WASHINGTON – The privatization of civilian jobs at West Point appears to be blocked.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense voted to prevent the Pentagon from privatizing some 6,000 civilian and military jobs including over 500 at West Point. Congressman Maurice Hinchey, with the support of Congressman John Hall, secured the subcommittee’s approval to block a Pentagon decision that would privatize jobs under a plan originated during the Bush administration.

“By maintaining the level of these jobs, what you do is you maintain the effectiveness of the work that is carried out there,” he said.

American Federation of Government Employees Local 2367 President Don Hale said the privatization study by the previous administration should never have gone this far.

“This study doomed right from the outset,” he said. There were two issues regarding the study, Hale said. “There was an issue of whether or not we should be privatized in these jobs and there is also an issue of whether we should lose these jobs based on competition that was done unfairly.”

The bill must now be approved by the full House and the Senate, but Hinchey is confident of both.