LETTER TO JAMES FREY (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00004R001000170012-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2012
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: November 23, 1987
• Content Type: LETTER

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/04: CIA-RDP90M00004RO01000170012-6
Mr. James Frey
Assistant Director for Legislative
Reference
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, D.C. 29503
STAT
STAT
Dear Mr. Frey:
23 November 1987
OCA 87-5840
OCA FILE
Enclosed is a report on S. 42, the Federal Employees
Optional Early Retirement Act of 1987. The report was
requested by Senator Glenn.
I am requesting that you review the report to determine
whether it is consistent with the position of the Adminis-
tration program. I would appreciate an expeditious review of
this report because Senator Glenn is most anxious to receive
our views.
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - OCA Registry
1 - OCA/Leg/Subject File
1 - JR/Signer
1 - DMP/Signer
1 - OCARead
OCA/Leggy I:ep (23 November 1987)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/04: CIA-RDP90M00004RO01000170012-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/04: CIA-RDP90M00004R001000170012-6
l.Cn1Fd1 IIUCII r1 F - V /" I K - 1
DRAFT
The Honorable John Glenn
Chairman
Committee on Governmental Affairs
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Director has asked me to respond on his behalf to your
request for the views of the Central Intelligence Agency on
S. 42, the Federal Employees Optional Early Retirement Act of
1987.
Let me say at the outset that CIA recognizes that the
intent of this bill is to lower federal employment in an
orderly and humane manner without disrupting the ability of
federal agencies to perform their mission. However, passage of
this bill would have a serious, negative effect upon the
Agency's ability to effectively perform its intelligence
functions. Most of the employees who would become eligible
for retirement under this bill are at the GS-14, GS-15 and the
Senor Intelligence Service levels. These senior officers, by
reason of their years of experience, possess key and
irreplaceable intelligence skills which are essential for the
Agency's sustained ability to collect, analyze, and manage
intelligence programs and operations. The Agency can
ill-afford the possible widespread loss of such valuable
expertise. Although bill attempts to lessen the impact of loss
of key employees by providing authority for the President to
exempt an occupational category, location or project from the
early retirement provisions of the bill, the exemption
authority is too restricted to alleviate the concerns we have
with the legislation. The Agency must retain the authority and
flexibility to determine the best methods by which to lower
employment in a manner that does not hamper or harm our
intelligence mission.
There are two other provisions contained in the bill that
cause particular concern. Section 10(b) provides for the
Comptroller General to audit the records of an agency of the
Federal Government to determine the level of compliance with
requirements not to obligate or expenc for any purpose outlays
[)RAF
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/04: CIA-RDP90M00004R001000170012-6
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saved by reason of this bill. Given the sensitivity of Agency
records, I believe that the appropriate body to review and
audit agency records is already constituted in the intelligence
oversight committees. The Agency therefore should be exempted
from this provision. Section 11, mandating that the Agency
provide OPM certain information for purposes of OPM making a
report to Congress, is also of concern to the Agency because it
would require the Agency to release potentially sensitive
information. Thus, I suggest that the provision be amended to
make clear that the authority of the Director of Office of
Personnel Management to obtain information is only to the
extent permitted by law.
I appreciate your asking for my views and hope that the
concerns I have raised will be carefully weighed and find
expression in any subsequent action on S. 42.
The Office of Management and Budget advises that from the
standpoint of the Administration's program, there is no
objection to the submission of this report for consideration of
the Committee.
Sincerely,
David D. Gries
Director of Congressional Affairs
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/04: CIA-RDP90M00004R001000170012-6