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sessed adversary capabilities, capacity, and intent; 
and 
(2) maintaining up-to-date plans and assump-
tions is essential to— 
(A) identifying and properly scoping global 
threats; and 
(B) the ability of the Department of Defense 
to counter such threats to secure the defense and 
national security interests of the United States. 
(b) REQUIREMENT.— The Secretary of Defense shall 
update the warfighting requirements of the Department of 
Defense for confronting Russia in Europe. 
(c) BRIEFING.—Not later than 30 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide to 
the congressional defense committees a briefing on the re-
quirements updated under subsection (b). 
SEC. 1084. UPDATE TO STRATEGIC PLAN ON DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN 
PERSONS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than June 1, 2024, the 
Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives a briefing 
on an updated strategic plan for the combating trafficking 
in persons program of the Department of Defense. 
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(b) ELEMENTS OF PLAN.—The updated strategic plan 
required under subsection (a) shall include each of the fol-
lowing: 
(1) An assessment of the efforts of the Depart-
ment of Defense to combat trafficking in persons in 
areas with high populations of members of the United 
States Armed Forces, including in overseas locations. 
(2) A review of the coordination of efforts of the 
Department to combat trafficking in persons across 
the military departments in areas where multiple 
military departments operate bases. 
(3) Recommendations for improved cooperation 
with local communities and relevant Federal, State, 
and local law enforcement agencies in addressing 
trafficking in persons. 
(4) A review of new methods and concepts for 
combating trafficking in persons that the Department 
has implemented since the previous strategic plan. 
(5) A description of plans of the Department to 
adapt innovative approaches, and integrate new tech-
nologies. 
SEC. 1085. GUIDANCE FOR USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT 
SYSTEMS BY NATIONAL GUARD. 
(a) NEW GUIDANCE REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
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retary of Defense shall issue new guidance on the use of 
unmanned aircraft systems by the National Guard for cov-
ered activities. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
on which the Secretary issues the new guidance under sub-
section (a), the Secretary shall provide to the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives. Such 
briefing shall include— 
(1) an explanation of whether the new guidance 
is more restrictive than guidance on the use of other 
types of aircraft for covered activities; and 
(2) if the new guidance is more restrictive, an 
explanation for the reasons why such guidance is 
more restrictive. 
(c) COVERED ACTIVITIES DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered activities’’ means any of the following: 
(1) Emergency operations. 
(2) Search and rescue operations. 
(3) Defense support to civil authorities. 
(4) Support provided under section 502(f) of title 
32, United States Code. 
SEC. 1086. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING DEFENSE 
PRESENCE IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Department of De-
fense should maintain sufficient force posture and capabili-
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ties in the area of operations of the United States Indo- 
Pacific Command. 
TITLE XI—CIVILIAN PERSONNEL 
MATTERS 
SEC. 1101. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH EXCEPTED SERVICE 
POSITIONS FOR ARMY LAW ENFORCEMENT 
ACTIVITIES. 
Chapter 747 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 7378. Army law enforcement activity recruitment 
and retention 
‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.— 
‘‘(1) Consistent with paragraph (2), and without 
regard to the provisions of any other law relating to 
the appointment, number, classification, or compensa-
tion of employees, the Secretary of Defense may— 
‘‘(A) establish, as positions in the excepted 
service, such qualified positions in Army Law 
Enforcement Activities as the Secretary deter-
mines necessary to carry out the investigative re-
sponsibilities of such activities; 
‘‘(B) appoint an individual to a qualified 
position (after taking into consideration the 
availability of preference eligibles for appoint-
ment to the position); and 
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‘‘(C) subject to subsections (b) and (c), fix 
the compensation of an individual in a qualified 
position. 
‘‘(2) The authority of the Secretary under this 
section may not be used until on or after the date that 
each requirement of section 548 of the James M. 
Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) has been met. 
‘‘(b) BASIC PAY.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) consistent with section 5341 of title 5, adopt 
such provisions of that title to provide for prevailing 
rate systems of basic pay; and 
‘‘(2) apply those provisions for purposes of estab-
lishing rates of basic pay for qualified positions. 
‘‘(c) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION, INCENTIVES, AND 
ALLOWANCES.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary may provide employees in 
qualified positions compensation (in addition to basic 
pay), including benefits, incentives, and allowances, 
consistent with, and not in excess of the level author-
ized for, comparable positions authorized by title 5. 
‘‘(2) An employee in a qualified position whose 
rate of basic pay is fixed under subsection (b)(1) shall 
be eligible for an allowance under section 5941 of title 
5 on the same basis and to the same extent as if the 
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employee was an employee covered by such section, 
including eligibility conditions, allowance rates, and 
all other terms and conditions in law or regulation. 
‘‘(d) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN REQUIRED.—The au-
thority granted in subsection (a) shall become effective 90 
days after the date on which the Secretary provides to the 
congressional defense committees a plan for implementation 
of such authority. The plan shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) An assessment of the current scope of the 
positions covered by the authority. 
‘‘(2) A plan for the use of the authority. 
‘‘(3) Other matters as appropriate. 
‘‘(e) REQUIRED REGULATIONS.—The Secretary, in co-
ordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel Man-
agement, shall prescribe regulations for the administration 
of this section. 
‘‘(f) PROBATIONARY PERIOD.—The probationary pe-
riod for all employees hired under the authority established 
in this section shall be one year. 
‘‘(g) INCUMBENTS OF EXISTING COMPETITIVE SERV-
ICE POSITIONS.— 
‘‘(1) An individual occupying a position on the 
date of the enactment of this section that is selected 
to be converted to a position in the excepted service 
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under this section shall have the right to refuse such 
conversion. 
‘‘(2) After the date on which an individual who 
refuses a conversion under paragraph (1) stops serv-
ing in the position selected to be converted, the posi-
tion may be converted to a position in the excepted 
service. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘Army Law Enforcement Activi-
ties’ means the Army Criminal Investigation Com-
mand (or any successor organization) and any other 
Department of Army organization engaged primarily 
in law enforcement, security, or investigative respon-
sibilities as designated by the Secretary of Defense. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘excepted service’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 2103 of title 5. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘preference eligible’ has the mean-
ing given that term in section 2108 of title 5. 
‘‘(4) The term ‘qualified position’ means a posi-
tion, designated by the Secretary for the purpose of 
this section, in which the individual occupying such 
position performs, manages, or supervises functions 
that execute law enforcement, security, or investiga-
tive responsibilities.’’. 
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SEC. 1102. AUTHORIZATION TO PAY A LIVING QUARTERS 
ALLOWANCE FOR DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO PERMA-
NENT DUTY IN GUAM FOR PERFORMING 
WORK, OR SUPPORTING WORK BEING PER-
FORMED, ABOARD OR DOCKSIDE, OF U.S. 
NAVAL VESSELS. 
(a) ALLOWANCE.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, when Government owned or rented quarters are 
not otherwise provided without charge to a covered em-
ployee, the Secretary of the Navy may grant to a covered 
employee one or more of the following allowances: 
(1) A living quarters allowance for rent, heat, 
light, fuel, gas, electricity, and water. The Secretary 
is authorized to pay such allowance by reimbursement 
or by advance payments without regard to section 
3324(a) and (b) of title 31, United States Code. 
(2) Under unusual circumstances, as determined 
by the Secretary, payment or reimbursement for ex-
traordinary, necessary, and reasonable expenses, not 
otherwise compensated for, incurred in initial re-
pairs, alterations, and improvements to the privately 
leased residence in Guam of a covered employee— 
(A) the expenses are administratively ap-
proved in advance; and 
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(B) the duration and terms of the lease jus-
tify payment of the expenses by the Government. 
(b) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered employee’’ means any civilian employee 
of the Department of the Navy who is assigned to perma-
nent duty in Guam for performing work or supporting work 
being performed, aboard or dockside, of U.S. naval vessels. 
SEC. 1103. CONSOLIDATION OF DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITIES 
FOR CANDIDATES WITH SPECIFIED DEGREES 
AT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY REINVEN-
TION LABORATORIES. 
Section 4091 of title 10, United States Code, is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘bachelor’s 
degree’’ and inserting ‘‘bachelor’s or advanced de-
gree’’; 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘CALENDAR
YEAR’’ and inserting ‘‘FISCAL 
YEAR’’; 
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘calendar year’’ and inserting ‘‘fiscal 
year’’; 
(C) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘6 per-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘11 percent’’; and 
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(D) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by 
striking ‘‘the fiscal year last ending before the 
start of such calendar year’’ and inserting ‘‘the 
preceding fiscal year’’; 
(3) by striking subsection (f); and 
(4) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection 
(f). 
SEC. 1104. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR CERTAIN PER-
SONNEL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. 
Section 9905(a) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
inserting ‘‘, 3307,’’ after ‘‘3303’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new para-
graphs: 
‘‘(12) Any position in support of aircraft oper-
ations for which the Secretary determines there is a 
critical hiring need or shortage of candidates. 
‘‘(13) Any position in support of the safety of the 
public, law enforcement, or first response for which 
the Secretary determines there is a critical hiring 
need or shortage of candidates.’’. 
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SEC. 1105. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO WAIVE 
ANNUAL LIMITATION ON PREMIUM PAY AND 
AGGREGATE LIMITATION ON PAY FOR FED-
ERAL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WORKING OVER-
SEAS. 
Subsection (a) of section 1101 of the Duncan Hunter 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 
(Public Law 110-417; 122 Stat. 4615), as most recently 
amended by section 1102 of the James M. Inhofe National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public 
Law 117–263), is further amended by striking ‘‘through 
2023’’ and inserting ‘‘through 2024’’. 
SEC. 1106. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO GRANT COMPETI-
TIVE STATUS TO EMPLOYEES OF INSPECTORS 
GENERAL FOR OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OP-
ERATIONS. 
Section 419(d)(5)(B) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and inserting ‘‘5 years’’. 
SEC. 1107. EXTENSION OF DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY FOR 
DOMESTIC 
INDUSTRIAL 
BASE 
FACILITIES 
AND MAJOR RANGE AND TEST FACILITIES 
BASE. 
(a) EXTENSION.—Section 1125(a) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 
114–328) is amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting 
‘‘2035’’. 
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(b) BRIEFING.—Section 1102(b) of the National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (Public Law 
115–91) is amended by striking ‘‘2025’’ and inserting 
‘‘2035’’. 
SEC. 1108. WAIVER OF LIMITATION ON APPOINTMENT OF 
RECENTLY RETIRED MEMBERS OF ARMED 
FORCES TO DOD COMPETITIVE SERVICE POSI-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3326 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘cer-
tain’’ before ‘‘positions’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘the civil service’’ and in-
serting ‘‘the excepted service or the Senior Execu-
tive Service’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘for the 
purpose’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Manage-
ment’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of subchapter I of chapter 33 of such title 
is amended in the item relating to section 3326 by inserting 
‘‘certain’’ before ‘‘positions’’. 
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SEC. 1109. EXCLUSION OF NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EM-
PLOYEES FROM LIMITATIONS ON DUAL PAY. 
Section 5531(2) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘Government corporation and’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Government corporation, but excluding’’. 
SEC. 1110. ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY AUTHOR-
ITY TO GRANT ALLOWANCES, BENEFITS, AND 
GRATUITIES TO CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ON OF-
FICIAL DUTY IN A COMBAT ZONE. 
Paragraph (2) of section 1603(a) of the Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global 
War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery, 2006 (Public Law 
109–234; 120 Stat. 443), as added by section 1102 of the 
Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110–417; 122 Stat. 4616) 
and as most recently amended by section 1103 of the James 
M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263), is further amended by 
striking ‘‘2024’’ and inserting ‘‘2025’’. 
SEC. 1111. SUPPORT UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND 
AND UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND EN-
TERPRISES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 1599k. APPLICATION OF ACQUISITION DEMONSTRA-
TION PROJECT TO DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR 
FORCE EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT 
UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND AND 
UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND ENTER-
PRISES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purposes of the dem-
onstration project, the Secretary of Defense may apply the 
provisions of section 1762 of this title, including any regu-
lations, procedures, waivers, or guidance implementing 
such section, to an employee of the Department of the Air 
Force assigned to support the United States Strategic Com-
mand or United States Space Command, or a joint subordi-
nate component command or center, as if the employee was 
a member of the acquisition workforce. 
‘‘(b) NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.—For the purposes of 
section 1762(c) of this title, participating employees are 
deemed not to be persons who may participate in the dem-
onstration project. 
‘‘(c) TERMINATION
OF AUTHORITY; CONVERSION.— 
Subsections (g) and (h) of section 1762 of this title shall 
apply to the authority under this section and to partici-
pating employees, respectively. 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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‘‘(1) 
DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT.—The 
term 
‘demonstration project’ means the demonstration 
project authorized by section 1762 of this title. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATING EMPLOYEE.—The term ‘par-
ticipating employee’ means an employee partici-
pating in the demonstration project pursuant to the 
authority under this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 81 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘1599k. Application of acquisition demonstration project to Department of the Air 
Force employees assigned to support United States Strategic 
Command and United States Space Command enterprises.’’. 
SEC. 1112. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY TO PRO-
VIDE SECURITY FOR FORMER DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE OFFICIALS. 
During the period beginning on the date of enactment 
of this Act and ending on January 1, 2025, section 
714(b)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code, shall be ap-
plied by substituting ‘‘four years’’ for ‘‘two years’’. 
SEC. 1113. GAO REPORT ON CIVILIAN SUPPORT POSITIONS 
AT REMOTE MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
assess and submit a report to the Secretary of Defense on 
the following: 
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(1) The average number of vacancies for civilian 
support services positions at remote or isolated mili-
tary installations in comparison to vacancies for such 
positions at other military installations. In carrying 
out this paragraph, the Comptroller General shall ac-
count for the differences in military population size. 
(2) The average number of days required to fill 
such a vacancy at a remote and isolated military in-
stallation in comparison to filling a vacancy of a po-
sition with the same duties (to the greatest extent 
practicable) at such other installations. 
(3) Any recommendations on additional hiring 
incentives for civilian support services positions de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)(A) at a remote or isolated 
installations, and any recommendations on ways to 
ensure that such positions described in subsection 
(b)(1)(B) are able to effectively staff positions in 
order to meet the mission of their applicable military 
installation. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘civilian support services positions’’ 
means— 
(A) any position within the civil service (as 
that term is defined in section 2101 of title 5, 
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United States Code), including any non-
appropriated fund (NAF) position; and 
(B) any Federal contractor (or subcon-
tractor at any tier); and 
(2) the term ‘‘military installation’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 2801 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 1114. MODIFICATION TO SHORE LEAVE ACCRUAL FOR 
CREWS OF VESSELS TO SUPPORT CREW ROTA-
TIONS AND IMPROVE RETENTION OF CIVIL-
IAN MARINERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 81 of title 10, United 
States Code, as amended by section 1111(a), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘§ 1599l. Shore leave accrual for civilian mariners of 
the Department of Defense 
‘‘With respect to an officer, crewmember, or other em-
ployee of the Department of Defense serving aboard an 
oceangoing vessel on an extended voyage, the first sentence 
in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection (c) of 
section 6305 of title 5 shall be applied by substituting ‘7 
calendar days’ for ‘30 calendar days’.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating 
to section 1599k, as added by section 1111(b), the following: 
‘‘1599l. Shore leave accrual for civilian mariners of the Department of Defense.’’. 
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SEC. 1115. ASSESSMENTS OF STAFFING IN OFFICE OF THE 
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR PER-
SONNEL AND READINESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) DOD ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall conduct an assessment validating each 
civil service position in the Office of the Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness against 
existing personnel of the Office. For purposes of car-
rying out such assessment, the head of the Office shall 
submit to the Secretary the alignment of total force 
manpower resources of the Office against core mis-
sions, tasks, and functions, including a mapping of 
missions to the originating statute or Department 
policy. 
(2) OFFICE ASSESSMENT.—The head of the Of-
fice shall conduct an assessment on the tasks, func-
tions, and associated civilian personnel the Office be-
lieves are necessary to perform the duties of the Office. 
(3) DOD ANALYSIS.—The Secretary shall deter-
mine whether there is any conflict between the assess-
ment conducted under paragraph (1) and the assess-
ment under paragraph (2), and what personnel ac-
tions (if any) the Secretary will take to eliminate 
such conflict. 
(b) INTERIM BRIEFING AND REPORT.— 
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(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees an interim briefing 
on the assessments under subsection (a). 
(2) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the assessments under subsection 
(a). Such report shall include the following: 
(A) A validation of every civil service posi-
tion in the Office against existing civilian per-
sonnel requirements. 
(B) The methodology and process through 
which such validation was performed. 
(C) Relevant statistical analysis on civil 
service position fill rates against validated re-
quirements. 
(D) Analysis of each civil service position 
and grade and whether the position description 
and grade match the function and task require-
ments of the position. 
(E) Plan to update grades and position de-
scriptions to meet current and future require-
ments, tasks, and functions. 
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(F) Lessons learned through the civilian po-
sition validation process and statistical analysis 
under subparagraphs (B) through (F). 
(G) Any legislative, policy or budgetary rec-
ommendations of the Secretary related to the 
subject matter of the report. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 2101 of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(2) the term ‘‘Office’’ means the Office of the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readi-
ness. 
SEC. 1116. MILITARY SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT ACT. 
(a) APPOINTMENT OF MILITARY SPOUSES.—Section 
3330d of title 5, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(3) The term ‘remote work’ refers to a par-
ticular type of telework under which an employee is 
not expected to report to an officially established 
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agency location on a regular and recurring basis.’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘telework’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 6501.’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces 
on active duty, or a spouse of a disabled or deceased 
member of the Armed Forces, to a position in which 
the spouse will engage in remote work.’’; and 
(3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘subsection 
(a)(3)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(4)’’. 
(b) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.— 
(1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 
(A) the terms ‘‘agency’’ means an agency 
described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 
901(b) of title 31, United States Code; 
(B) the term ‘‘employee’’ means an em-
ployee of an agency; 
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(C) the term ‘‘remote work’’ means a par-
ticular type of telework under which an employee 
is not expected to report to an officially estab-
lished agency location on a regular and recur-
ring basis; and 
(D) the term ‘‘telework’’ means a work flexi-
bility arrangement under which an employee 
performs the duties and responsibilities of such 
employee’s position, and other authorized activi-
ties, from an approved worksite other than the 
location from which the employee would other-
wise work. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comp-
troller General of the United States shall conduct a 
study and publish a report regarding the use of re-
mote work by agencies, which shall include a discus-
sion of what is known regarding— 
(A) the number of employees who are engag-
ing in remote work; 
(B) the role of remote work in agency re-
cruitment and retention efforts; 
(C) the geographic location of employees 
who engage in remote work; 
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(D) the effect that remote work has had on 
how often employees are reporting to officially 
established agency locations to perform the duties 
and responsibilities of the positions of those em-
ployees and other authorized activities; and 
(E) how the use of remote work has affected 
Federal office space utilization and spending. 
SEC. 1117. AMENDMENTS TO THE JOHN S. MCCAIN STRA-
TEGIC DEFENSE FELLOWS PROGRAM. 
(a) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS.—Subsection (d)(2) 
of section 932 of the John S. McCain National Defense Au-
thorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115–232; 
10 U.S.C. 1580 note prec.) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) GEOGRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION.—Out of 
the total number of individuals selected to participate 
in the fellows program in any year, no more than 20 
percent may be from any of the following geographic 
regions: 
‘‘(A) The Northeast United States. 
‘‘(B) The Southeast United States. 
‘‘(C) The Midwest United States. 
‘‘(D) The Southwest United States. 
‘‘(E) The Western United States. 
‘‘(F) Alaska, Hawaii, United States terri-
tories, and areas outside the United States.’’. 
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(b) APPOINTMENT, PLACEMENT, AND CONVERSION.— 
Such section is further amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)(3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘assigned’’ and inserting 
‘‘appointed’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘assignment’’ and inserting 
‘‘appointment’’; and 
(2) by amending subsections (e) and (f) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(e) APPOINTMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An individual who partici-
pates in the fellows program shall be appointed into 
an excepted service position in the Department. 
‘‘(2) POSITION REQUIREMENTS.—Each year, the 
head of each Department of Defense Component shall 
submit to the Secretary of Defense placement opportu-
nities for participants in the fellows program. Such 
placement opportunities shall provide for leadership 
development and potential commencement of a career 
track toward a position of senior leadership in the 
Department. The Secretary of Defense, in coordina-
tion with the heads of Department of Defense Compo-
nents, shall establish qualification requirements for 
the appointment of participants under paragraph (1) 
and subsection (f)(2). 
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‘‘(3) APPOINTMENT TO POSITIONS.—Each year, 
the Secretary of Defense shall appoint participants in 
the fellows program to positions in the Department of 
Defense Components. In making such appointments, 
the Secretary shall seek to best match the qualifica-
tions and skills of the participants with the require-
ments for positions available for appointment. 
‘‘(4) TERM.—The term of each appointment 
under the fellows program shall be one year with the 
option to extend the appointment up to one addi-
tional year. 
‘‘(5) GRADE.—An individual appointed to a po-
sition under the fellows program shall be appointed at 
a level between GS–10 and GS–12 of the General 
Schedule based on the directly-related qualifications, 
skills, and professional experience of the individual. 
‘‘(6) EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT.—To the ex-
tent that funds are provided in advance in appro-
priations Acts, the Secretary of Defense may repay a 
loan of a participant in the fellows program if the 
loan is described by subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of 
section 16301(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code. 
Any repayment of a loan under this paragraph may 
require a minimum service agreement, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(7) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COMPONENT DE-
FINED.—In this subsection, the term ‘Department of 
Defense Component’ means a Department of Defense 
Component, as set forth in section 111 of title 10, 
United States Code. 
‘‘(f) CAREER DEVELOPMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall ensure that participants in the fellows pro-
gram— 
‘‘(A) receive career development opportuni-
ties and support appropriate for the commence-
ment of a career track within the Department 
leading toward a future position of senior leader-
ship within the Department, including ongoing 
mentorship support through appropriate per-
sonnel from entities within the Department; and 
‘‘(B) are provided appropriate employment 
opportunities for competitive and excepted serv-
ice positions in the Department upon successful 
completion of the fellows program. 
‘‘(2) NONCOMPETITIVE
APPOINTMENT
OR
CON-
VERSION.—Upon a participant’s successful comple-
tion of the fellows program, the Secretary may, with-
out regard to the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 
33 of title 5, United States Code, noncompetitively 
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appoint or convert the participant into a vacant com-
petitive or excepted service position in the Depart-
ment, if the Secretary determines that such appoint-
ment or conversion will contribute to the development 
of highly qualified future senior leaders for the De-
partment. The Secretary may appoint or convert the 
participant into a position up to the GS–13 level of 
the General Schedule or an equivalent position for 
which the participant is qualified without regard to 
any minimum time in grade requirements. 
‘‘(3) APPOINTMENT OF FORMER PARTICIPANTS.— 
The Secretary may utilize the authority in paragraph 
(2) for a participant— 
‘‘(A) up to 2 years after the date of the par-
ticipant’s successful completion of the fellows 
program; or 
‘‘(B) in the case of a participant who en-
tered the fellows program before the date of the 
enactment of this subparagraph, up to 5 years 
after the date of the participant’s successful com-
pletion of the fellows program. 
‘‘(4) PUBLICATION
OF
SELECTION.—The Sec-
retary shall publish, on an Internet website of the De-
partment available to the public, the names of the in-
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dividuals selected to participate in the fellows pro-
gram.’’. 
SEC. 1118. INCLUDING MILITARY SERVICE IN DETERMINING 
FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ELIGIBILITY 
FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES. 
(a) TITLE 5.—Section 6381(1)(B) of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(B) has completed at least 12 months of 
service— 
‘‘(i) as an employee (as that term is 
defined in section 2105) of the Government 
of the United States, including service with 
the United States Postal Service, the Postal 
Regulatory 
Commission, 
and 
a 
non-
appropriated fund instrumentality as de-
scribed in section 2105(c); or 
‘‘(ii) which qualifies as honorable ac-
tive service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, 
Space Force, or Marine Corps of the United 
States;’’. 
(b) FMLA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered employee who has 
completed 12 months of service which qualifies as 
honorable active service in the Army, Navy, Air 
Force, Space Force, or Marine Corps of the United 
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States shall be deemed to have met the service require-
ment in section 101(1)(A) of the Family and Medical 
Leave Act of 1993, notwithstanding the requirements 
of such section 101(1)(A). 
(2) COVERED EMPLOYEE DEFINED.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘covered employee’’— 
(A) includes— 
(i) any Federal employee eligible for 
family and medical leave under the Family 
and Medical Leave Act of 1993 based on 
their status as such an employee; 
(ii) any Federal employee covered by 
the Congressional Accountability Act of 
1995 eligible for family and medical leave 
by operation of section 202 of such Act; 
(iii) any Federal employee of the Exec-
utive Office of the President eligible for fam-
ily and medical leave by operation of sec-
tion 412 of title 3, United States Code; and 
(iv) any non-judicial employee of the 
District of Columbia courts and any em-
ployee of the District of Columbia Public 
Defender Service; and 
(B) does not include any member of the 
Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Serv-
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ice or the Commissioned Corps of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.—Not later 
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall modify the family and 
medical leave program provided by operation of section 
7425(c) of title 38, United States Code, to conform with 
the requirements of the amendment made by subsection (a) 
with respect to military service in section 6381(1)(B)(ii) 
of title 5, United States Code, as added by such subsection. 
SEC. 1119. ASSESSMENTS OF STAFFING IN OFFICE OF THE 
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR RE-
SEARCH AND ENGINEERING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) DOD ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of De-
fense shall conduct an assessment validating each 
civil service position in the Office of the Under Sec-
retary of Defense for Research and Engineering 
against existing personnel of the Office. For purposes 
of carrying out such assessment, the head of the Office 
shall submit to the Secretary the alignment of total 
force manpower resources of the Office against core 
missions, tasks, and functions, including a mapping 
of missions to the originating statute or Department 
policy. 
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(2) OFFICE ASSESSMENT.—The head of the Of-
fice shall conduct an assessment on the tasks, func-
tions, and associated civilian personnel the Office be-
lieves are necessary to perform the duties of the Office. 
(3) DOD ANALYSIS.—The Secretary shall deter-
mine whether there is any conflict between the assess-
ment conducted under paragraph (1) and the assess-
ment under paragraph (2), and what personnel ac-
tions (if any) the Secretary will take to eliminate 
such conflict. 
(b) INTERIM BRIEFING AND REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the 
congressional defense committees an interim briefing 
on the assessments under subsection (a). 
(2) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the assessments under subsection 
(a). Such report shall include the following: 
(A) A validation of every civil service posi-
tion in the Office against existing civilian per-
sonnel requirements. 
(B) The methodology and process through 
which such validation was performed. 
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(C) Relevant statistical analysis on civil 
service position fill rates against validated re-
quirements. 
(D) Analysis of each civil service position 
and grade and whether the position description 
and grade match the function and task require-
ments of the position. 
(E) Plan to update grades and position de-
scriptions to meet current and future require-
ments, tasks, and functions. 
(F) Lessons learned through the civilian po-
sition validation process and statistical analysis 
under subparagraphs (B) through (F). 
(G) Any legislative, policy or budgetary rec-
ommendations of the Secretary related to the 
subject matter of the report. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 
(1) the term ‘‘civil service’’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 2101 of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(2) the term ‘‘Office’’ means the Office of the 
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engi-
neering. 
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SEC. 1120. ASSESSMENTS OF STAFFING IN DOD OFFICE FOR 
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) SECRETARY ASSESSMENT.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall conduct an assessment validating each 
civil service position in the Office for Diversity, Eq-
uity, and Inclusion against existing personnel of the 
Office. For purposes of carrying out such assessment, 
the head of the Office shall submit to the Secretary the 
alignment of total force manpower resources of the Of-
fice against core missions, tasks, and functions, in-
cluding a mapping of missions to the originating 
statute or Department policy. 
(2) OFFICE ASSESSMENT.—The head of the Of-
fice shall conduct an assessment on the tasks, func-
tions, and associated civilian personnel the Office be-
lieves are necessary to perform the duties of the Office. 
(3) SECRETARY ANALYSIS.—The Secretary shall 
determine whether there is any conflict between the 
assessment conducted under paragraph (1) and the 
assessment under paragraph (2), and what personnel 
actions (if any) the Secretary will take to eliminate 
such conflict. 
(b) INTERIM BRIEFING AND REPORT.— 
(1) INTERIM BRIEFING.—Not later than April 1, 
2024, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the 
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congressional defense committees an interim briefing 
on the assessments under subsection (a). 
(2) FINAL
REPORT.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall submit to the congressional defense com-
mittees a report on the assessments under subsection 
(a). Such report shall include the following: 
(A) A validation of every civil service posi-
tion in the Office against existing civilian per-
sonnel requirements. 
(B) The methodology and process through 
which such validation was performed. 
(C) Relevant statistical analysis on civil 
service position fill rates against validated re-
quirements. 
(D) Analysis of each civil service position 
and grade and whether the position description 
and grade match the function and task require-
ments of the position. 
(E) Plan to update grades and position de-
scriptions to meet current and future require-
ments, tasks, and functions. 
(F) Lessons learned through the civilian po-
sition validation process and statistical analysis 
under subparagraphs (B) through (F). 
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