Selected Personnel Practices of the Voice of America Warrant Management Attention

GAO discussed its report on personnel processes and practices at the U.S. Information Agency's Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Marti, focusing on whether there were systemic personnel problems that management should address. GAO found: (1) inadequate controls over time and attendance records; (2) weaknesses in the administration of certain contracts; (3) differences in grade structures between VOA divisions, which caused dissension; (4) underrepresentation of women and minorities, especially in the senior and supervisory ranks; (5) limited employment rights for noncitizen employees; and (6) inappropriate use of excepted service hiring authority. GAO believes that: (1) VOA actions will address these and other personnel-related issues; and (2) VOA agreed to implement previous GAO recommendations and provide oral briefings on the status of its implementation of the recommendations.