilty of one count of obstruction and three counts of making false statements to investigators. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Safavian was convicted on charges he tried to hide his relationship with Abramoff while working as chief of staff at GSA. During trial, prosecutors alleged Abramoff gave Safavian trips and other expensive perks while extracting information about two pieces of GSA-controlled property—the historic Old Post Office in downtown Washington and the government’s White Oak property in Maryland. The jury also found that Safavian made false statements to an FBI agent investigating the lobbying activities of Abramoff, when he said he was not able to assist Abramoff in acquiring properties because he was too new at GSA. Safavian was retried by the government after an earlier conviction in 2006 was thrown out upon appeal. Just before he was charged, Safavian was promoted to chief federal procurement officer. To see more, go to: www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/December/08-crm-1138.html.

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