LETTER TO JOSEPH P. ADDABBO FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R002003830013-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 9, 2008
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 25, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/07/09: CIA-RDP85M00364R002003830013-5
Central Intelligence Agency
The Honorable Joseph P. Addabbo, Chairman
Subcommittee on Defense
Committee on Appropriations
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Executive Registry 11
2 5 MAR 1983
This responds to your letter dated 14 March 1983 concerning domestic
relocation expenses. I am pleased with your interest in this issue and assure
you that this subject has my personal attention.
Essential to the rebuilding and continued effectiveness of the Nation's
intelligence capability is our.ability to attract and retain. high caliber
employees. As both a short- and long-term issue it has become obvious that the
traditional incentives for an intelligence career are becoming increasingly
less adequate. As the internal manager of CIA, the Executive Director is
properly concerned about adverse impacts on employee motivation. In this context,
reimbursement of expenses for domestic relocation has become a key factor in
staffing domestic field assignments. CIA employees usually establish their
stateside residence in the Washington, D.C. area and those involved in operations
may serve more than half their careers on rotational assignments elsewhere. .
When selected for domestic assignments.outside the Washington, D.C. area, they
frequently incur considerable personal expense with serious impact on morale.
Thus, it is becoming difficult to attract employees to domestic field assignments
.since some simply cannot afford to bear the extra expense.
As indicated in our. previous letter, the "out-of-pocket" expense involved
in making domestic moves has increased considerably during recent years. The
costs associated with selling and purchasing housing and, in some cases, the
acquisition of rental quarters have been causing severe financial hardships
to Agency personnel. This problem has been exacerbated in more recent years
by extremely high interest rates and persistent inflation. The Federal Travel
Regulations, as currently constructed, do not address a number of the major
expenses involved in real estate transaction, i.e., points, loan origination
fees, and the extremely high costs resulting in interest rate differentials.
There are distinct differences between the domestic reassignment of CIA
employees and those employees of most other federal agencies. Domestic
reassignments in other agencies are negotiated, are usually desired by the
employees, and generally result in promotion and permanent change of duty station.
For CIA employees, the domestic reassignment serves the needs of the Agency, is
part of a career path, does not normally result in promotion and is a temporary
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change in station for only two to five years. It is precisely because of
these unique differences and the impact it is having on our employees that I
believe judicious use of our special authorities may be warranted.
Other Intelligence Community agencies also are facing difficulties in
attracting employees to domestic assignments. Both the National Security
Agency and the. FBI-are examining alternative solutions for dealing with this
problem, and we are working closely with them to determine whether a
common solution is feasible. Different solutions may be required, however,
as the needs of these organizations differ from those of CIA.
Again, let me express my appreciation for your interest in the problems
of domestic relocation and offer my assurance that we will work with you and
your staff on this difficult and complex issue.
Sincerely,
/s/ %V14li-M J. Case
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - Executive Registry
1 - Comptroller
1. - D/Pers
1 - DD/Pers/SP
STAT
STAT.
'rector o Personnel Date
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