This is not a drill!

Since it was first projected in 1999, government-watchers have been anticipating a massive brain-drain, a retirement tsunami that would strip the government of its best and brightest, dumbing down many federal agencies.

Fighting the brain drain spawned a cottage industry of experts who discussed the dangers with the media and advised government agencies how to recruit, mentor or retain people until competent replacements could be hired or trained.

Also over the past decade, federal workers have worried about, and their unions and associations have fought, congressional plans and proposals to reduce future pension benefits and cost-of-living adjustments and force workers to pay a larger share of their retirement and health premiums.

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