Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano yesterday announced two new initiatives aimed at cutting cots and streamlining operations, all part of the Efficiency Review she began more than a year ago.
The two new employee-generated initiatives involve transitioning to paperless earnings and leave statements across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to avoid unnecessary printing and mailing costs and implementing efficiencies to reduce the time and costs associated with the personnel security and suitability process. This latter initiative includes establishing reciprocity of clearances for personnel coming to DHS from other federal agencies and law enforcement entities, as well as for contractors converting to federal staff.
“These initiatives will build on our ongoing efforts to build a culture of responsibility and fiscal discipline to make DHS a leaner, smarter agency better equipped to protect the nation,” Napolitano said in a statement.
DHS said that in response to the paperless earnings and leave initiative the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has directed the National Finance Center to change the default government-wide civilian employee setting for earnings and leave statements from paper to electronic. OMB expects this change to save the federal government about $4 million annually.
Since early last year, DHS has implemented 20 efficiency initiatives. Later this year, the department will launch additional initiatives.