The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Review of the Small Business Administration's 2014 Workforce Restructuring
Record date · January 1, 2017
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The House Committee on Small Business held a hearing to review a 2014 Small Business Administration (SBA) program intended to restructure its workforce through early retirement and separation incentives. An audit by the SBA's Office of Inspector General concluded that the agency failed to meet any of its stated goals for the program.
The hearing examines the effectiveness of federal workforce management programs and the use of taxpayer-funded separation incentives, specifically investigating why the SBA's 2014 attempt to downsize and address skills gaps failed to achieve its objectives.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Small Business Administration employees
Employees were eligible for early retirement or separation incentive payments under the 2014 program.
Taxpayers
Taxpayer funds were used to provide separation incentive payments of up to $25,000 per employee.
Key Facts
- The SBA implemented a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) program in 2014.
- The VSIP program allowed for lump sum payments of up to $25,000 to employees in surplus positions or with unneeded skills.
- The SBA's stated goals for the program were to address workforce competency gaps, decrease the average age of the workforce, and avoid a reduction in force due to budget constraints.
- The SBA Office of Inspector General audit concluded that the agency failed to achieve any of its three stated goals.
Show all 6 facts
- The hearing took place on June 14, 2017, in the Rayburn House Office Building.
- The Committee reviewed the SBA OIG report regarding the failed 2014 restructuring.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the 2014 SBA restructuring program?
What are VERA and VSIP?
Did the 2014 program succeed?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceFull breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Failure of Workforce Restructuring
The SBA's attempt to use financial incentives to reshape its workforce failed to meet any of its stated objectives, highlighting a disconnect between agency planning and implementation.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz10Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools