James Lankford

I am just trying to figure out, is there a need to have a process? And we are not into building more and more systems, OK?

They are both promulgating the new and working through that and also reviewing the old.

Then the final decision, let us say you have 50 things in the bucket at that point, and you determine we have only got the bandwidth to be able to do five of these. Where is that final decision made?

You are speaking out for millions of folks that are serving our Nation every single day, and I want you to know I appreciate that very much.

These are very real areas that affect all of our families, but especially the Federal families.

Let us know on the progress on that, because that will be key for actually recruiting people to be able to go and stay.

Oklahoma State University has done a very good job in their medical school of actually reaching out and recruiting people in rural areas to consider medical school.

That is what I am trying to talk about, is how do we actually make sure in the bureaucracy and of all the different options they are chasing.

Let me just ask, is the locality pay an easier trigger, an easier hurdle in that, or----

That is a long 9 years of trying to fight for employees.

We need to find a way to be able to resolve this because this is repeated not only for the United States Air Force, but all across the Federal workforce.

This is an issue we have to solve, and it is more than just, 'We are going to call you occasionally,' because now we are stringing someone along.

Like I said, it is encouraging to hear that.

I think this is a very important topic.

Do you feel like that is happening from OPM now, with the new books that are coming out?

Do you feel like the agencies now have the understanding of the things that are in their tool kit so they can be more agile in these moments?

How do we get more agile in making decisions across our structure, whether it is United States Air Force or any of our other areas?

The length of time that it takes to do onboard, we are losing out on some good people that want to be able to serve their fellow citizens in Federal service.

Do not wait until the day that you have someone leaving to start recruitment.

That is encouraging to hear.

We need to look at a Special Salary Rate.

How do you make the decision?

The greater number of hurdles that are placed there, the incentive is go somewhere else.

Now you also have to jump through a FOIA request hurdle on this as well.

There should be ongoing conversation, rather than hearing it again and again.