Workforce Downsizing and Restructuring in the Department of Defense: The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Program Versus Involuntary Separation

This report assesses the cost-effectiveness of using the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) program—a downsizing tool available to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) personnel managers—to reduce the size of the DoD civilian workforce, in conjunction with or instead of imposing involuntary separations. It also considers how the amount and structure of VSIP could be improved.