Yesterday, Senator Patty Murray, D-Washington, and Congressman Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, wrote to Preston Rutledge, Assistant Secretary of the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), to ask for a delay of its proposed reorganization, as well as an explanation of its rationale.
“The proposed reorganization appears to be a meaningful structural change from the status quo, shifting authorities to EBSA’s politically-appointed deputy and creating a new director position to oversee regional offices,” they wrote. “We have questions about the need and basis for this proposed reorganization and whether EBSA’s vital mission will be impaired.”
As such, they added, “We write to respectfully recommend that you delay the proposed reorganization until Congress and interested stakeholders fully understand the rationale and ramifications of this proposed reorganization for the millions of workers, retirees, and families EBSA serves.”
Questions and answers
Additionally, they asked for answers to the following questions by September 30.
- What problem is this proposed reorganization designed to solve? How does it achieve those goals?
- What specifically prompted this proposed reorganization and when did formal or informal planning for the proposed reorganization begin?
- Has there been any formal or informal statement of need for this proposed reorganization? If so, please provide such statement(s).
- Do you have a detailed implementation plan for this proposed reorganization? If so, please provide us with a copy.
- Please explain in detail how this proposed reorganization will help EBSA achieve its mission to provide health benefits and retirement security for all workers more efficiently and/or effectively.
- According to the news report, you noted that the proposed reorganization would provide “expanded opportunity for career advancement.” Please explain in detail what the expanded opportunities are, and which employees might be eligible for such opportunities.
- What are the budgetary impacts of this structural change? If they were considered, please provide us with a written description of such impacts.
- Did you conduct any quantitative or qualitative analyses as you planned this proposed reorganization? If so, please provide us with a copy. If not, why?
- The news report says that the union workforce will not be affected. Given the shift in reporting for certain offices, how is that possible? What does it mean that the unionized workforce will not be affected?
- Does EBSA or DOL have policies and procedures regarding reorganizations? If so, please provide us with a copy.
- Are there additional reorganization plans within EBSA? If so, please provide those plans.
Murray, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), voted “no” on Tuesday to advancing Eugene Scalia’s nomination for Secretary of Labor to a full vote by the Senate.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.
