News Flash: Acquisition Workers Needed

We all know that's not news, but it's good to get an annual reminder from the Government Accountability Office that there are too few people managing too many programs that cost too much.

In his testimony to the House Armed Services Committee last week, Gene Dodaro, acting comptroller general, said Defense contract obligations more than doubled to $387 billion from 2001 to 2008, but the number of workers in the contracting career field have increased only 1 percent.

Don't worry though. Defense has an ongoing project to figure out how to recruit, train and develop an acquisition workforce, and GAO plans to issue a report on this effort real soon.

I have a better idea. Because the economy has tanked, why not run a few newspaper ads and maybe Defense will find out that there are a lot of qualified people eager to get a federal paycheck and benefits.

It's time to stop talking and start hiring.