Congress approved legislation on Wednesday (Jan. 28) giving the space agency more flexibility in hiring engineers and other technical management. The legislation, the “NASA Flexibility Act of 2003,” was designed to address an expected “brain drain” at the agency over the next five years when a quarter of NASA employees become eligible for retirement.

“NASA is on the brink of losing the talent that it already has,” said Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y, chairman of the House Science Committee and chief sponsor of the legislation. Boehlert said the bill gives NASA more flexibility in hiring so that it can compete with the private sector in hiring engineers.

The agency is expected to be very busy in the coming years with both unmanned and perhaps manned missions. The Bush administration has called for a return to the Moon and expanded exploration of Mars that could include a manned mission in the next 20 years. The White House also wants to replace the aging space shuttle.

The bill would permit NASA to offer larger recruitment and retention bonuses than currently allowed under federal guidelines.

The legislation is expected to be signed shortly by President Bush.

By: DocMemory
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