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A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Caitlin MacNeal,COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER,(202) 347-1122,cmacneal@pogo.org

Administration Takes Careful Look at Work Performed by Government and Private Sector Employees

WASHINGTON

Today, the White House announced its long-awaited proposed
policy
for defining work that must be performed by federal
employees. Stating that the line between work that must be performed by
federal employees rather than contractor employees has become "blurred"
and that the government has an "overreliance on contractors," the
proposal hopes to rebalance functions to ensure that agencies are better
meeting their missions.

"I'm pleased to see that the White House has selected the legal
definition of government work rather than the political definition,"
stated POGO's General Counsel Scott Amey. "The proposed rule establishes
a targeted approach that will better ensure companies with a financial
interest are not driving federal policies and programs. However,
enforcement of the rule will be difficult because contractors are often
performing work that should be reserved for government employees."

POGO will be submitting a comprehensive public comment to the
proposed rule on or before June 1, 2010.

The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is an independent nonprofit that investigates and exposes corruption and other misconduct in order to achieve a more effective, accountable, open and honest federal government.