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National Security Agency Considers Layoffs

WASHINGTON — The nation's top electronic intelligence shop announced Monday that it may begin laying off employees next year and will soon be offering workers an early retirement package.

In a statement, the National Security Agency said it is planning to "focus more on core mission areas" like cryptography and intercepting communications. It has specifically targeted workers responsible for logistics and facilities maintenance.

The agency, which oversees electronic intercepts, refused to say how many people it plans to let go, or how many have decided to retire. The number of employees in specific areas is classified.

There are no plans to shut down any NSA installations, the agency said. The NSA is based at Fort Meade, Md.

Most of the cuts are said to be in the technician rather than analysis departments, but the loss could still be devastating to intelligence gathering. Electricians and technicians maintain the cooling system for the computer network. And without proper upkeep, the systems could overheat and shut down. Without the computers, the agency will be without the electronic surveillance it needs, The Baltimore Sun reported Nov. 15.

The NSA has historically been the safest place to work in government when it comes to job security because workers go through extensive background checks and have access to closely guarded secrets at the agency.

As the nation relies on the strength of its intelligence gathering, especially after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the agency said the layoff plans won't put the country at risk.

The voluntary retirement programs — as well as resignation incentives and "early out" deals — run through June 2002. After that, layoffs could occur. The agency said it would provide outplacement services to laid-off workers.

The layoffs would be the first in the history of the National Security Agency.

A Nov. 7 memo, signed by an associate general counsel for acquisition and logistics, said "the bottom line is there is no guarantee" that any employees will keep their jobs.

The Sun, in its Nov. 15 report, said that many staff worked 24 hours a day for weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, but have stopped working altogether since learning of the layoffs through an internal memo Nov. 7.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

Answers

The only thing I can think of that would make any sense that they are trying to get rid of some of the deadwood, but the timing sure stinks.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

The Sun, in its Nov. 15 report, said that many staff worked 24 hours a day for weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, but have stopped working altogether since learning of the layoffs through an internal memo Nov. 7.

Yup. Sweetie no longer goes in early, leaves late or works weekends. Pending layoffs have that effect. But laying off NSA employees sounds pretty stupid. I wonder if this was planned prior to September 11 and some stupid bureacrats are blindly following through?

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

A fly on the wall told me that there is *a lot* of cold war - era deadwood around the agency who isn't willing to learn new technical skills. The analogy given to me was of a secretary who was trained to type on a manual typewriter, who refuses to learn how to use Windows and process documents in Word. Imagine how this would slow down an office where other employees are connected to the digital world.

This is not only an NSA problem. I expect that layoffs will commence in other agencies in 2002.

To be fair, there is also some age discrimination involved, as well. An older worker may have kept up with his/her skills, but to improve the budget for "toys," cuts have to be made somewhere. Unfortunately, the same short-sighted management practices that are driving basically good companies, such as AT&T and Lucent, into the ground are also in play in our state and fed agencies.

On an individual level, the best one can do is keep up his/her marketable skills and not incur massive amounts of debt.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001

...stopped working altogether since learning of the layoffs through an internal memo Nov. 7.

so, in essence, the NSA is closed now? I mean, if they have ALL stopped working then they are doing nothing, right? Isn't that what that means? If they have reacted that way, I guess it is time to trim them as a rose bush is done. Severely. Probably more dead wood then they thought.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2001