MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO PARTICIPATE VOLUNTARILY IN REDUCTIONS IN FORCE.

SEC. 1609. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO PARTICIPATE VOLUNTARILY IN REDUCTIONS IN FORCE. Subsection (f) of section 3502 of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: “(f) (1) The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department may— “(A) separate from service any employee who volunteers to be separated under this subparagraph even though the employee is not otherwise subject to separation due to a reduction in force; and “(B) for each employee voluntarily separated under subparagraph (A), retain an employee in a similar position who would otherwise be separated due to a reduction in force. “(2) The separation of an employee under paragraph (1)(A) shall be treated as an involuntary separation due to a reduction in force. “(3) An employee with critical knowledge and skills (as defined by the Secretary concerned) may not participate in a voluntary separation under paragraph (1)(A) if the Secretary concerned determines that such participation would impair the performance of the mission of the Department of Defense or the military department concerned. “(4) The regulations prescribed under this section shall incorporate the authority provided in this subsection. “(5) No authority under paragraph (1) may be exercised after September 30, 2001.”.