To prevent U.S. government computers from suffering the world's greatest memory loss at the turn of the century, Uncle Sam will take extraordinary steps to reclaim retired brainpower. The folks are needed, quick, to help solve the so-called year 2000 problem.
Many computers read only the last two digits of a year.
Many experts predict a global computer crash on the last day of this century, when computers may confuse the year 2000 with the year 1900. If that happens, some predict it could wipe out, scramble or misplace trillions of items of data, key records and the like. Many private firms and banks have already scooped up some of the best retired programmers and computer scientists, either as regular employees or consultants. They can draw their retirement pay plus full salary or consultant fees. But government rules about reemploying federal civilian or military workers make it financially unattractive for most people to come back to work for the government.