Opinion ID: 529707
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Employment Termination

Text: 28 We come now to the reviewability of NSA's decision to terminate Doe's employment. The parties agree that Doe was not removed under Sec. 833. Appellant's Brief (Doe Br.) at 18 n. 6; Govt. Br. at 13; J.A. at 220. Consequently, the only possible legal bases for his removal are regulations, promulgated pursuant to Secs. 831-35, governing nonsummary dismissals; chapter 371, as it incorporates the provisions of Sec. 7532; or chapter 370. The Secretary of Defense has not, however, issued regulations under Secs. 831-32 governing nonsummary dismissals. 5 In fact, Directive 5210.45 states that when the conditions for summary removal under Sec. 833 do not exist, the NSA Director shall, when appropriate, take action pursuant to other provisions of law, as applicable, to terminate the employment of a civilian officer or employee. DoD Dir. 5210.45, Sec. V-B, J.A. at 75. Thus, NSA must have removed Doe under either chapter 371/Sec. 7532 or chapter 370, neither of which is governed by a nonreviewability clause. We conclude, therefore, that NSA's decision to remove Doe is reviewable and that we must reach the merits of Doe's claim that NSA violated or misapplied its regulations in removing him. 29 The Supreme Court's decision in Carlucci is consistent with this conclusion. In noting the discretionary aspect of Sec. 833 and Sec. 7532, the Court determined that Sec. 833 and Sec. 7532 are not the exclusive means to remove NSA employees for national security reasons, but instead contemplate alternative recourse to NSA's ordinary removal mechanisms pursuant to the 1959 NSA Act. 109 S.Ct. at 411. These mechanisms are codified in chapter 370. Carlucci in no way forecloses the determination that we must now make--whether Doe was removed for cause under chapter 370 or in the interests of national security under Sec. 7532 and chapter 371.