Pentagon reformers are ready to open war on second front

Comments | Insight on the News, Nov 19, 2001 | by Sean Paige

Whether the U.S. military can fight and win major wars on two fronts long has been debated. But that now is about to be tested as the Pentagon attempts to take on international terrorism and wage what it calls a battle on bureaucracy. A win in the first fight and the world will rest easier; victory in the second would mean a reprieve for taxpayers.

While many of the tactics likely to be used against Osama bin Laden remain a closely held secret, the Pentagon's newly created Business Initiative Council (which hopes to bring private-sector business practices to government) has been much more explicit about its strategy against bureaucratic bloat and managerial mayhem.

Its multipronged battle plan includes waiving certain civil-service hiring rules for filling vacancies in key positions; encouraging bulk commercial purchases of software and telephone service; eliminating rigid, annual staffing caps that reduce flexibility in personnel management; freeing managers to reallocate procurement dollars and research-and-development funds to where they're most needed; and expanding use of so-called recovery auditing to help the Pentagon recoup funds squandered because of sloppy bookkeeping.

The council hopes these and other initiatives will help save the Department of Defense (DOD) at least $2 million, providing a benefit to our war-fighters. According to those pushing the effort, these initiatives are only the beginning of a long twilight struggle against waste and inefficiency.

If past efforts to reform the DOD are any indication, it could be a protracted campaign requiring sorties into unfamiliar and rugged terrain. And with Congress. eager to throw plenty of money the military's way, the Pentagon's motivation to achieve total victory in the battle on bureaucracy easily could be overwhelmed by stiff internal resistance.

SEAN PAIGE IS A WRITER FOR Insight.