SC Wisconsin News

Congressmen Glenn Grothman (R-WI) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) have introduced the Bureau of Prisons Direct-Hire Authority Act, a bipartisan measure designed to address staffing shortages in Bureau of Prisons facilities. The legislation aims to streamline hiring processes and grant direct-hire authority until staffing levels reach 96 percent. This bill has received endorsement from eleven cosponsors and the Council of Prison Locals C-33 (CPL-33), the largest national union representing Bureau of Prisons employees.

According to a press release by Grothman's office, he said: "We have labor shortages everywhere in this country, but when it comes to hiring correctional officers, it is unnecessarily multiplied by the federal bureaucracy. I have toured the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, Wisconsin, which is part of the Bureau of Prisons, and I often receive feedback from many of its employees. Unfortunately, FCI Oxford is yet another example of the staffing crisis that has devastated BOP facilities and personnel across the country."

The same press release noted that staffing shortages have persisted across various Bureau of Prisons facilities for years, posing safety risks for both staff and inmates which impacts morale and retention. Shane Fausey from CPL-33 pointed out a significant decline in BOP staffing from 43,369 in 2016 to 35,000 in 2022 during Senate testimony. The congressman's office identified the bureaucratic process involving the Office of Personnel Management as a major impediment to timely hiring within BOP. Applicants face a minimum processing time of 105 days which leads to prolonged vacancies that can last up to six months after a position is advertised.

Grothman's office also outlined their proposed solution which involves granting BOP facilities direct-hire authority for all agency vacancies until staffing reaches acceptable levels. This approach aims to accelerate hiring and promptly fill crucial positions efficiently.

According to Ballotpedia, Glenn Grothman, a Republican representing Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District since January 2015, is seeking re-election for the term ending in January 2025. He serves on various committees, including Budget, Education and the Workforce, and Oversight and Government Reform. Grothman was reassigned during the 116th Congress to the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He has declared his candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on August 13, 2024.