NEWS RELEASE
Committee on Energy and Commerce Democrats
Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member

Dingell Criticizes Administration’s Implementation
of Controversial New Management Initiatives

Congressman John D. Dingell, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, wrote a letter to Secretary Tommy G. Thompson yesterday questioning the implementation of controversial new management initiatives at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

According to newspaper reports last month, all NIH employees are being required to sign a paper agreeing to fulfill the Bush Administration’s questionable management objectives, which include implementing the "strategic human capital management" initiative and completing "the FY 2003 competitive sourcing program," which Dingell called "twin blunders."

"Employees of NIH are there to serve the public interest, not the Administration’s interest," said Dingell. "NIH employees should not have to fear a low performance evaluation if they disagree with controversial initiatives that may or may not work."

In the letter, Dingell noted that NIH employees do not work for the Bush Administration or the Republican Party, but that "their job is to implement the laws of this country as effectively as they can, regardless of which party controls the White House."

Dingell asked for responses to several questions about the new objectives and the repercussions for NIH employees who refuse to sign on.

Attached is the full text of the letter to Secretary Thompson.

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