PART III—EMPLOYEES
Subpart A—General Provisions
Subpart B—Employment and Retention
Subpart C—Employee Performance
Subpart D—Pay and Allowances
Subpart E—Attendance and Leave
Subpart F—Labor-Management and Employee Relations
Subpart G—Insurance and Annuities
Subpart H—Access to Criminal History Record Information
Subpart I—Miscellaneous
Subpart J—Enhanced Personnel Security Programs
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—
2019—
2015—
2011—
2010—
2006—
2004—
2003—
2002—
2000—
1998—
1993—
1986—
1985—
1984—
1978—
1 Chapter heading amended by
2 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
3 So in original. The period probably should not appear.
Subpart A—General Provisions
CHAPTER 21 —DEFINITIONS
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—
1980—
1978—
1972—
§2101. Civil service; armed forces; uniformed services
For the purpose of this title—
(1) the "civil service" consists of all appointive positions in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the Government of the United States, except positions in the uniformed services;
(2) "armed forces" means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard; and
(3) "uniformed services" means the armed forces, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(
Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act
The section is supplied to establish basis of reference to employees in this title.
1967 Act
This section amends various sections [§§2101, 4102, 4109, 5541, 8101] of
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Par. (2).
1979—Par. (3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Short Title of 1994 Amendment
Short Title of 1990 Amendment
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see
Coordination of Title VII of Pub. L. 101–508 With Section 909 of Title 2
§2101a. The Senior Executive Service
The "Senior Executive Service" consists of Senior Executive Service positions (as defined in
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§2102. The competitive service
(a) The "competitive service" consists of—
(1) all civil service positions in the executive branch, except—
(A) positions which are specifically excepted from the competitive service by or under statute;
(B) positions to which appointments are made by nomination for confirmation by the Senate, unless the Senate otherwise directs; and
(C) positions in the Senior Executive Service;
(2) civil service positions not in the executive branch which are specifically included in the competitive service by statute; and
(3) positions in the government of the District of Columbia which are specifically included in the competitive service by statute.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section, the "competitive service" includes positions to which appointments are made by nomination for confirmation by the Senate when specifically included therein by statute.
(c) As used in other Acts of Congress, "classified civil service" or "classified service" means the "competitive service".
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §7 (less applicability to appointment and promotion), |
Subsection (a) is restated in the form of a definition.
Subsection (a)(1) is based on former section 638, which placed positions in the executive branch of the Government generally in the competitive service by the requirement that employment be predicated on passing an examination or being exempted from examination, and section 1 of the Act of Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, title I,
In subsection (a)(1)(B), the words "or to pass an examination" are omitted as covered by the exclusion from the "competitive service".
Subsection (a)(2) preserves the exception stated in former section 638 modified to recognize the several statutory exceptions to this exception that have been enacted. The language of former section 638 relative to examination is codified in sections 3304(b) and 3361. The reference to veterans' preference is omitted because the statute referred to, R.S. §1754, was superseded by sections 3 and 21 of the Act of June 18, 1929, ch. 28,
Subsection (b) is added because of the provisions in
Subsection (c) is supplied for conformity inasmuch as the terms are coextensive by definition.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§2103. The excepted service
(a) For the purpose of this title, the "excepted service" consists of those civil service positions which are not in the competitive service or the Senior Executive Service.
(b) As used in other Acts of Congress, "unclassified civil service" or "unclassified service" means the "excepted service".
(
Historical and Revision Notes
The section is supplied for convenience. The "excepted service" has come to mean all employees not in the competitive service, for whatever reason.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§2104. Officer
(a) For the purpose of this title, "officer", except as otherwise provided by this section or when specifically modified, means a justice or judge of the United States and an individual who is—
(1) required by law to be appointed in the civil service by one of the following acting in an official capacity—
(A) the President;
(B) a court of the United States;
(C) the head of an Executive agency; or
(D) the Secretary of a military department;
(2) engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; and
(3) subject to the supervision of an authority named by paragraph (1) of this section, or the Judicial Conference of the United States, while engaged in the performance of the duties of his office.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, an officer of the United States Postal Service or of the Postal Regulatory Commission is deemed not an officer for purposes of this title.
(
Historical and Revision Notes
The section is supplied for convenience.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (b).
1970—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
§2105. Employee
(a) For the purpose of this title, "employee", except as otherwise provided by this section or when specifically modified, means an officer and an individual who is—
(1) appointed in the civil service by one of the following acting in an official capacity—
(A) the President;
(B) a Member or Members of Congress, or the Congress;
(C) a member of a uniformed service;
(D) an individual who is an employee under this section;
(E) the head of a Government controlled corporation; or
(F) an adjutant general designated by the Secretary concerned under
(2) engaged in the performance of a Federal function under authority of law or an Executive act; and
(3) subject to the supervision of an individual named by paragraph (1) of this subsection while engaged in the performance of the duties of his position.
(b) An individual who is employed at the United States Naval Academy in the midshipmen's laundry, the midshipmen's tailor shop, the midshipmen's cobbler and barber shops, and the midshipmen's store, except an individual employed by the Academy dairy (if any), and whose employment in such a position began before October 1, 1996, and has been uninterrupted in such a position since that date is deemed an employee.
(c) An employee paid from nonappropriated funds of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Navy Ships Stores Program, Navy exchanges, Marine Corps exchanges, Coast Guard exchanges, and other instrumentalities of the United States under the jurisdiction of the armed forces conducted for the comfort, pleasure, contentment, and mental and physical improvement of personnel of the armed forces is deemed not an employee for the purpose of—
(1) laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management, except—
(A) section 7204;
(B) as otherwise specifically provided in this title;
(C) the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938;
(D) for the purpose of entering into an interchange agreement to provide for the noncompetitive movement of employees between such instrumentalities and the competitive service; or
(E) subchapter V of
(2) subchapter I of
This subsection does not affect the status of these nonappropriated fund activities as Federal instrumentalities.
(d) A Reserve of the armed forces who is not on active duty or who is on active duty for training is deemed not an employee or an individual holding an office of trust or profit or discharging an official function under or in connection with the United States because of his appointment, oath, or status, or any duties or functions performed or pay or allowances received in that capacity.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, an employee of the United States Postal Service or of the Postal Regulatory Commission is deemed not an employee for purposes of this title.
(f) For purposes of sections 1212, 1213, 1214, 1215, 1216, 1221, 1222, 2302, and 7701, employees appointed under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | [Uncodified]. | Aug. 5, 1939, ch. 448, §2, |
| [Uncodified]. | Dec. 3, 1945, ch. 510, §2, |
|
| [Uncodified]. | Dec. 28, 1945, ch. 593, §2, |
|
| [Uncodified]. | Dec. 28, 1945, ch. 594, §2, |
|
| [Uncodified]. | July 26, 1946, ch. 675, §2 (last proviso), |
|
| (c) | June 19, 1952, ch. 444, §1, |
|
| (d) | Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §29(d), |
Subsection (a) is supplied to avoid the necessity of defining "employee" each time it appears in this title. The subsection is based on a definition worked out independently by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Labor and in use by both for more than a decade.
In subsection (b), the provisions of the source statutes which relate to credit for prior service and diminution of pay are executed, or, insofar as to be executed preserved by technical section 8.
In subsection (d), the words "officer or" are omitted as included within "employee".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(C), is act June 25, 1938, ch. 676,
Amendments
2013—Subsec. (c).
2006—Subsec. (e).
1997—Subsec. (b).
1996—Subsec. (b).
1994—Subsec. (f).
1993—Subsec. (c)(1)(E).
1990—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (c)(2).
1986—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (c)(2).
1979—Subsec. (a)(1)(F).
Subsec. (c)(1).
1978—Subsec. (c)(1).
1972—Subsec. (c)(1).
1970—Subsec. (e).
1968—Subsec. (a)(1)(F).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
"(1) The amendments made by this section [amending this section and
"(A) moves without a break in service of more than 3 days from employment in a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard that is described in
"(B) moves without a break in service from employment in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard that is not described in such section 2105(c) to employment in a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, that is described in such section 2105(c).
"(2) The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the Executive Director of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, as applicable, shall take such actions as may be practicable to ensure that each individual who has moved as described under paragraph (1) on or after January 1, 1987, and before the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 5, 1990], receives the benefit of the amendments made by this section as if such amendments had been in effect at the time such individual so moved. Each such individual who wishes to make an election of retirement coverage under the amendments made by subsection (j) or (k) of this section [amending
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Amendment by
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see
Treatment of Individuals Electing To Remain Subject to Their Former Retirement System
"(1) For the purpose of this section [amending this section and
"(2)(A) If an individual makes an election under
"(B) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b) of
"(3)(A) If an individual makes an election under
"(B) Notwithstanding subsection (a) or (b) of
"(4) If an individual makes an election under
[Amendment by
Prohibition of Decrease in Basic Pay Rate of Employees of Nonappropriated Fund Instrumentalities
Amendments by
§2106. Member of Congress
For the purpose of this title, "Member of Congress" means the Vice President, a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives, a Delegate to the House of Representatives, and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico.
(
Historical and Revision Notes
The section is supplied to avoid the necessity of defining "Member of Congress" each time the term is used in this title.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—
1970—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
§2107. Congressional employee
For the purpose of this title, "Congressional employee" means—
(1) an employee of either House of Congress, of a committee of either House, or of a joint committee of the two Houses;
(2) an elected officer of either House who is not a Member of Congress;
(3) the Legislative Counsel of either House and an employee of his office;
(4) a member or employee of the Capitol Police;
(5) an employee of a Member of Congress if the pay of the employee is paid by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives;
[(6) Repealed.
(7) the Architect of the Capitol and an employee of the Architect of the Capitol;
(8) an employee of the Botanic Garden; and
(9) an employee of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.
(
Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act
The section is supplied to avoid the necessity of defining "Congressional employee" each time the term is used in this title.
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 2107(6) | 2:126–1. | July 27, 1965, |
| 2107(8) | 5 App.: 2251(c). | Sept. 26, 1966, |
Paragraph (6), relating to Official Reporters of Debates of the Senate and their employees, is eliminated as unnecessary on authority of the act of July 27, 1965 (
In paragraph (8), based on the act of September 26, 1966 (5 App. U.S.C. 2251(c)), the word "officers" is omitted as included in "employees," and the words "United States" preceding the words "Botanic Garden" are omitted as unnecessary.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—Par. (4).
2008—Par. (9).
1996—Par. (5).
1970—Par. (9). Pub. L. 91—510 added par. (9).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
§2108. Veteran; disabled veteran; preference eligible
For the purpose of this title—
(1) "veteran" means an individual who—
(A) served on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during the period beginning April 28, 1952, and ending July 1, 1955;
(B) served on active duty as defined by
(C) served on active duty as defined by
(D) served on active duty as defined by
and, except as provided under section 2108a, who has been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions;
(2) "disabled veteran" means an individual who has served on active duty in the armed forces, (except as provided under section 2108a) has been separated therefrom under honorable conditions, and has established the present existence of a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension because of a public statute administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a military department;
(3) "preference eligible" means, except as provided in paragraph (4) of this section or section 2108a(c)—
(A) a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section;
(B) a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(B), (C), or (D) of this section;
(C) a disabled veteran;
(D) the unmarried widow or widower of a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section;
(E) the wife or husband of a service-connected disabled veteran if the veteran has been unable to qualify for any appointment in the civil service or in the government of the District of Columbia;
(F) the parent of an individual who lost his or her life under honorable conditions while serving in the armed forces during a period named by paragraph (1)(A) of this section, if—
(i) the spouse of that parent is totally and permanently disabled; or
(ii) that parent, when preference is claimed, is unmarried or, if married, legally separated from his or her spouse;
(G) the parent of a service-connected permanently and totally disabled veteran, if—
(i) the spouse of that parent is totally and permanently disabled; or
(ii) that parent, when preference is claimed, is unmarried or, if married, legally separated from his or her spouse; and
(H) a veteran who was discharged or released from a period of active duty by reason of a sole survivorship discharge (as that term is defined in
but does not include applicants for, or members of, the Senior Executive Service, the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service, the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service;
(4) except for the purposes of chapters 43 and 75 of this title, "preference eligible" does not include a retired member of the armed forces unless—
(A) the individual is a disabled veteran; or
(B) the individual retired below the rank of major or its equivalent; and
(5) "retired member of the armed forces" means a member or former member of the armed forces who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of service as a member.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §2 (less 1st 76 words), |
||
| Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, §1, |
||
| July 2, 1948, ch. 816, |
||
| Aug. 26, 1949, ch. 513, |
||
| Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, §1, |
||
| July 14, 1952, ch. 728, §1, |
In paragraph (2), the words "a military department" are substituted for "the War Department or Navy Department" (appearing in section 2 of the Act of June 27, 1944) because of the definition of "military department" in section 102. The Department of War was designated the Department of the Army by the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §205,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 2108 | 5 App.: 851. | Mar. 3, 1966, |
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2015—Par. (3)(F), (G).
2011—Par. (1).
Par. (2).
Par. (3).
2008—Par. (3)(H).
2006—Par. (1).
Par. (1)(B).
Par. (1)(D).
Par. (3)(B).
1998—Par. (3).
1997—Par. (1)(B).
Par. (1)(C).
Par. (3)(B).
1991—Par. (2).
1988—Par. (3).
1981—Par. (3).
1980—Par. (3).
1979—Par. (3).
Par. (5).
1978—Par. (2).
Par. (3).
Pars. (4), (5).
Par. (5).
1976—Par. (1)(B).
1971—Par. (3)(D).
Par. (3)(E).
1968—Par. (3)(D).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) the father or mother or one or more siblings—
"(A) served in the Armed Forces; and
"(B) was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently 100 percent disabled or hospitalized on a continuing basis (and is not employed gainfully because of the disability or hospitalization); and
"(2) the death, status, or disability did not result from the intentional misconduct or willful neglect of the parent or sibling and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence."
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by section 2(a)(8) of
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by section 401(d) of
Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Amendment by
Savings Provision
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see
§2108a. Treatment of certain individuals as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligibles
(a)
(1)
(A) meets the definition of a veteran under section 2108(1), except for the requirement that the individual has been discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions; and
(B) submits a certification described under paragraph (2) to the Federal officer making the appointment.
(2)
(b)
(1)
(A) meets the definition of a disabled veteran under section 2108(2), except for the requirement that the individual has been separated from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions; and
(B) submits a certification described under paragraph (2) to the Federal officer making the appointment.
(2)
(c)
(Added
1 So in original. Subsec. does not contain a par. (3).
§2109. Air traffic controller; Secretary
For the purpose of this title—
(1) "air traffic controller" or "controller" means a civilian employee of the Department of Transportation or the Department of Defense who, in an air traffic control facility or flight service station facility—
(A) is actively engaged—
(i) in the separation and control of air traffic; or
(ii) in providing preflight, inflight, or airport advisory service to aircraft operators; or
(B) is the immediate supervisor of any employee described in subparagraph (A); and
(2) "Secretary", when used in connection with "air traffic controller" or "controller", means the Secretary of Transportation with respect to controllers in the Department of Transportation, and the Secretary of Defense with respect to controllers in the Department of Defense.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1986—Par. (1).
1980—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
"(1) October 1, 1980, or
"(2) the ninetieth day after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 12, 1980]."
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see, section 10 of
CHAPTER 23 —MERIT SYSTEM PRINCIPLES
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—
2012—
2004—
§2301. Merit system principles
(a) This section shall apply to—
(1) an Executive agency; and
(2) the Government Publishing Office.
(b) Federal personnel management should be implemented consistent with the following merit system principles:
(1) Recruitment should be from qualified individuals from appropriate sources in an endeavor to achieve a work force from all segments of society, and selection and advancement should be determined solely on the basis of relative ability, knowledge, and skills, after fair and open competition which assures that all receive equal opportunity.
(2) All employees and applicants for employment should receive fair and equitable treatment in all aspects of personnel management without regard to political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or handicapping condition, and with proper regard for their privacy and constitutional rights.
(3) Equal pay should be provided for work of equal value, with appropriate consideration of both national and local rates paid by employers in the private sector, and appropriate incentives and recognition should be provided for excellence in performance.
(4) All employees should maintain high standards of integrity, conduct, and concern for the public interest.
(5) The Federal work force should be used efficiently and effectively.
(6) Employees should be retained on the basis of the adequacy of their performance, inadequate performance should be corrected, and employees should be separated who cannot or will not improve their performance to meet required standards.
(7) Employees should be provided effective education and training in cases in which such education and training would result in better organizational and individual performance.
(8) Employees should be—
(A) protected against arbitrary action, personal favoritism, or coercion for partisan political purposes, and
(B) prohibited from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for election.
(9) Employees should be protected against reprisal for the lawful disclosure of information which the employees reasonably believe evidences—
(A) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
(B) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
(c) In administering the provisions of this chapter—
(1) with respect to any agency (as defined in
(2) with respect to any entity in the executive branch which is not such an agency or part of such an agency, the head of such entity shall, pursuant to authority otherwise available, take any action, including the issuance of rules, regulations, or directives;
which is consistent with the provisions of this title and which the President or the head, as the case may be, determines is necessary to ensure that personnel management is based on and embodies the merit system principles.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in subsec. (a)(2) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date
Chapter effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of
Training for Supervisors
"(1) to employees appointed to supervisory positions in the agency who have not previously served as a supervisor; and
"(2) on an annual basis, to all employees of the agency serving in a supervisory position."
[For definitions of "agency" and "employee" as used in section 106 of
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
"SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
"Congress finds that—
"(1) Federal agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination;
"(2) Congress has heard testimony from individuals, including representatives of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Federation of Government Employees, that point to chronic problems of discrimination and retaliation against Federal employees;
"(3) in August 2000, a jury found that the Environmental Protection Agency had discriminated against a senior social scientist, and awarded that scientist $600,000;
"(4) in October 2000, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation found that the Environmental Protection Agency had retaliated against a senior scientist for disagreeing with that agency on a matter of science and for helping Congress to carry out its oversight responsibilities;
"(5) there have been several recent class action suits based on discrimination brought against Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of Agriculture, the United States Information Agency, and the Social Security Administration;
"(6) notifying Federal employees of their rights under discrimination and whistleblower laws should increase Federal agency compliance with the law;
"(7) requiring annual reports to Congress on the number and severity of discrimination and whistleblower cases brought against each Federal agency should enable Congress to improve its oversight over compliance by agencies with the law; and
"(8) requiring Federal agencies to pay for any discrimination or whistleblower judgment, award, or settlement should improve agency accountability with respect to discrimination and whistleblower laws.
"SEC. 102. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
"It is the sense of Congress that—
"(1) Federal agencies should not retaliate for court judgments or settlements relating to discrimination and whistleblower laws by targeting the claimant or other employees with reductions in compensation, benefits, or workforce to pay for such judgments or settlements;
"(2) the mission of the Federal agency and the employment security of employees who are blameless in a whistleblower incident should not be compromised;
"(3) Federal agencies should not use a reduction in force or furloughs as means of funding a reimbursement under this Act;
"(4) accountability in the enforcement of the rights of Federal employees is furthered when Federal agencies agree to take appropriate disciplinary action against Federal employees who are found to have intentionally committed discriminatory (including retaliatory) acts;
"(5)(A) accountability is not furthered if Federal agencies react to the increased accountability under this Act for what, by law, the agency is responsible by taking unfounded disciplinary actions against managers or by violating the procedural rights of managers who have been accused of discrimination; and
"(B) Federal agencies should ensure that managers have adequate training in the management of a diverse workforce and in dispute resolution and other essential communication skills; and
"(6)(A) Federal agencies are expected to reimburse the General Fund of the Treasury within a reasonable time under this Act; and
"(B) a Federal agency, particularly if the amount of reimbursement under this Act is large relative to annual appropriations for that agency, may need to extend reimbursement over several years in order to avoid—
"(i) reductions in force;
"(ii) furloughs;
"(iii) other reductions in compensation or benefits for the workforce of the agency; or
"(iv) an adverse effect on the mission of the agency.
"SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.
"For purposes of this Act—
"(1) the term 'applicant for Federal employment' means an individual applying for employment in or under a Federal agency;
"(2) the term 'basis of alleged discrimination' shall have the meaning given such term under section 303;
"(3) the term 'Federal agency' means an Executive agency (as defined in
"(4) the term 'Federal employee' means an individual employed in or under a Federal agency;
"(5) the term 'former Federal employee' means an individual formerly employed in or under a Federal agency; and
"(6) the term 'issue of alleged discrimination' shall have the meaning given such term under section 303.
"SEC. 104. EFFECTIVE DATE.
"This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st fiscal year beginning more than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [May 15, 2002].
"TITLE II—FEDERAL EMPLOYEE DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION
"SEC. 201. REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENT.
"(a)
"(1) any provision of law cited in subsection (c); or
"(2) any other provision of law which prohibits any form of discrimination, as identified under rules issued under section 204.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1)
"(2) The provisions of law specified in
"SEC. 202. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.
"(a)
"(1) in accordance with otherwise applicable provisions of law; or
"(2) if, or to the extent that, no such notification would otherwise be required, in such time, form, and manner as shall under section 204 be required in order to carry out the requirements of this section.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1)
"(A) on the public internet website of the agency, in a clear and prominent location linked directly from the home page of that website;
"(B) stating that a finding of discrimination (including retaliation) has been made; and
"(C) which shall remain posted for not less than 1 year.
"(2)
"(A) All appeals of a final action by a Federal agency involving a finding of discrimination (including retaliation) prohibited by a provision of law covered by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 201(a) have been exhausted.
"(B) All appeals of a final decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involving a finding of discrimination (including if the finding included a finding of retaliation) prohibited by a provision of law covered by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 201(a) have been exhausted.
"(C) A court of jurisdiction issues a final judgment involving a finding of discrimination (including retaliation) prohibited by a provision of law covered by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 201(a).
"(3)
"(A) identify the date on which the finding was made, the date on which each discriminatory act occurred, and the law violated by each such discriminatory act; and
"(B) advise Federal employees of the rights and protections available under the provisions of law covered by paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 201(a).
"SEC. 203. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
"(a)
"(1) the number of cases arising under each of the respective provisions of law covered by paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 201(a) in which discrimination on the part of such agency was alleged;
"(2) the status or disposition of cases described in paragraph (1);
"(3) the amount of money required to be reimbursed by such agency under section 201 in connection with each of such cases, separately identifying the aggregate amount of such reimbursements attributable to the payment of attorneys' fees, if any;
"(4) the number of employees disciplined for discrimination, retaliation, harassment, or any other infraction of any provision of law referred to in paragraph (1);
"(5) the final year-end data posted under section 301(c)(1)(B) for such fiscal year (without regard to section 301(c)(2));
"(6) a detailed description of—
"(A) the policy implemented by that agency relating to appropriate disciplinary actions against a Federal employee who—
"(i) discriminated against any individual in violation of any of the laws cited under section 201(a)(1) or (2); or
"(ii) committed another prohibited personnel practice that was revealed in the investigation of a complaint alleging a violation of any of the laws cited under section 201(a)(1) or (2); and
"(B) with respect to each of such laws, the number of employees who are disciplined in accordance with such policy and the specific nature of the disciplinary action taken;
"(7) an analysis of the information described under paragraphs (1) through (6) (in conjunction with data provided to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in compliance with part 1614 of title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations) including—
"(A) an examination of trends;
"(B) causal analysis;
"(C) practical knowledge gained through experience; and
"(D) any actions planned or taken to improve complaint or civil rights programs of the agency; and
"(8) any adjustment (to the extent the adjustment can be ascertained in the budget of the agency) to comply with the requirements under section 201.
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) whether disciplinary action has been proposed against a Federal employee as a result of the violation; and
"(2) the reasons for any disciplinary action proposed under paragraph (1).
"SEC. 204. RULES AND GUIDELINES.
"(a)
"(1) rules to carry out this title;
"(2) rules to require that a comprehensive study be conducted in the executive branch to determine the best practices relating to the appropriate disciplinary actions against Federal employees who commit the actions described under clauses (i) and (ii) of section 203(a)(6)(A); and
"(3) based on the results of such study, advisory guidelines incorporating best practices that Federal agencies may follow to take such actions against such employees.
"(b)
"(1) whether such agency has adopted and will fully follow such guidelines;
"(2) if such agency has not adopted such guidelines; the reasons for the failure to adopt such guidelines; and
"(3) if such agency will not fully follow such guidelines, the reasons for the decision not to fully follow such guidelines and an explanation of the extent to which such agency will not follow such guidelines.
"SEC. 205. CLARIFICATION OF REMEDIES.
"Consistent with Federal law, nothing in this title shall prevent any Federal employee, former Federal employee, or applicant for Federal employment from exercising any right otherwise available under the laws of the United States.
"SEC. 206. STUDIES BY GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE [now GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE] ON EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES AND ON ASCERTAINMENT OF CERTAIN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE COSTS.
"(a)
"(1)
"(A)
"(B)
"(i) expedite handling of allegations of such violations within Federal agencies and will streamline the complaint-filing process;
"(ii) affect the workload of the Commission;
"(iii) affect established alternative dispute resolution procedures in such agencies; and
"(iv) affect any other matters determined by the General Accounting Office [now Government Accountability Office] to be appropriate for consideration.
"(2)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) a study on the effects of section 201 on the operations of Federal agencies; and
"(B) a study on the effects of section 13 of the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 (
"(2)
"(A) a summary of the number of cases in which a payment was made in accordance with
"(B) a summary of the length of time Federal agencies used to complete reimbursements of payments described under subparagraph (A); and
"(C) conclusions that assist in making determinations on how the reimbursements of payments described under subparagraph (A) will affect—
"(i) the operations of Federal agencies;
"(ii) funds appropriated on an annual basis;
"(iii) employee relations and other human capital matters;
"(iv) settlements; and
"(v) any other matter determined by the General Accounting Office [now Government Accountability Office] to be appropriate for consideration.
"(3)
"(d)
"(1)
"(A) this Act; and
"(B) the Contracts Dispute [Contract Disputes] Act of 1978 (
"(2)
"SEC. 207. COMPLAINT TRACKING.
"Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the Elijah E. Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act of 2020 [Jan. 1, 2021], each Federal agency shall establish a system to track each complaint of discrimination arising under
"SEC. 208. NOTATION IN PERSONNEL RECORD.
"If a Federal agency takes an adverse action covered under
"TITLE III—EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMPLAINT DATA DISCLOSURE
"SEC. 301. DATA TO BE POSTED BY EMPLOYING FEDERAL AGENCIES.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) The number of complaints filed with such agency in such fiscal year.
"(2) The number of individuals filing those complaints (including as the agent of a class).
"(3) The number of individuals who filed 2 or more of those complaints.
"(4) The number of complaints (described in paragraph (1)) in which each of the various bases of alleged discrimination is alleged.
"(5) The number of complaints (described in paragraph (1)) in which each of the various issues of alleged discrimination is alleged.
"(6) The average length of time, for each step of the process, it is taking such agency to process complaints (taking into account all complaints pending for any length of time in such fiscal year, whether first filed in such fiscal year or earlier). Average times under this paragraph shall be posted—
"(A) for all such complaints,
"(B) for all such complaints in which a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is not requested, and
"(C) for all such complaints in which a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is requested.
"(7) The total number of final agency actions rendered in such fiscal year involving a finding of discrimination and, of that number—
"(A) the number and percentage that were rendered without a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and
"(B) the number and percentage that were rendered after a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"(8) Of the total number of final agency actions rendered in such fiscal year involving a finding of discrimination—
"(A) the number and percentage involving a finding of discrimination based on each of the respective bases of alleged discrimination, and
"(B) of the number specified under subparagraph (A) for each of the respective bases of alleged discrimination—
"(i) the number and percentage that were rendered without a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and
"(ii) the number and percentage that were rendered after a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
"(9) Of the total number of final agency actions rendered in such fiscal year involving a finding of discrimination—
"(A) the number and percentage involving a finding of discrimination in connection with each of the respective issues of alleged discrimination,
"(B) of the number specified under subparagraph (A) for each of the respective issues of alleged discrimination—
"(i) the number and percentage that were rendered without a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and
"(ii) the number and percentage that were rendered after a hearing before an administrative judge of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and
"(C) with respect to each finding described in subparagraph (A)—
"(i) the date of the finding,
"(ii) the affected Federal agency,
"(iii) the law violated, and
"(iv) whether a decision has been made regarding disciplinary action as a result of the finding.
"(10)(A) Of the total number of complaints pending in such fiscal year (as described in the parenthetical matter in paragraph (6)), the number that were first filed before the start of the then current fiscal year.
"(B) With respect to those pending complaints that were first filed before the start of the then current fiscal year—
"(i) the number of individuals who filed those complaints, and
"(ii) the number of those complaints which are at the various steps of the complaint process.
"(C) Of the total number of complaints pending in such fiscal year (as described in the parenthetical matter in paragraph (6)), the total number of complaints with respect to which the agency violated the requirements of section 1614.106(e)(2) of title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on July 1, 2000, and amended from time to time) by failing to conduct within 180 days of the filing of such complaints an impartial and appropriate investigation of such complaints.
"(11) Data regarding each class action complaint filed against the agency alleging discrimination (including retaliation), including—
"(A) information regarding the date on which each complaint was filed,
"(B) a general summary of the allegations alleged in the complaint,
"(C) an estimate of the total number of plaintiffs joined in the complaint, if known,
"(D) the current status of the complaint, including whether the class has been certified, and
"(E) the case numbers for the civil actions in which discrimination (including retaliation) has been found.
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) interim year-to-date data, updated quarterly, and
"(B) final year-end data.
"(2)
"SEC. 302. DATA TO BE POSTED BY THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION.
"(a)
"(1) hearings requested before an administrative judge of the Commission on complaints described in section 301, and
"(2) appeals filed with the Commission from final agency actions on complaints described in section 301.
"(b)
"(c)
"SEC. 303. RULES.
"The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shall issue any rules necessary to carry out this title.
"TITLE IV—PROCESSING AND REFERRAL
"SEC. 401. PROCESSING AND RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS.
"Each Federal agency shall—
"(1) be responsible for the fair and impartial processing and resolution of complaints of employment discrimination (including retaliation) prohibited by a provision of law covered by paragraph (1) or (2) of section 201(a); and
"(2) establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that—
"(A) is not under the control, either structurally or practically, of the agency's Office of Human Capital or Office of the General Counsel (or the equivalent);
"(B) is devoid of internal conflicts of interest and ensures fairness and inclusiveness within the agency; and
"(C) ensures the efficient and fair resolution of complaints alleging discrimination (including retaliation).
"SEC. 402. NO LIMITATION ON ADVICE OR COUNSEL.
"Nothing in this title shall prevent a Federal agency or a subcomponent of a Federal agency, or the Department of Justice, from providing advice or counsel to employees of that agency (or subcomponent, as applicable) in the resolution of a complaint.
"SEC. 403. HEAD OF PROGRAM SUPERVISED BY HEAD OF AGENCY.
"The head of each Federal agency's Equal Employment Opportunity Program shall report directly to the head of the agency.
"SEC. 404. REFERRALS OF FINDINGS OF DISCRIMINATION.
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) notify the applicable Federal agency if the Commission refers a matter to the Office of Special Counsel under paragraph (1); and
"(B) with respect to a fiscal year, include in the Annual Report of the Federal Workforce of the Commission covering that fiscal year—
"(i) the number of referrals made under paragraph (1) during that fiscal year; and
"(ii) a brief summary of each referral described in clause (i).
"(b)
"(c)
"(1) the Office of Special Counsel pursues disciplinary action under subsection (b); and
"(2) the Federal agency imposes some form of disciplinary action against a Federal employee who commits an act of discrimination (including retaliation).
"(d)
[
[For abolition of Immigration and Naturalization Service, transfer of functions, and treatment of related references, see note set out under
[For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, including the related functions of the Secretary of the Treasury, to the Department of Justice, see
[
[Memorandum of President of the United States, July 8, 2003, 68 F.R. 45155, delegated to Director of Office of Personnel Management authority of President under section 204(a) of
§2302. Prohibited personnel practices
(a)(1) For the purpose of this title, "prohibited personnel practice" means any action described in subsection (b).
(2) For the purpose of this section—
(A) "personnel action" means—
(i) an appointment;
(ii) a promotion;
(iii) an action under
(iv) a detail, transfer, or reassignment;
(v) a reinstatement;
(vi) a restoration;
(vii) a reemployment;
(viii) a performance evaluation under
(ix) a decision concerning pay, benefits, or awards, or concerning education or training if the education or training may reasonably be expected to lead to an appointment, promotion, performance evaluation, or other action described in this subparagraph;
(x) a decision to order psychiatric testing or examination;
(xi) the implementation or enforcement of any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement; and
(xii) any other significant change in duties, responsibilities, or working conditions;
with respect to an employee in, or applicant for, a covered position in an agency, and in the case of an alleged prohibited personnel practice described in subsection (b)(8), an employee or applicant for employment in a Government corporation as defined in
(B) "covered position" means, with respect to any personnel action, any position in the competitive service, a career appointee position in the Senior Executive Service, or a position in the excepted service, but does not include any position which is, prior to the personnel action—
(i) excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; or
(ii) excluded from the coverage of this section by the President based on a determination by the President that it is necessary and warranted by conditions of good administration;
(C) "agency" means an Executive agency and the Government Publishing Office, but does not include—
(i) a Government corporation, except in the case of an alleged prohibited personnel practice described under subsection (b)(8) or section 2302(b)(9)(A)(i), (B), (C), or (D);
(ii)(I) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Reconnaissance Office; and
(II) as determined by the President, any executive agency or unit thereof the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities, provided that the determination be made prior to a personnel action; or
(iii) the Government Accountability Office; and
(D) "disclosure" means a formal or informal communication or transmission, but does not include a communication concerning policy decisions that lawfully exercise discretionary authority unless the employee or applicant providing the disclosure reasonably believes that the disclosure evidences—
(i) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
(ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
(b) Any employee who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority—
(1) discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment—
(A) on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, as prohibited under section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (
(B) on the basis of age, as prohibited under sections 12 and 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (
(C) on the basis of sex, as prohibited under section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (
(D) on the basis of handicapping condition, as prohibited under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (
(E) on the basis of marital status or political affiliation, as prohibited under any law, rule, or regulation;
(2) solicit or consider any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any individual who requests or is under consideration for any personnel action unless such recommendation or statement is based on the personal knowledge or records of the person furnishing it and consists of—
(A) an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, or general qualifications of such individual; or
(B) an evaluation of the character, loyalty, or suitability of such individual;
(3) coerce the political activity of any person (including the providing of any political contribution or service), or take any action against any employee or applicant for employment as a reprisal for the refusal of any person to engage in such political activity;
(4) deceive or willfully obstruct any person with respect to such person's right to compete for employment;
(5) influence any person to withdraw from competition for any position for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects of any other person for employment;
(6) grant any preference or advantage not authorized by law, rule, or regulation to any employee or applicant for employment (including defining the scope or manner of competition or the requirements for any position) for the purpose of improving or injuring the prospects of any particular person for employment;
(7) appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position any individual who is a relative (as defined in
(8) take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action with respect to any employee or applicant for employment because of—
(A) any disclosure of information by an employee or applicant which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences—
(i) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
(ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety,
if such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law and if such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept secret in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs;
(B) any disclosure to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another employee designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, of information which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences—
(i) any violation (other than a violation of this section) of any law, rule, or regulation, or
(ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or
(C) any disclosure to Congress (including any committee of Congress) by any employee of an agency or applicant for employment at an agency of information described in subparagraph (B) that is—
(i) not classified; or
(ii) if classified—
(I) has been classified by the head of an agency that is not an element of the intelligence community (as defined by section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (
(II) does not reveal intelligence sources and methods.1
(9) take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, any personnel action against any employee or applicant for employment because of—
(A) the exercise of any appeal, complaint, or grievance right granted by any law, rule, or regulation—
(i) with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8); or
(ii) other than with regard to remedying a violation of paragraph (8);
(B) testifying for or otherwise lawfully assisting any individual in the exercise of any right referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) or (ii);
(C) cooperating with or disclosing information to the Inspector General (or any other component responsible for internal investigation or review) of an agency, or the Special Counsel, in accordance with applicable provisions of law; or
(D) refusing to obey an order that would require the individual to violate a law, rule, or regulation;
(10) discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of conduct which does not adversely affect the performance of the employee or applicant or the performance of others; except that nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit an agency from taking into account in determining suitability or fitness any conviction of the employee or applicant for any crime under the laws of any State, of the District of Columbia, or of the United States;
(11)(A) knowingly take, recommend, or approve any personnel action if the taking of such action would violate a veterans' preference requirement; or
(B) knowingly fail to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action if the failure to take such action would violate a veterans' preference requirement;
(12) take or fail to take any other personnel action if the taking of or failure to take such action violates any law, rule, or regulation implementing, or directly concerning, the merit system principles contained in
(13) implement or enforce any nondisclosure policy, form, or agreement, if such policy, form, or agreement—
(A) does not contain the following statement: "These provisions are consistent with and do not supersede, conflict with, or otherwise alter the employee obligations, rights, or liabilities created by existing statute or Executive order relating to (1) classified information, (2) communications to Congress, (3) the reporting to an Inspector General or the Office of Special Counsel of a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or (4) any other whistleblower protection. The definitions, requirements, obligations, rights, sanctions, and liabilities created by controlling Executive orders and statutory provisions are incorporated into this agreement and are controlling."; or
(B) prohibits or restricts an employee or applicant for employment from disclosing to Congress, the Special Counsel, the Inspector General of an agency, or any other agency component responsible for internal investigation or review any information that relates to any violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, or any other whistleblower protection; or
(14) access the medical record of another employee or an applicant for employment as a part of, or otherwise in furtherance of, any conduct described in paragraphs (1) through (13).
This subsection shall not be construed to authorize the withholding of information from Congress or the taking of any personnel action against an employee who discloses information to Congress. For purposes of paragraph (8), (i) any presumption relating to the performance of a duty by an employee whose conduct is the subject of a disclosure as defined under subsection (a)(2)(D) may be rebutted by substantial evidence, and (ii) a determination as to whether an employee or applicant reasonably believes that such employee or applicant has disclosed information that evidences any violation of law, rule, regulation, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety shall be made by determining whether a disinterested observer with knowledge of the essential facts known to and readily ascertainable by the employee or applicant could reasonably conclude that the actions of the Government evidence such violations, mismanagement, waste, abuse, or danger.
(c)(1) In this subsection—
(A) the term "new employee" means an individual—
(i) appointed to a position as an employee on or after the date of enactment of this subsection; and
(ii) who has not previously served as an employee; and
(B) the term "whistleblower protections" means the protections against and remedies for a prohibited personnel practice described in paragraph (8) or subparagraph (A)(i), (B), (C), or (D) of paragraph (9) of subsection (b).
(2) The head of each agency shall be responsible for—
(A) preventing prohibited personnel practices;
(B) complying with and enforcing applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations and other aspects of personnel management; and
(C) ensuring, in consultation with the Special Counsel and the Inspector General of the agency, that employees of the agency are informed of the rights and remedies available to the employees under this chapter and
(i) information with respect to whistleblower protections available to new employees during a probationary period;
(ii) the role of the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board with respect to whistleblower protections; and
(iii) the means by which, with respect to information that is otherwise required by law or Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs, an employee may make a lawful disclosure of the information to—
(I) the Special Counsel;
(II) the Inspector General of an agency;
(III) Congress (including any committee of Congress with respect to information that is not classified or, if classified, has been classified by the head of an agency that is not an element of the intelligence community and does not reveal intelligence sources and methods); or
(IV) another employee of the agency who is designated to receive such a disclosure.
(3) The head of each agency shall ensure that the information described in paragraph (2) is provided to each new employee of the agency not later than 180 days after the date on which the new employee is appointed.
(4) The head of each agency shall make available information regarding whistleblower protections applicable to employees of the agency on the public website of the agency and on any online portal that is made available only to employees of the agency, if such portal exists.
(5) Any employee to whom the head of an agency delegates authority for any aspect of personnel management shall, within the limits of the scope of the delegation, be responsible for the activities described in paragraph (2).
(d) This section shall not be construed to extinguish or lessen any effort to achieve equal employment opportunity through affirmative action or any right or remedy available to any employee or applicant for employment in the civil service under—
(1) section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (
(2) sections 12 and 15 of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (
(3) under section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (
(4) section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (
(5) the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of marital status or political affiliation.
(e)(1) For the purpose of this section, the term "veterans' preference requirement" means any of the following provisions of law:
(A) Sections 2108, 3305(b), 3309, 3310, 3311, 3312, 3313, 3314, 3315, 3316, 3317(b), 3318, 3320, 3351, 3352, 3363, 3501, 3502(b), 3504, and 4303(e) and (with respect to a preference eligible referred to in section 7511(a)(1)(B)) subchapter II of
(B)
(C) Section 1308(b) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
(D) Section 301(c) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980.
(E) Sections 106(f),2 7281(e), and 7802(5) 2 of title 38.
(F)
(G) Any other provision of law that the Director of the Office of Personnel Management designates in regulations as being a veterans' preference requirement for the purposes of this subsection.
(H) Any regulation prescribed under subsection (b) or (c) of section 1302 and any other regulation that implements a provision of law referred to in any of the preceding subparagraphs.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, no authority to order corrective action shall be available in connection with a prohibited personnel practice described in subsection (b)(11). Nothing in this paragraph shall be considered to affect any authority under section 1215 (relating to disciplinary action).
(f)(1) A disclosure shall not be excluded from subsection (b)(8) because—
(A) the disclosure was made to a supervisor or to a person who participated in an activity that the employee or applicant reasonably believed to be covered by subsection (b)(8)(A)(i) and (ii);
(B) the disclosure revealed information that had been previously disclosed;
(C) of the employee's or applicant's motive for making the disclosure;
(D) the disclosure was not made in writing;
(E) the disclosure was made while the employee was off duty;
(F) the disclosure was made before the date on which the individual was appointed or applied for appointment to a position; or
(G) of the amount of time which has passed since the occurrence of the events described in the disclosure.
(2) If a disclosure is made during the normal course of duties of an employee, the principal job function of whom is to regularly investigate and disclose wrongdoing (referred to in this paragraph as the "disclosing employee"), the disclosure shall not be excluded from subsection (b)(8) if the disclosing employee demonstrates that an employee who has the authority to take, direct other individuals to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action with respect to the disclosing employee took, failed to take, or threatened to take or fail to take a personnel action with respect to the disclosing employee in reprisal for the disclosure made by the disclosing employee.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 1308(b) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(C), is classified to
Section 301(c) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (e)(1)(D), is classified to
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (b)(13).
2019—Subsec. (b)(8)(C).
Subsec. (c)(2)(C)(iii)(III).
2017—Subsec. (b)(9)(C).
Subsec. (b)(9)(D).
Subsec. (b)(14).
Subsecs. (c) to (f).
Subsec. (f)(1)(F), (G).
Subsec. (f)(2).
2015—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(viii).
2013—Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii).
"(I) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the National Reconnaissance Office; and
"(II) as determined by the President, any Executive agency or unit thereof the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities, provided that the determination be made prior to a personnel action; or".
2012—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(xi), (xii).
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i).
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii).
Subsec. (a)(2)(D).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (b)(8)(A)(i).
Subsec. (b)(8)(B)(i).
Subsec. (b)(9)(A).
Subsec. (b)(9)(B).
Subsec. (b)(13).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (f).
2008—Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii).
2004—Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(iii).
1998—Subsec. (a)(1).
"(A) Any action described in subsection (b) of this section.
"(B) Any action or failure to act that is designated as a prohibited personnel action under
Subsec. (b)(10) to (12).
Subsec. (e).
1996—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii).
Subsec. (b)(2).
1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A).
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(x), (xi).
Subsec. (a)(2)(B).
"(i) a position which is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character; or
"(ii) any position excluded from the coverage of this section by the President based on a determination by the President that it is necessary and warranted by conditions of good administration."
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(i).
Subsec. (a)(2)(C)(ii).
Subsec. (c).
1993—Subsec. (b)(2).
"(A) an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, or general qualifications of such individual; or
"(B) an evaluation of the character, loyalty, or suitability of such individual;".
1992—Subsec. (b)(8)(B).
1990—Subsec. (a)(2)(C).
1989—Subsec. (b)(8).
Subsec. (b)(9).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in subsec. (a)(2)(C) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 2012 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by section 1122(a)(1) of
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment; Savings Provision
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by
Savings Provision
Agency Websites
Nondisclosure Policy, Form, or Agreement in Effect Before the Effective Date
"(A) it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement with regard to a current employee if the agency gives such employee notice of the statement; and
"(B) it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement after the effective date of this Act with regard to a former employee if the agency complies with paragraph (2) of this subsection [set out as a note above]."
Disclosure of Censorship Related to Research, Analysis, or Technical Information
"(a)
"(1) the term 'agency' has the meaning given under
"(2) the term 'applicant' means an applicant for a covered position;
"(3) the term 'censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information' means any effort to distort, misrepresent, or suppress research, analysis, or technical information;
"(4) the term 'covered position' has the meaning given under
"(5) the term 'employee' means an employee in a covered position in an agency; and
"(6) the term 'disclosure' has the meaning given under
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) shall come within the protections of
"(i) the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—
"(I) any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or
"(II) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and
"(ii) such disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law or such information is not specifically required by Executive order to be kept classified in the interest of national defense or the conduct of foreign affairs; and
"(B) shall come within the protections of
"(i) the employee or applicant reasonably believes that the censorship related to research, analysis, or technical information is or will cause—
"(I) any violation of law, rule, or regulation; or
"(II) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; and
"(ii) the disclosure is made to the Special Counsel, or to the Inspector General of an agency or another person designated by the head of the agency to receive such disclosures, consistent with the protection of sources and methods.
"(2)
"(3)
Nondisclosure Policies, Forms, and Agreements
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(i) it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement with regard to a current employee if the agency gives such employee notice of the statement; and
"(ii) it shall not be a prohibited personnel practice to enforce that policy, form, or agreement after the effective date of this Act with regard to a former employee if the agency complies with paragraph (2).
"(b)
Executive Documents
Federal Benefits and Non-Discrimination
Memorandum of President of the United States, June 17, 2009, 74 F.R. 29393, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Millions of hard-working, dedicated, and patriotic public servants are employed by the Federal Government as part of the civilian workforce, and many of these devoted Americans have same-sex domestic partners. Leading companies in the private sector are free to provide to same-sex domestic partners the same benefits they provide to married people of the opposite sex. Executive departments and agencies, however, may only provide benefits on that basis if they have legal authorization to do so. My Administration is not authorized by Federal law to extend a number of available Federal benefits to the same-sex partners of Federal employees. Within existing law, however, my Administration, in consultation with the Secretary of State, who oversees our Foreign Service employees, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, who oversees human resource management for our civil service employees, has identified areas in which statutory authority exists to achieve greater equality for the Federal workforce through extension to same-sex domestic partners of benefits currently available to married people of the opposite sex. Extending available benefits will help the Federal Government compete with the private sector to recruit and retain the best and the brightest employees.
I hereby request the following:
(i) Authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) Functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Extension of Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Federal Employees
Memorandum of President of the United States, June 2, 2010, 75 F.R. 32247, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
For far too long, many of our Government's hard-working, dedicated LGBT employees have been denied equal access to the basic rights and benefits their colleagues enjoy. This kind of systemic inequality undermines the health, well-being, and security not just of our Federal workforce, but also of their families and communities. That is why, last June, I directed the heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies), in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), to conduct a thorough review of the benefits they provide and to identify any that could be extended to LGBT employees and their partners and families. Although legislative action is necessary to provide full equality to LGBT Federal employees, the agencies have identified a number of benefits that can be extended under existing law. OPM, in consultation with the Department of Justice, has provided me with a report recommending that all of the identified benefits be extended.
Accordingly, I hereby direct the following:
(a) The Director of OPM should take appropriate action to:
(i) clarify that the children of employees' same-sex domestic partners fall within the definition of "child" for purposes of Federal child-care subsidies, and, where appropriate, for child-care services;
(ii) clarify that, for purposes of employee assistance programs, same-sex domestic partners and their children qualify as "family members";
(iii) issue a proposed rule that would clarify that employees' same-sex domestic partners qualify as "family members" for purposes of noncompetitive appointments made pursuant to Executive Order 12721 of July 30, 1990;
(iv) issue a proposed rule that would add a Federal retiree's same-sex domestic partner to the list of individuals presumed to have an insurable interest in the employee pursuant to
(v) clarify that under appropriate circumstances, employees' same-sex domestic partners and their children qualify as dependents for purposes of evacuation payments made under
(vi) amend its guidance on implementing President Clinton's April 11, 1997, memorandum to heads of executive departments and agencies on "Expanded Family and Medical Leave Policies" to specify that the 24 hours of unpaid leave made available to Federal employees in connection with (i) school and early childhood educational activities; (ii) routine family medical purposes; and (iii) elderly relatives' health or care needs, may be used to meet the needs of an employee's same-sex domestic partner or the same-sex domestic partner's children; and
(vii) clarify that employees' same-sex domestic partners qualify as dependents for purposes of calculating the extra allowance payable under
(b) The Administrator of General Services should take appropriate action to amend the definitions of "immediate family" and "dependent" appearing in the Federal Travel Regulations, 41 C.F.R. Chs. 300–304, to include same-sex domestic partners and their children, so that employees and their domestic partners and children can obtain the full benefits available under applicable law, including certain travel, relocation, and subsistence payments.
(c) All agencies offering any of the benefits specified by OPM in implementing guidance under section 3 of this memorandum, including credit union membership, access to fitness facilities, and access to planning and counseling services, should take all appropriate action to provide the same level of benefits that is provided to employees' spouses and their children to employees' same-sex domestic partners and their children.
(d) All agencies with authority to provide benefits to employees outside of the context of
(i) authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
1 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
2 See References in Text note below.
§2303. Prohibited personnel practices in the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(a) Any employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who has authority to take, direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or fail to take a personnel action with respect to an employee in, or applicant for, a position in the Bureau as a reprisal for a disclosure of information—
(1) made—
(A) in the case of an employee, to a supervisor in the direct chain of command of the employee, up to and including the head of the employing agency;
(B) to the Inspector General;
(C) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department of Justice;
(D) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(E) to the Inspection Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
(F) as described in section 7211;
(G) to the Office of Special Counsel; or
(H) to an employee designated by any officer, employee, office, or division described in subparagraphs (A) through (G) for the purpose of receiving such disclosures; and
(2) which the employee or applicant reasonably believes evidences—
(A) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation; or
(B) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
For the purpose of this subsection, "personnel action" means any action described in clauses (i) through (x) of
(b) The Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to ensure that such a personnel action shall not be taken against an employee of the Bureau as a reprisal for any disclosure of information described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The President shall provide for the enforcement of this section in a manner consistent with applicable provisions of
(d)(1) An employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who makes an allegation of a reprisal under regulations promulgated under this section may appeal a final determination or corrective action order by the Bureau under those regulations to the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to section 1221.
(2) If no final determination or corrective action order has been made or issued for an allegation described in paragraph (1) before the expiration of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the allegation is received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the employee described in that paragraph may seek corrective action directly from the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to section 1221.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (d).
2016—Subsec. (a).
"(1) a violation of any law, rule, or regulation, or
"(2) mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety".
1989—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by
Whistleblower Protections for Federal Bureau of Investigation Contractors
"(1)
"(A) made—
"(i) to a supervisor in the direct chain of command of the contractor employee;
"(ii) to the Inspector General;
"(iii) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Department of Justice;
"(iv) to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
"(v) to the Inspection Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation;
"(vi) to the Office of Special Counsel; or
"(vii) to an employee designated by any officer, employee, office, or division described in clauses (i) through (vii) for the purpose of receiving such disclosures; and
"(B) which the contractor employee reasonably believes evidences—
"(i) any violation of any law, rule, or regulation (including with respect to evidence of another employee or contractor employee accessing or sharing classified information without authorization); or
"(ii) gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety.
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) The term 'contractor employee' means an employee of a contractor, subcontractor, grantee, subgrantee, or personal services contractor, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"(B) The term 'personnel action' means any action described in clauses (i) through (x) of
Executive Documents
Delegation of Responsibilities Concerning FBI Employees Under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978
Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 14, 1997, 62 F.R. 23123, provided:
Memorandum for the Attorney General
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including
All of the functions vested in the President by
You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
William J. Clinton.
§2304. Prohibited personnel practices affecting the Transportation Security Administration
(a)
(1) the provisions of section 2302(b)(1), (8), and (9);
(2) any provision of law implementing section 2302(b)(1), (8), or (9) by providing any right or remedy available to an employee or applicant for employment in the civil service; and
(3) any rule or regulation prescribed under any provision of law referred to in paragraph (1) or (2).
(b)
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2304 was renumbered
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
§2305. Responsibility of the Government Accountability Office
If requested by either House of the Congress (or any committee thereof), or if considered necessary by the Comptroller General, the Government Accountability Office shall conduct audits and reviews to assure compliance with the laws, rules, and regulations governing employment in the executive branch and in the competitive service and to assess the effectiveness and soundness of Federal personnel management.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 2305 was renumbered
Amendments
2012—
2004—
1995—
"(1) significant actions taken by the Board to carry out its functions under this title; and
"(2) significant actions of the Office of Personnel Management, including an analysis of whether or not the actions of the Office are in accord with merit system principles and free from prohibited personnel practices."
1992—Subsec. (b).
§2306. Coordination with certain other provisions of law
No provision of this chapter, or action taken under this chapter, shall be construed to impair the authorities and responsibilities set forth in section 102 of the National Security Act of 1947 (
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The National Security Act of 1947, referred to in text, is act July 26, 1947, ch. 343,
The Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949, referred to in text, is act June 20, 1949, ch. 227,
The Act entitled "An Act to provide certain administrative authorities for the National Security Agency, and for other purposes", approved May 29, 1959, referred to in text, is
The Act entitled "An Act to amend the Internal Security Act of 1950", approved March 26, 1964, referred to in text, is act Sept. 23, 1950, ch. 1024, title III, as added Mar. 26, 1964,
Amendments
2012—
1 See References in Text note below.
[§2307. Repealed. Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, §1097(b)(1)(A), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1616 ]
Section, added
CHAPTER 29 —COMMISSIONS, OATHS, RECORDS, AND REPORTS
SUBCHAPTER I—COMMISSIONS, OATHS, AND RECORDS
SUBCHAPTER II—REPORTS
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
SUBCHAPTER I—COMMISSIONS, OATHS, AND RECORDS
§2901. Commission of an officer
The President may make out and deliver, after adjournment of the Senate, the commission of an officer whose appointment has been confirmed by the Senate.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §1773. |
The words "confirmed by" are substituted for "advised and consented to".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§2902. Commission; where recorded
(a) Except as provided by subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the Secretary of State shall make out and record, and affix the seal of the United States to, the commission of an officer appointed by the President. The seal of the United States may not be affixed to the commission before the commission has been signed by the President.
(b) The commission of an officer in the civil service or uniformed services under the control of the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the Secretary of the Treasury shall be made out and recorded in the department in which he is to serve under the seal of that department. The departmental seal may not be affixed to the commission before the commission has been signed by the President.
(c) The commissions of judicial officers and United States attorneys and marshals, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and other commissions which before August 8, 1888, were prepared at the Department of State on the requisition of the Attorney General, shall be made out and recorded in the Department of Justice under the seal of that department and countersigned by the Attorney General. The departmental seal may not be affixed to the commission before the commission has been signed by the President.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | [None.] | |
| (b) | Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 131, §14, |
|
| Mar. 28, 1896, ch. 73, |
||
| Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1422, |
||
| (c) | Aug. 8, 1888, ch. 786, |
In subsection (a), the words "Except as provided by subsections (b) and (c) of this section," are added on authority of former sections 11 and 12, which are codified in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. The words "the commission of an officer" are substituted for "all civil commissions for officers of the United States" because of the definition of "officer" in section 2104. The words "by the President" are coextensive with and substituted for "by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the President alone".
In subsection (b), the words "officer in the civil service or uniformed services" are substituted for "officer" because of the definition of "officer" in section 2104. The words "direction and" are omitted as included within "the control". The words "the Secretary of Defense" are added on authority of the Acts of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §305(a),
In subsection (c), the words "and shall be" and "any laws to the contrary notwithstanding" are omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (b).
1975—Subsec. (b).
§2903. Oath; authority to administer
(a) The oath of office required by
(b) An employee of an Executive agency designated in writing by the head of the Executive agency, or the Secretary of a military department with respect to an employee of his department, may administer—
(1) the oath of office required by
(2) any other oath required by law in connection with employment in the executive branch.
(c) An oath authorized or required under the laws of the United States may be administered by—
(1) the Vice President; or
(2) an individual authorized by local law to administer oaths in the State, District, or territory or possession of the United States where the oath is administered.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | R.S. §1758. | |
| (b) | June 26, 1943, ch. 145, §206 (less 1st 9 words after last comma), |
|
| (c) | Sept. 30, 1961, |
|
| July 3, 1926, ch. 752, |
In subsection (b), the words "On and after June 26, 1943" are omitted as executed, and the word "officer" is omitted as included in "employee". The words "Executive agency" are coextensive with and substituted for "executive departments or independent establishments, including any agency the majority of the stock of which is owned by the Government of the United States" because of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105. The words "or the Secretary of a military department with respect to an employee of his department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source law. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
In subsection (c), the word "Constitution" is omitted because "laws", as used in this title, encompasses the Constitution. In subsection (c)(1), the words "of the United States" are omitted as unnecessary. In subsection (c)(2), the words "an individual authorized by local law to administer oaths in the State, District, or territory, or possession of the United States where the oath is administered" are coextensive with and substituted for "notaries public duly appointed in any State, District, or Territory of the United States, by clerks and prothonotaries of courts of record of any such State, District, or Territory, by the deputies of such clerks and prothonotaries, and by all magistrates authorized by the laws of or pertaining to any such State, District, or Territory to administer oaths".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§2904. Oath; administered without fees
An employee of an Executive agency who is authorized to administer the oath of office required by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 26, 1943, ch. 145, §206 (1st 9 words after last comma), |
||
| Sept. 30, 1961, |
||
| Aug. 29, 1890, ch. 820, §1 (2d sentence under "Fourth Auditor's Office"), |
The section is restated to combine former sections 16a(a) (1st 9 words after last comma) and 20. The prohibition is restated in positive form. The words "officer" and "clerk" are omitted as included in "employee". Reference to oaths taken on promotion is omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§2905. Oath; renewal
(a) An employee of an Executive agency or an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia who, on original appointment, subscribed to the oath of office required by
(b) An individual who, on appointment as an employee of a House of Congress, subscribed to the oath of office required by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Aug. 14, 1937, ch. 624, |
|
| (b) | Mar. 28, 1955, ch. 17, |
In subsection (a), the word "civilian" is omitted as unnecessary because of the definition of "employee" in section 2105. The words "Executive agency" are coextensive with and substituted for "executive departments and independent establishments of the United States" because of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105. The words "the Secretary of a military department with respect to an employee of his department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source law. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§2906. Oath; custody
The oath of office taken by an individual under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §1759. |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
SUBCHAPTER II—REPORTS
§2951. Reports to the Office of Personnel Management
The President may prescribe rules which shall provide, as nearly as conditions of good administration warrant, that—
(1) the appointing authority notify the Office of Personnel Management in writing of the following actions and their dates as to each individual selected for appointment in the competitive service from among those who have been examined—
(A) appointment and residence of appointee;
(B) separation during probation;
(C) transfer;
(D) resignation; and
(E) removal; and
(2) the Office keep records of these actions.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §2(2)8 (less last sentence), |
The authority of the President to prescribe rules is added on authority of former section 633(1), which is carried into section 3302.
In paragraph (1), the word "authority" is substituted for "power". The words "or employment" are omitted as included within "appointment".
In paragraph (1)(B), the words "separation during probation" are substituted for "of the rejection of any such person after probation". The words "rejection . . . after probation" refer to a rejection, i.e., separation, after a portion of the probationary period has been served but before the end of the probationary period. This is so because an individual can be rejected only during the probationary period. After he has completed the probationary period, he can be removed only under procedures governing removals from the competitive service, and removals of this nature are covered by paragraph (E).
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Pars. (1), (2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§2952. Time of making annual reports
Except when a different time is specifically prescribed by statute, the head of each Executive department or military department shall make the annual reports, required to be submitted to Congress, at the beginning of each regular session of Congress. The reports shall cover the transactions of the preceding year.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §195. |
The words "Executive department" are substituted for "department" as the definition of "department" applicable to this section is coextensive with the definition of "Executive department" in section 101.
The words "or military department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source law. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 201(d), as added Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §4,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§2953. Reports to Congress on additional employee requirements
(a) Each report, recommendation, or other communication, of an official nature, of an Executive agency which—
(1) relates to pending or proposed legislation which, if enacted, will entail an estimated annual expenditure of appropriated funds in excess of $1,000,000;
(2) is submitted or transmitted to Congress or a committee thereof in compliance with law or on the initiative of the appropriate authority of the executive branch; and
(3) officially proposes or recommends the creation or expansion, either by action of Congress or by administrative action, of a function, activity, or authority of the Executive agency to be in addition to those functions, activities, and authorities thereof existing when the report, recommendation, or other communication is so submitted or transmitted;
shall contain a statement, concerning the Executive agency, for each of the first 5 fiscal years during which each additional or expanded function, activity, or authority so proposed or recommended is to be in effect, setting forth the following information—
(A) the estimated maximum additional—
(i) man-years of civilian employment, by general categories of positions;
(ii) expenditures for personal services; and
(iii) expenditures for all purposes other than personal services;
which are attributable to the function, activity, or authority and which will be required to be effected by the Executive agency in connection with the performance thereof; and
(B) such other statement, discussion, explanation, or other information as is considered advisable by the appropriate authority of the executive branch or that is required by Congress or a committee thereof.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to—
(1) the Central Intelligence Agency;
(2) a Government controlled corporation; or
(3) the Government Accountability Office.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §11; added July 25, 1956, ch. 730, §1, |
In subsection (a), the words, "Executive agency" are substituted for "department, agency, or independent establishment of the executive branch of the Federal Government (including any corporation wholly owned by the United States)" in view of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105. The exception of "a Government controlled corporation" is subsection (b) (2) is added to preserve the application to corporations wholly owned by the United States.
The exception of "the General Accounting Office" in subsection (b)(3) is added to preserve application to the executive branch.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b)(3).
§2954. Information to committees of Congress on request
An Executive agency, on request of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of any seven members thereof, or on request of the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate, or any five members thereof, shall submit any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| May 29, 1928, ch. 901, §2, |
The words "Executive agency" are substituted for "executive department and independent establishment" in view of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105.
The words "Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives" are substituted for "Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments of the House of Representatives" on authority of H. Res. 647 of the 82d Congress, adopted July 3, 1952.
The words "Committee on Government Operations of the Senate" are substituted for "Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments of the Senate" on authority of S. Res. 280 of the 82d Congress, adopted Mar. 3, 1952.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Operations of House of Representatives treated as referring to Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives by section 1(a) of
Subpart B—Employment and Retention
CHAPTER 31 —AUTHORITY FOR EMPLOYMENT
SUBCHAPTER I—EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITIES
SUBCHAPTER II—THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER III—THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER IV—TEMPORARY ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED BY LAW OR EXECUTIVE ORDER
SUBCHAPTER V—PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—
2017—
2011—
2010—
2003—
2000—
1997—
1995—
1988—
1980—
1978—
1967—
1 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.
2 So in original. Probably should be followed by a period.
SUBCHAPTER I—EMPLOYMENT AUTHORITIES
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—
§3101. General authority to employ
Each Executive agency, military department, and the government of the District of Columbia may employ such number of employees of the various classes recognized by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §169. | ||
| Sept. 21, 1944, ch. 412, §709, |
The authorization is restated to conform to the style of this title. The word "Executive agency" are substituted for "executive department, independent establishment" in view of the definitions in sections 103, 104, and 105. The source statute (an act to authorize the appointment of employees in the executive branch etc.) applied to the entire executive branch, and government corporations as well as other agencies in the executive branch were included within the words "independent establishment". The words "or a military department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source statute. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §201(d), as added Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §4,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Annual Reports on Staffing Levels for Political and Presidential Appointees
Reports on Political Appointees Appointed to Nonpolitical Permanent Positions
"(a)
"(1) the term 'agency' has the meaning given the term 'Executive agency' in
"(2) the term 'covered civil service position' means a position in the civil service (as defined in
"(A) a temporary position; or
"(B) a political position;
"(3) the term 'former political appointee' means an individual who—
"(A) is not serving in an appointment to a political position; and
"(B) served as a political appointee during the 5-year period ending on the date of the request for an appointment to a covered civil service position in any agency;
"(4) the term 'political appointee' means an individual serving in an appointment to a political position; and
"(5) the term 'political position' means—
"(A) a position described under
"(B) a noncareer appointment in the Senior Executive Service, as defined under paragraph (7) of
"(C) a position in the executive branch of the Government of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations.
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) for each request by an agency that a political appointee be appointed to a covered civil service position during the period covered by the report, provide—
"(i) the date on which the request was received by the Office of Personnel Management;
"(ii) subject to subsection (c), the name of the individual and the political position held by the individual, including title, office, and agency;
"(iii) the date on which the individual was first appointed to a political position in the agency in which the individual is serving as a political appointee;
"(iv) the grade and rate of basic pay for the individual as a political appointee;
"(v) the proposed covered civil service position, including title, office, and agency, and the proposed grade and rate of basic pay for the individual;
"(vi) whether the Office of Personnel Management approved or denied the request; and
"(vii) the date on which the individual was appointed to a covered civil service position, if applicable; and
"(B) for each request by an agency that a former political appointee be appointed to a covered civil service position during the period covered by the report, provide—
"(i) the date on which the request was received by the Office of Personnel Management;
"(ii) subject to subsection (c), the name of the individual and the political position held by the individual, including title, office, and agency;
"(iii) the date on which the individual was first appointed to any political position;
"(iv) the grade and rate of basic pay for the individual as a political appointee;
"(v) the date on which the individual ceased to serve in a political position;
"(vi) the proposed covered civil service position, including title, office, and agency, and the proposed grade and rate of basic pay for the individual;
"(vii) whether the Office of Personnel Management approved or denied the request; and
"(viii) the date on which the individual was first appointed to a covered civil service position, if applicable.
"(2)
"(c)
"(1) who—
"(A) was requested to be appointed to a covered civil service position; and
"(B) was not appointed to a covered civil service position; or
"(2) relating to whom a request to be appointed to a covered civil service position is pending at the end of the period covered by that report."
Reduction of Federal Full-Time Equivalent Positions
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) 2,084,600 during fiscal year 1994;
"(2) 2,043,300 during fiscal year 1995;
"(3) 2,003,300 during fiscal year 1996;
"(4) 1,963,300 during fiscal year 1997;
"(5) 1,922,300 during fiscal year 1998; and
"(6) 1,882,300 during fiscal year 1999.
"(c)
"(1) continuously monitor all agencies and make a determination on the first date of each quarter of each applicable fiscal year of whether the requirements under subsection (b) are met; and
"(2) notify the President and the Congress on the first date of each quarter of each applicable fiscal year of any determination that any requirement of subsection (b) is not met.
"(d)
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) the existence of a state of war or other national security concern so requires; or
"(B) the existence of an extraordinary emergency threatening life, health, safety, property, or the environment so requires.
"(2)
"(A) Subsection (d) may be waived, in the case of a particular position or category of positions in an agency, upon a determination of the President that the efficiency of the agency or the performance of a critical agency mission so requires.
"(B) Whenever the President grants a waiver pursuant to subparagraph (A), the President shall take all necessary actions to ensure that the overall limitations set forth in subsection (b) are not exceeded.
"(f)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(A)
"(i) paragraph (1) shall apply to vacancies created in such agency; and
"(ii) the reductions required pursuant to clause (i) shall be made in the number of funded employee positions in such agency.
"(B)
"(C)
"(g)
Limitation on Number of Civilian Employees in Executive Branch
Citizenship Requirement for Employees Compensated From Appropriated Funds
Similar provisions to those in the Citizenship Requirement for Employees Compensated From Appropriated Funds note above were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:
June 13, 1956, ch. 385, title II, §202,
June 29, 1955, ch. 226, title II, §202,
Aug. 26, 1954, ch. 935, Ch. XIII, §1302,
Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 340, Ch. XIII, §1302,
July 15, 1952, ch. 758, Ch. XIV, §1402,
Nov. 1, 1951, ch. 664, Ch. XIII, §1302,
Sept. 6, 1950, ch. 897, Ch. XII, §1202,
Aug. 24, 1949, ch. 506, title III, §302,
Apr. 20, 1948, ch. 219, title II, §202,
July 30, 1947, ch. 359, title II, §202,
Mar. 28, 1946, ch. 113, title II, §206,
May 3, 1945, ch. 106, title II, §206,
June 27, 1944, ch. 286, title II, §205,
June 26, 1943, ch. 145, title II, §205,
Citizenship requirement for permanent officers and employees of Census Bureau, see
Exceptions to citizenship requirement for—
Department of Defense personnel, see
Department of State employees, see
Department of the Navy personnel, see
Library of Congress positions, see
National Aeronautics and Space Administration employees, see
Employment of Personnel During National Emergency Proclaimed on Dec. 16, 1950
Section 1310 of act Nov. 1, 1951, ch. 664, Ch. XIII,
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 12839. Reduction of 100,000 Federal Positions
Ex. Ord. No. 12839, Feb. 10, 1993, 58 F.R. 8515, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
William J. Clinton.
Ex. Ord. No. 14356. Ensuring Continued Accountability in Federal Hiring
Ex. Ord. No. 14356, Oct. 15, 2025, 90 F.R. 48387, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
(a) Compliance with the Merit Hiring Plan. Any Federal hiring shall be consistent with the Merit Hiring Plan issued by the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on May 29, 2025, pursuant to Executive Order 14170 of January 20, 2025 (Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service) [90 F.R. 8621].
(b) Strategic Hiring Committees. Within 30 days of the date of this order [Oct. 15, 2025], each agency head shall establish a Strategic Hiring Committee to approve the creation or filling, as applicable, of each vacancy within their agency. The Strategic Hiring Committee shall include the deputy agency head and the chief of staff to the agency head, along with such other senior officials as the agency head may designate. The Strategic Hiring Committee shall ensure that agency hiring is consistent with the national interest, agency needs, and the priorities of my Administration. Agency Strategic Hiring Committees shall provide written notice of approved hires to OPM following the approval of such hires.
(c) Annual Staffing Plans and Quarterly Updates.
(i) Within 60 days of the date of this order, each agency shall prepare an Annual Staffing Plan, in coordination with OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to ensure that new career appointments in the upcoming fiscal year are in the highest-need areas and aligned with the priorities of my Administration. Agencies shall submit final Annual Staffing Plans to OPM and OMB. In these plans, agencies shall seek to improve operational efficiency; eliminate duplicative or unnecessary functions and positions; reduce unnecessary or low-value contractor positions; promote employee accountability; enhance delivery of essential services; appropriately prioritize hiring for national security, homeland security, and public safety positions; and implement the recruitment initiatives described in the Merit Hiring Plan. Going forward, agencies shall prepare, in coordination with OPM and OMB, Annual Staffing Plans to implement at the start of each new fiscal year.
(ii) Agencies shall comply with the Annual Staffing Plans throughout the fiscal year, but agencies may update their plans during the course of the year based on enactment of relevant appropriations or authorizing legislation, or otherwise amend their plans in coordination with OPM and OMB.
(iii) Agencies shall submit updates to OPM and OMB at the beginning of each quarter, beginning with the second quarter of the 2026 fiscal year, showing progress in implementing their Annual Staffing Plans.
(i) the Executive Office of the President or the components thereof;
(ii) non-career positions requiring Presidential appointment or Senate confirmation;
(iii) non-career positions in the Senior Executive Service;
(iv) Schedule C or Schedule G positions in the excepted service;
(v) military personnel of the Armed Forces;
(vi) positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety; or
(vii) appointment of officials through temporary organization hiring authority pursuant to
(b) This order does not limit or prohibit the appointment or hiring of any other non-career employees or officials if approved by an agency head appointed by the President or another official appointed by the President.
(c) This order does not limit or prohibit any appointment or hiring specifically approved by the head of an executive department, as defined in
(d) This order does not limit or prohibit the hiring of personnel where such a limit or prohibition would conflict with applicable law.
(e) The Director of OPM may grant appropriate exemptions from this order. Exemptions previously granted by OPM under the Presidential Memoranda of January 20, 2025 (Hiring Freeze) [90 F.R. 8247], and July 7, 2025 (Ensuring Accountability and Prioritizing Public Safety in Federal Hiring), shall remain in effect unless withdrawn by OPM.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) Contracting outside the Federal Government to circumvent the intent of this order is prohibited.
(d) This order does not prohibit making reallocations or reassignments to meet the highest priority needs; maintain essential services; and protect national security, homeland security, and public safety.
(e) This order shall not adversely impact the provision of Social Security, Medicare, or veterans' benefits.
(f) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(g) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
(h) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by OPM.
Donald J. Trump.
Freeze on Hiring of Federal Civilian Employees
Memorandum of the President of the United States, dated Jan. 20, 1981, 46 F.R. 9907, provided for a freeze on the hiring of Federal civilian employees in the executive branch.
§3102. Employment of personal assistants for handicapped employees, including blind and deaf employees
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) the Library of Congress; and
(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch;
(2) "handicapped employee" means an individual employed by an agency who is blind or deaf or who otherwise qualifies as a handicapped individual within the meaning of section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (
(3) "nonprofit organization" means an organization determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be an organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (
(b)(1) The head of each agency may employ one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee's official duties and who shall serve without pay from the agency, without regard to—
(A) the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;
(B)
(C)
Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.
(2) A personal assistant, including a reading or interpreting assistant, employed under this subsection may receive pay for services performed by the assistant from the handicapped employee or a nonprofit organization, without regard to
(c) The head of each agency may also employ or assign one or more personal assistants who the head of the agency determines are necessary to enable a handicapped employee of that agency to perform the employee's official duties. Such employment may include the employing of a reading assistant or assistants for a blind employee or an interpreting assistant or assistants for a deaf employee.
(d)(1) In the case of any handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) traveling on official business, the head of the agency may authorize the payment to an individual to accompany or assist (or both) the handicapped employee for all or a portion of the travel period involved. Any payment under this subsection to such an individual may be made either directly to that individual or by advancement or reimbursement to the handicapped employee.
(2) With respect to any individual paid to accompany or assist a handicapped employee under paragraph (1) of this subsection—
(A) the amount paid to that individual shall not exceed the limit or limits which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe by regulation to ensure that the payment does not exceed amounts (including pay and, if appropriate, travel expenses and per diem allowances) which could be paid to an employee assigned to accompany or assist the handicapped employee; and
(B) that individual shall be considered an employee, but only for purposes of
(e) This section may not be held or considered to prevent or limit in any way the assignment to a handicapped employee (including a blind or deaf employee) by an agency of clerical or secretarial assistance, at the expense of the agency under statutes and regulations currently applicable at the time, if that assistance normally is provided, or authorized to be provided, in that manner under currently applicable statutes and regulations.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 29, 1962, |
In subsection (a)(1), the word "agency" is substituted for "department". The words "Executive agency" are coextensive with and substituted for "each executive department of the Federal Government, each agency or independent establishment in the executive branch of such Government, each corporation wholly owned or controlled by such Government, and the General Accounting Office" in view of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105.
In subsection (a)(3), the words "individual employed" are substituted for "employee" so as to include individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia who are not employees as defined by section 2105.
In subsection (b), the word "may" is substituted for "is authorized" and the words "in his discretion" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the permissive nature of the authority. The words "in the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service" are substituted for "the civil service rules". The words "
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2000—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
1986—Subsec. (a)(3).
1982—Subsec. (b)(1)(C).
1980—
1979—Subsec. (a)(2).
1978—
Subsec. (a)(4), (5).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
1968—Subsec. (a)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Amendment by
1 So in original. Probably should be "(
§3103. Employment at seat of Government only for services rendered
An individual may be employed in the civil service in an Executive department at the seat of Government only for services actually rendered in connection with and for the purposes of the appropriation from which he is paid. An individual who violates this section shall be removed from the service.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 5, 1882, ch. 389, §4 (less 255th through 316th words), |
||
| Aug. 23, 1912, ch. 350, §5 (so much as relates to removal), |
The words "civil officer, draughtsman, copyist, messenger, assistant messenger, mechanic, watchman, laborer, or other employee" are omitted as obsolete language and "individual" is substituted therefor. The words "in the civil service" are added to preserve the application of former section 46 to civilian employees. The words "or subordinate bureaus or offices thereof" are omitted as surplusage. The words "and at the rate of pay usual and proper for the services" are omitted as surplusage since all pay rates are governed by statute.
All after the 75th words of section 4 of the Act of Aug. 5, 1882, as amended by section 7(b) of the Act of Sept. 23, 1950, except the 255th through 316th words, are omitted as executed. The 255th through 296th words are scheduled for repeal as superseded (see Table II–b), and the 297th through 316th words are codified in section 5501. The Act of Aug. 15, 1876, ch. 287, §5,
In the last sentence, the word "removed" is substituted for "summarily removed" because of the provisions of the Lloyd-LaFollette Act,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3104. Employment of specially qualified scientific and professional personnel
(a) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may establish, and from time to time revise, the maximum number of scientific or professional positions for carrying out research and development functions which require the services of specially qualified personnel which may be established outside of the General Schedule. Any such position may be established by action of the Director or, under such standards and procedures as the Office prescribes and publishes in such form as the Director may determine (including procedures under which the prior approval of the Director may be required), by agency action.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any Senior Executive Service position (as defined in
(c) In addition to the number of positions authorized by subsection (a) of this section, the Librarian of Congress may establish, without regard to the second sentence of subsection (a) of this section, not more than 8 scientific or professional positions to carry out the research and development functions of the Library of Congress which require the services of specially qualified personnel.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Oct. 4, 1961, Oct. 11, 1962, |
|
| (b) | Oct. 4, 1961, |
|
| (c) | Oct. 4, 1961, |
In subsection (a), the authority to fix pay is omitted and carried into section 5361.
In subsection (b), the words "subsequent to February 1, 1958" appearing in former section 1162(c) are omitted as obsolete.
The Act of Aug. 1, 1947, ch. 433,
June 24, 1948, ch. 624,
July 13, 1949, ch. 332,
July 31, 1956, ch. 804 §501(a),
Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, §28,
June 20, 1958,
Sept. 23, 1959,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
|---|---|---|
| 3104(a)(5) | 5 App.: 1161(e). | July 5, 1966, |
The amendment to
The other amendments to
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a), is set out under
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (a).
1992—Subsec. (a).
1986—
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
1970—Subsec. (a)(5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by section 801(a)(3)(C) of
Amendment by section 414(a)(2)(B), (C) of
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
Retention Pay for Employees Subject to a Reduction in Pay Upon Termination of Bureau's Personnel Management Demonstration Project
Experimental Personnel Program for Scientific and Technical Personnel
FBI Personnel Management System for Non-Special Agent Employees; Secretary of the Treasury
Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:
[Personnel management demonstration project transferred to Attorney General for continued use by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Department of Justice, and Secretary of the Treasury for continued use by Tax and Trade Bureau, see
Termination of Authority To Establish Scientific or Professional Positions Outside the General Schedule
Limitations on Executive Positions Not To Apply to Individuals Occupying Those Positions on October 12, 1978
"(A) The provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection [amending
"(B) The Director—
"(i) in establishing under
"(ii) in establishing under section 3104 of such title 5 the maximum number of scientific or professional positions which may be established,
shall take into account positions to which subparagraph (A) of this paragraph applies."
[
[References in laws to rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of this title, see section 529 [title I, §101(c)(1)] of
§3105. Appointment of administrative law judges
Each agency shall appoint as many administrative law judges as are necessary for proceedings required to be conducted in accordance with
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 11, 1946, ch. 324, §11 (1st sentence), |
The words "Subject to the civil service" are omitted as unnecessary inasmuch as appointments are made subject to the civil service laws unless specifically excepted. The words "and other laws not inconsistent with this chapter" are omitted as unnecessary because of the organization of this title.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Hearing Examiners Appointed for Indian Probate Work
Hearing examiners appointed for Indian probate work pursuant to former
References to Hearing Examiner Deemed References to Administrative Law Judge
Executive Documents
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of Agriculture
Functions vested by
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of Commerce
Functions vested by
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of the Interior
Functions vested by
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of Justice
Functions vested by
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of Labor
Functions vested by
Hearing Examiners Employed by Department of the Treasury
Functions vested by
§3106. Employment of attorneys; restrictions
Except as otherwise authorized by law, the head of an Executive department or military department may not employ an attorney or counsel for the conduct of litigation in which the United States, an agency, or employee thereof is a party, or is interested, or for the securing of evidence therefor, but shall refer the matter to the Department of Justice. This section does not apply to the employment and payment of counsel under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §189. Sept. 2, 1958, |
||
| R.S. §365. Sept. 2, 1958, |
Sections 189 and 365 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, are combined and the section is revised to express the effect of the law since department heads have long employed, with the approval of Congress, attorneys to advise them in the conduct of their official duties. The law which concentrates the authority for the conduct of litigation in the Department of Justice is codified in
The words "Executive department" are substituted for "department" as the definition of "department" applicable to R.S. §189 is coextensive with the definition of "Executive department" in section 101. The words "or military department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source law. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
R.S. §189 was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §201(d), as added Aug. 1, 1949, ch. 412, §4,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3107. Employment of publicity experts; restrictions
Appropriated funds may not be used to pay a publicity expert unless specifically appropriated for that purpose.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 22, 1913, ch. 32, §1 (last par. under "Interstate Commerce Commission"), |
The prohibition is restated in positive form.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3108. Employment of detective agencies; restrictions
An individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Mar. 3, 1893, ch. 208 (5th par. under "Public Buildings"), |
The prohibition is restated in positive form.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3109. Employment of experts and consultants; temporary or intermittent
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) "agency" has the meaning given it by
(2) "appropriation" includes funds made available by statute under
(b) When authorized by an appropriation or other statute, the head of an agency may procure by contract the temporary (not in excess of 1 year) or intermittent services of experts or consultants or an organization thereof, including stenographic reporting services. Services procured under this section are without regard to—
(1) the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service;
(2)
(3) section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41, except in the case of stenographic reporting services by an organization.
However, an agency subject to
(c) Positions in the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service may not be filled under the authority of subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section. Such regulations shall include—
(1) criteria governing the circumstances in which it is appropriate to employ an expert or consultant under the provisions of this section;
(2) criteria for setting the pay of experts and consultants under this section; and
(3) provisions to ensure compliance with such regulations.
(e) Each agency shall report to the Office of Personnel Management on an annual basis with respect to—
(1) the number of days each expert or consultant employed by the agency during the period was so employed; and
(2) the total amount paid by the agency to each expert and consultant for such work during the period.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, §15, |
In subsection (a), the definitions of "agency" and "appropriation" are added on authority of the Act of Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 744, §18,
In subsection (b), the words "the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service" are substituted for "the civil-service laws". The words "
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (b)(3).
1992—Subsecs. (d), (e).
1988—Subsec. (c).
1982—Subsec. (a)(2).
1978—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Limitation on Consulting Services
Appropriations Relating to Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Public Disclosure of Consulting Service Through Procurement Contract
Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:
Availability of Appropriations for Services
[For reference to maximum rate under
Similar provisions were contained in the following prior appropriation acts:
Appropriations Relating to Energy and Water Development; Public Disclosure of Consulting Service Through Procurement Contract
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13433. Protecting American Taxpayers From Payment of Contingency Fees
Ex. Ord. No. 13433, May 16, 2007, 72 F.R. 28441, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(b) After the date of this order, no agency shall enter into a contingency fee agreement for legal or expert witness services addressed by section 1 of this order, unless the Attorney General has determined that the agency's entry into the agreement is required by law.
(c) Within 90 days after the date of this order, the head of each agency shall notify the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget of any contingency fee agreements for services addressed by section 1 of this order that are in effect as of the date of this order.
(a) The term "agency" means an executive agency as defined in
(b) The term "contingency fee agreement" means a contract or other agreement to provide services under which the amount or the payment of the fee for the services is contingent in whole or in part on the outcome of the matter for which the services were obtained. The term does not include:
(i) qualified tax collection contracts defined in
(ii) contracts described in
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law to an agency or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit, or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers or employees, or any other person.
George W. Bush.
§3110. Employment of relatives; restrictions
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) an office, agency, or other establishment in the legislative branch;
(C) an office, agency, or other establishment in the judicial branch; and
(D) the government of the District of Columbia;
(2) "public official" means an officer (including the President and a Member of Congress), a member of the uniformed service, an employee and any other individual, in whom is vested the authority by law, rule, or regulation, or to whom the authority has been delegated, to appoint, employ, promote, or advance individuals, or to recommend individuals for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement in connection with employment in an agency; and
(3) "relative" means, with respect to a public official, an individual who is related to the public official as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, or half sister.
(b) A public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official. An individual may not be appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in or to a civilian position in an agency if such appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement has been advocated by a public official, serving in or exercising jurisdiction or control over the agency, who is a relative of the individual.
(c) An individual appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced in violation of this section is not entitled to pay, and money may not be paid from the Treasury as pay to an individual so appointed, employed, promoted, or advanced.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations authorizing the temporary employment, in the event of emergencies resulting from natural disasters or similar unforeseen events or circumstances, of individuals whose employment would otherwise be prohibited by this section.
(e) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the appointment of an individual who is a preference eligible in any case in which the passing over of that individual on a certificate of eligibles furnished under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Retroactive Effect
[Section 221(c) of
§3111. Acceptance of volunteer service
(a) For the purpose of this section, "student" means an individual who is enrolled, not less than half-time, in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institution. An individual who is a student is deemed not to have ceased to be a student during an interim between school years if the interim is not more than 5 months and if such individual shows to the satisfaction of the Office of Personnel Management that the individual has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a course of study or training in the same or different educational institution during the school semester (or other period into which the school year is divided) immediately after the interim.
(b) Notwithstanding
(1) is performed by a student, with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled, as part of an agency program established for the purpose of providing educational experiences for the student;
(2) is to be uncompensated; and
(3) will not be used to displace any employee.
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any student who provides voluntary service under subsection (b) of this section shall not be considered a Federal employee for any purpose other than for purposes of section 7905 (relating to commuting by means other than single-occupancy motor vehicles),
(2) In addition to being considered a Federal employee for the purposes specified in paragraph (1), any student who provides voluntary service as part of a program established under subsection (b) of this section in the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, shall be considered an employee of the Department of the Treasury for purposes of—
(A)
(B) subsections (a)(1), (h)(1), (k)(6), and (l)(4) of
(C)
(D)
except that returns and return information (as defined in
(d) Notwithstanding
(e)(1) For purposes of this section the term "agency" shall include the Architect of the Capitol. With respect to the Architect of the Capitol, the authority granted to the Office of Personnel Management under this section shall be exercised by the Architect of the Capitol.
(2) In this section, the term "agency" includes the Congressional Budget Office, except that in the case of the Congressional Budget Office—
(A) any student who provides voluntary service in accordance with this section shall be considered an employee of the Congressional Budget Office for purposes of section 203 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (relating to the level of confidentiality of budget data); and
(B) the authority granted to the Office of Personnel Management under this section shall be exercised by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 203 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(A), is classified to
Amendments
2014—Subsec. (e).
2009—Subsec. (e).
2002—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (d).
1983—Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (c)(2).
1982—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Effective Date of 2002 Amendments
Amendment by
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of
§3111a. Federal internship programs
(a)
(b)
(1)
(A) the name and contact information of the internship coordinator for each agency; and
(B) information regarding application procedures and deadlines for each internship program.
(2)
(c)
(1) the term "internship program" means—
(A) a volunteer service program under section 3111(b);
(B) an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585);
(C) a program operated by a nongovernment organization for the purpose of providing paid internships in agencies under a written agreement that is similar to an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585); or
(D) a program that—
(i) is similar to an internship program established under Executive Order 13562, dated December 27, 2010 (75 Federal Register 82585); and
(ii) is authorized under another statutory provision of law;
(2) the term "intern" means an individual participating in an internship program; and
(3) the term "agency" means an Executive agency.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Executive Order 13562, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is set out as a note under
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Regulations
§3112. Disabled veterans; noncompetitive appointment
Under such regulations as the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe, an agency may make a noncompetitive appointment leading to conversion to career or career-conditional employment of a disabled veteran who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of
§3113. Restriction on reemployment after conviction of certain crimes
An employee shall be separated from service and barred from reemployment in the Federal service, if—
(1) the employee is convicted of a violation of
(2) such violation related to conduct prohibited under section 1010(a) of the Controlled Substances Import and Export Act (
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
§3114. Appointment of candidates to certain positions in the competitive service by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(a)
(b)
(1)
(A) in accordance with the statutes, rules, and regulations governing appointments in the excepted service; and
(B) notwithstanding any statutes, rules, and regulations governing appointments in the competitive service.
(2)
(c)
(1) the quality of candidates;
(2) the procedures used by the Commission to select candidates through the streamlined hiring process;
(3) the numbers, types, and grades of employees hired under the authority;
(4) any benefits or shortcomings associated with the use of the authority;
(5) the effect of the exercise of the authority on the hiring of veterans and other demographic groups; and
(6) the way in which managers were trained in the administration of the streamlined hiring system.
(d)
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2010—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Amendment by
§3115. Expedited hiring authority for college graduates; competitive service
(a)
(1)
(2)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(c)
(1) has received a baccalaureate or graduate degree from an institution of higher education;
(2) applies for the position—
(A) not later than 2 years after the date on which the individual being appointed received the degree described in paragraph (1); or
(B) in the case of an individual who has completed a period of not less than 4 years of obligated service in a uniformed service, not later than 2 years after the date of the discharge or release of the individual from that service; and
(3) meets each minimum qualification standard prescribed by the Director for the position to which the individual is being appointed.
(d)
(1)
(2)
(A) adhere to merit system principles;
(B) advertise positions in a manner that provides for diverse and qualified applicants; and
(C) ensure potential applicants have appropriate information relevant to the positions available.
(e)
(1)
(2)
(f)
(g)
(1)
(A) Congress that assesses the impact of the use of the authority provided under this section during the fiscal year in which the report is submitted; and
(B) the Director that contains data that the Director considers necessary for the Director to assess the impact and effectiveness of the authority described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
(A) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency under this section, as well as the number of such individuals who are—
(i) minorities or members of other underrepresented groups; or
(ii) veterans;
(B) recruitment sources;
(C) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency during the applicable fiscal year to a position in the competitive service classified in a professional or administrative occupational category at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below; and
(D) any additional data specified by the Director.
(h)
(1)
(2)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
GS–11, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1), (e)(1), and (g)(2)(C), is contained in the General Schedule which is set out under
The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. (f) and (g)(1), is the date of enactment of
Section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, referred to in subsec. (h), is section 1106 of
§3116. Expedited hiring authority for post-secondary students; competitive service
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(b)
(1)
(2)
(c)
(1)
(2)
(A) adhere to merit system principles;
(B) advertise positions in a manner that provides for diverse and qualified applicants; and
(C) ensure potential applicants have appropriate information relevant to the positions available.
(d)
(1)
(2)
(e)
(1) has completed the course of study leading to the baccalaureate or graduate degree;
(2) has completed not less than 640 hours of current continuous employment in an appointment under subsection (b); and
(3) meets the qualification standards for the position to which the student will be converted.
(f)
(g)
(h)
(1)
(A) Congress that assesses the impact of the use of the authority provided under this section during the fiscal year in which the report is submitted; and
(B) the Director that contains data that the Director considers necessary for the Director to assess the impact and effectiveness of the authority described in subparagraph (A).
(2)
(A) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency under this section, as well as the number of such individuals who are—
(i) minorities or members of other underrepresented groups; or
(ii) veterans;
(B) recruitment sources;
(C) the total number of individuals appointed by the agency during the applicable fiscal year to a position in the competitive service at the GS–11 level, or an equivalent level, or below; and
(D) any additional data specified by the Director.
(i)
(1)
(2)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
GS–11, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1), (d)(1), and (h)(2)(C), is contained in the General Schedule which is set out under
The date of enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. (g) and (h)(1), is the date of enactment of
Section 1106 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, referred to in subsec. (i), is section 1106 of
Amendments
2019—Subsec. (d)(1).
SUBCHAPTER II—THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
§3131. The Senior Executive Service
It is the purpose of this subchapter to establish a Senior Executive Service to ensure that the executive management of the Government of the United States is responsive to the needs, policies, and goals of the Nation and otherwise is of the highest quality. The Senior Executive Service shall be administered so as to—
(1) provide for a compensation system, including salaries, benefits, and incentives, and for other conditions of employment, designed to attract and retain highly competent senior executives;
(2) ensure that compensation, retention, and tenure are contingent on executive success which is measured on the basis of individual and organizational performance (including such factors as improvements in efficiency, productivity, quality of work or service, cost efficiency, and timeliness of performance and success in meeting equal employment opportunity goals);
(3) assure that senior executives are accountable and responsible for the effectiveness and productivity of employees under them;
(4) recognize exceptional accomplishment;
(5) enable the head of an agency to reassign senior executives to best accomplish the agency's mission;
(6) provide for severance pay, early retirement, and placement assistance for senior executives who are removed from the Senior Executive Service for nondisciplinary reasons;
(7) protect senior executives from arbitrary or capricious actions;
(8) provide for program continuity and policy advocacy in the management of public programs;
(9) maintain a merit personnel system free of prohibited personnel practices;
(10) ensure accountability for honest, economical, and efficient Government;
(11) ensure compliance with all applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, including those related to equal employment opportunity, political activity, and conflicts of interest;
(12) provide for the initial and continuing systematic development of highly competent senior executives;
(13) provide for an executive system which is guided by the public interest and free from improper political interference; and
(14) appoint career executives to fill Senior Executive Service positions to the extent practicable, consistent with the effective and efficient implementation of agency policies and responsibilities.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
"(a)(1) The provisions of this title, other than sections 413 and 414(a) [enacting this subchapter and
"(2) The provisions of
"(3) The provisions of
"(b)(1) The amendments made by
"(2) The continuity of a session is broken only by an adjournment of the Congress sine die, and the days on which either House is not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 days to a day certain are excluded in the computation of the 60-day period.
"(3) The provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), and (k) of
"(4) During the 5-year period referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall include in each report required under
Congressional Findings Respecting Continuation of Senior Executive Service
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13714. Strengthening the Senior Executive Service
Ex. Ord. No. 13714, Dec. 15, 2015, 80 F.R. 79225, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to strengthen the recruitment, hiring, and development of the Federal Government's senior executives; I hereby order as follows:
Section 2 of this order establishes, under the President's Management Council (PMC), a Subcommittee to advise the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the PMC, and the President on senior executive matters, help monitor execution of an important set of executive reforms contained in section 3 of this order, and help keep the Federal Government's executive management practices current and effective. In order to identify and maximize the use of best practices, requirements in sections [sic] 3(b)(i)–(iv) of this order will be implemented in three phases, with Phase I consisting of seven agencies, which will execute those reforms in fiscal year (FY) 2016; Phase II consisting of seven agencies, which will execute those reforms in FY 2017; and Phase III consisting of all other agencies, which will execute those reforms in FY 2018.
(a) Actions for Immediate Government-wide Implementation.
(i) Starting in FY 2017, agencies should limit their aggregate spending on agency performance awards for SES and Senior Level (SL) and Senior Scientific or Professional (ST) employees to 7.5 percent of aggregate SES and SL/ST salaries respectively. OMB and OPM shall undertake a review of, and revise as appropriate, their current guidance regarding aggregate spending on such awards. In addition, agencies should allocate awards in a manner that provides meaningfully greater rewards to top performers. Within 120 days of the date of this order, OPM shall issue, as appropriate, additional guidance regarding the distribution of such awards.
(ii) The heads of agencies with SES positions that supervise General Schedule (GS) employees shall implement policies, as permitted by and consistent with applicable law and regulation, for initial pay setting and pay adjustments, as appropriate, for career SES appointees to result in compensation exceeding the rates of pay, including locality pay, of their subordinate GS employees. Similar policies shall be implemented by heads of agencies for Senior Professional (i.e., SL or ST) employees that supervise GS employees. Such policies and practices support, recognize, and reward agency executives, especially top performers, in a manner commensurate with their roles, responsibilities, and contributions, and may increase the competitiveness of SES positions with comparable positions outside of Government.
(iii) Within 90 days of the date of this order, OPM shall evaluate the current Qualifications Review Board (QRB) process and issue guidance to agencies about materials that would be acceptable for QRB consideration and that will serve as an alternative or replacement to the current lengthy essay requirement for QRB submission, which may deter qualified applicants for SES positions or put an additional burden on human resources staff. The guidance shall also advise agencies about ways to streamline their initial application requirements for SES positions, including evaluation of options, such as allowing individuals to apply by only submitting a resume-based application and any additional materials necessary to determine relevant qualifications, consistent with the new QRB submission requirements.
(iv) Within 120 days of OPM issuing the guidance described in section 3(a)(iii) of this order, the heads of agencies with SES positions shall examine the agency's career SES hiring process and make changes to the process to make it more efficient, effective, and less burdensome for all participants. Agencies shall simplify the initial application requirements for SES positions consistent with the guidance issued in section 3(a)(iii) of this order, and should only request critically necessary technical qualifications, with the goal of minimizing requirements that may deter qualified applicants from applying. Agencies shall also monitor time to hire of SES positions, and identify appropriate process improvements or other changes that can help reduce time to hire while ensuring high quality of hires.
(v) By May 31, 2016, the heads of agencies with 20 or more SES positions shall develop and submit to OPM a 2-year plan to increase the number of SES members who are rotating to improve talent development, mission delivery and collaboration. While agency specific targets will not be required, this order establishes a Government-wide goal of 15 percent of SES members rotating for a minimum of 120 days (including to different departments, agencies, subcomponents, functional areas, sectors, and non-federal partners) during FY 2017, and thereafter, in order to ensure the mobility of the corps while also maintaining stability of operations. Within 45 days of the date of this order, OPM shall issue guidance for implementation of section 3(a)(v) of this order. OPM shall evaluate the percentages set forth in this subsection on an ongoing basis and make adjustments as necessary and appropriate. These plans shall take into consideration the policy priorities of the agency, agency needs and rules in the context of administration transitions, needs identified in agency hiring plans and succession plans, the development opportunities listed in individuals' Executive Development Plans (EDP), and the Federal Government's interest in cultivating generalist executives with broad and diverse experiences who can lead a variety of organizations. These plans shall build on existing succession management processes and those established in section 3(b)(i) of this order to ensure high potential and top performers have an opportunity to cycle through rotations. These plans shall also incorporate, as appropriate, flexibilities agencies have such as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (implemented in 5 CFR part 334) to encourage SES members to pursue temporary assignments to State and local governments, colleges and universities, tribal governments, and other eligible organizations, and to better understand the impact of the Federal Government's work on those it serves. Finally, these plans shall include an assessment of the degree to which these rotation assignments achieve the desired goals for the individual and agency.
(b) Actions for Phased Implementation. Under the direction, or, in the case of section 3(b)(ii) of this order, the guidance, of the Director of OPM, in consultation with OMB and the PMC Subcommittee, the reforms listed in sections [sic] 3(b)(i)–(iv) of this order shall be implemented by agencies on the following schedule: the Secretaries of Defense, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs; the Administrator of General Services; and the Director of OPM shall implement these reforms by September 30, 2016; the Secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Labor, and Transportation, and the Administrators of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small Business Administration shall implement these reforms by September 30, 2017; the Secretaries of State, the Treasury, the Interior, Commerce, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as the Directors of OMB and the National Science Foundation, shall implement these reforms by September 30, 2018. By October 1 of each year, OPM shall issue additional guidance after each phase of implementation that reflects lessons learned and any adjustments to these reforms based on the agencies that have implemented them. By the respective date specified above, the heads of agencies shall:
(i) Establish an annual talent management and succession planning process to assess the development needs of all SES members, and SL and ST employees as appropriate, to inform readiness decisions about hiring, career development, and executive reassignments and rotations. These assessments shall include input from each executive, as well as the executive's supervisor, and shall be used to recommend development activities and inform the organization's succession planning, decisions about duty assignments, and agency hiring plans;
(ii) Proactively recruit individuals for vacant SES positions and regularly review those recruitment efforts at the Deputy Secretary (or direct designee) level on at least a quarterly basis, consistent with existing rules and regulations. Establish a mechanism to track, and raise for appropriate senior-level attention, information about each position that agencies are seeking to fill, including, at a minimum, source of the recruitment, number, quality and diversity (as available) of applicants, source of applicants (subcomponent, agency or non-government), and timeliness of the hiring process. Use the talent management and succession planning process described in section 3(b)(i) of this order and agency hiring plans to inform these recruitment efforts; and develop a tailored outreach strategy for proactive recruitment for key strategic positions;
(iii) Require supervisors of executives in their agency to work with their subordinate executives to update EDPs for each executive required by 5 CFR part 412.401, to include at least one developmental activity annually and at least one leadership assessment involving employee feedback (for example, 360 degree-type reviews) every 3 years to inform each executive's developmental needs. In addition, non-career SES and equivalent appointees should also have one leadership assessment during their first 2 years, and additional assessments every 3 years thereafter; and
(iv) Establish a formal Executive Onboarding Program informed by OPM's Enhanced Executive Onboarding Model and Government-Wide Executive Onboarding Framework, which shall provide critical support and guidance to executives through their first year of service in new positions, consistent with guidance to be issued by OPM no later than 60 days after the date of this order. Onboarding shall be provided for career and non-career SES, SL and ST employees, and SES-equivalent positions.
(b) Agency Status and Reporting. Within 45 days of the date of this order, OPM will issue guidance, concurrent with guidance in section 3(a)(v) of this order, that defines regular reporting on the status of each agency's implementation of the provisions in this order.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Restoring Accountability for Career Senior Executives
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8481, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
Career Senior Executive Service (SES) officials are charged to "ensure that the executive management of the Government of the United States is responsive to the needs, policies, and goals of the Nation and otherwise is of the highest quality," as required by
As the Constitution makes clear, and as the Supreme Court of the United States has reaffirmed, "the 'executive Power'—all of it—is 'vested in a President,' who must 'take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.' " Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 197, 203 (2020). "Because no single person could fulfill that responsibility alone, the Framers expected that the President would rely on subordinate officers for assistance." Id. at 203-04.
The President's power to remove subordinates is a core part of the Executive power vested by Article II of the Constitution and is necessary for the President to perform his duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." Because SES officials wield significant governmental authority, they must serve at the pleasure of the President.
Only that chain of responsibility ensures that SES officials are properly accountable to the President and the American people. If career SES officials fail to faithfully fulfill their duties to advance the needs, policies, and goals of the United States, the President must be able to rectify the situation and ensure that the entire Executive Branch faithfully executes the law. For instance, SES officials who engage in unauthorized disclosure of Executive Branch deliberations, violate the constitutional rights of Americans, refuse to implement policy priorities, or perform their duties inefficiently or negligently should be held accountable.
The President must be able to trust that the Executive Branch will work together in service of the Nation. My Administration will restore a "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Therefore:
(a) Within 30 days of the signing of this memorandum [Jan. 20, 2025], the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall issue SES Performance Plans that agencies must adopt;
(b) Agency heads, who along with their senior staff manage career SES officials as one of their core functions, shall use all available authorities to reinvigorate the SES system and prioritize accountability;
(c) Each agency head shall, as necessary and appropriate and consistent with the procedural requirements of
(d) Each agency head should terminate its existing Executive Resources Board (ERB), institute a new or interim ERB, and assign senior noncareer officials to chair and serve on the board as a majority alongside career members;
(e) Each agency head should terminate its existing Performance Review Board membership and re-constitute membership with individuals committed to full enforcement of SES performance evaluations that promote and assure an SES of the highest caliber; and
(f) Any agency head who becomes aware of an SES official whose performance or continued occupancy of the position is inconsistent with either the principles reaffirmed in this Order or their duties to the Nation under
Donald J. Trump.
§3132. Definitions and exclusions
(a) For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "agency" means an Executive agency, except a Government corporation and the Government Accountability Office, but does not include—
(A) any agency or unit thereof excluded from coverage by the President under subsection (c) of this section; or
(B) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, Department of Defense intelligence activities the civilian employees of which are subject to
(C) the Federal Election Commission or the Election Assistance Commission;
(D) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision,,1 the Resolution Trust Corporation, the Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the National Credit Union Administration, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and the Office of Financial Research;
(E) the Securities and Exchange Commission; or
(F) the Commodity Futures Trading Commission;
(2) "Senior Executive Service position" means any position in an agency which is classified above GS–15 pursuant to section 5108 or in level IV or V of the Executive Schedule, or an equivalent position, which is not required to be filled by an appointment by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and in which an employee—
(A) directs the work of an organizational unit;
(B) is held accountable for the success of one or more specific programs or projects;
(C) monitors progress toward organizational goals and periodically evaluates and makes appropriate adjustments to such goals;
(D) supervises the work of employees other than personal assistants; or
(E) otherwise exercises important policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions;
but does not include—
(i) any position in the Foreign Service of the United States;
(ii) an administrative law judge position under
(iii) any position established as a qualified position in the excepted service by the Secretary of Homeland Security under section 226 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002; or
(iv) any position established as a qualified position in the excepted service by the Secretary of Defense under
(3) "senior executive" means a member of the Senior Executive Service;
(4) "career appointee" means an individual in a Senior Executive Service position whose appointment to the position or previous appointment to another Senior Executive Service position was based on approval by the Office of Personnel Management of the executive qualifications of such individual;
(5) "limited term appointee" means an individual appointed under a nonrenewable appointment for a term of 3 years or less to a Senior Executive Service position the duties of which will expire at the end of such term;
(6) "limited emergency appointee" means an individual appointed under a nonrenewable appointment, not to exceed 18 months, to a Senior Executive Service position established to meet a bona fide, unanticipated, urgent need;
(7) "noncareer appointee" means an individual in a Senior Executive Service position who is not a career appointee, a limited term appointee, or a limited emergency appointee;
(8) "career reserved position" means a position which is required to be filled by a career appointee and which is designated under subsection (b) of this section; and
(9) "general position" means any position, other than a career reserved position, which may be filled by either a career appointee, noncareer appointee, limited emergency appointee, or limited term appointee.
(b)(1) For the purpose of paragraph (8) of subsection (a) of this section, the Office shall prescribe the criteria and regulations governing the designation of career reserved positions. The criteria and regulations shall provide that a position shall be designated as a career reserved position only if the filling of the position by a career appointee is necessary to ensure impartiality, or the public's confidence in the impartiality, of the Government. The head of each agency shall be responsible for designating career reserved positions in such agency in accordance with such criteria and regulations.
(2) The Office shall periodically review general positions to determine whether the positions should be designated as career reserved. If the Office determines that any such position should be so designated, it shall order the agency to make the designation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any position to be designated as a Senior Executive Service position (except a position in the Executive Office of the President) which—
(A) is under the Executive Schedule, or for which the rate of basic pay is determined by reference to the Executive Schedule, and
(B) on the day before the date of the enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 was specifically required under
shall be designated as a career reserved position if the position entails direct responsibility to the public for the management or operation of particular government programs or functions.
(4) Not later than March 1 of each year, the head of each agency shall publish in the Federal Register a list of positions in the agency which were career reserved positions during the preceding calendar year.
(c) An agency may file an application with the Office setting forth reasons why it, or a unit thereof, should be excluded from the coverage of this subchapter. The Office shall—
(1) review the application and stated reasons,
(2) undertake a review to determine whether the agency or unit should be excluded from the coverage of this subchapter, and
(3) upon completion of its review, recommend to the President whether the agency or unit should be excluded from the coverage of this subchapter.
If the Office recommends that an agency or unit thereof be excluded from the coverage of this subchapter, the President may, on written determination, make the exclusion for the period determined by the President to be appropriate.
(d) Any agency or unit which is excluded from coverage under subsection (c) of this section shall make a sustained effort to bring its personnel system into conformity with the Senior Executive Service to the extent practicable.
(e) The Office may at any time recommend to the President that any exclusion previously granted to an agency or unit thereof under subsection (c) of this section be revoked. Upon recommendation of the Office, the President may revoke, by written determination, any exclusion made under subsection (c) of this section.
(f) If—
(1) any agency is excluded under subsection (c) of this section, or
(2) any exclusion is revoked under subsection (e) of this section,
the Office shall, within 30 days after the action, transmit to the Congress written notice of the exclusion or revocation.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Level IV or V of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), are set out in
Section 226 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, referred to in cl. (iii) of concluding provisions of subsec. (a)(2), probably means the section 226 of
The date of the enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is the date of the enactment of
Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(2).
2014—Subsec. (a)(2).
2013—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
2010—Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
2008—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
Subsec. (a)(1)(E), (F).
2004—Subsec. (a)(1).
2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
Subsec. (a)(1)(E).
1996—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
1994—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
1992—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
1990—Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
Subsec. (a)(2).
1989—Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
1988—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Subsec. (a)(2)(iii).
1980—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
1979—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2010 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Effective Date of 2002 Amendments
Amendment by
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Construction
"(1) result in any such position being placed in the Senior Executive Service; or
"(2) alter compensation for any such position under the Executive Schedule or other applicable compensation provisions of law."
2 So in original. See References in Text note below.
§3133. Authorization of positions; authority for appointment
(a) During each even-numbered calendar year, each agency shall—
(1) examine its needs for Senior Executive Service positions for each of the 2 fiscal years beginning after such calendar year; and
(2) submit to the Office of Personnel Management a written request for a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for each of such fiscal years.
(b) Each agency request submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall—
(1) be based on the anticipated type and extent of program activities and budget requests of the agency for each of the 2 fiscal years involved, and such other factors as may be prescribed from time to time by the Office; and
(2) identify, by position title, positions which are proposed to be designated as or removed from designation as career reserved positions, and set forth justifications for such proposed actions.
(c) The Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, shall review the request of each agency and shall authorize, for each of the 2 fiscal years covered by requests required under subsection (a) of this section, a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions for each agency. Beginning in 2023, the number of such positions authorized under the preceding sentence for the Department of Defense may not exceed the limitation provided in section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
(d)(1) The Office of Personnel Management may, on a written request of an agency or on its own initiative, make an adjustment in the number of positions authorized for any agency. Each agency request under this paragraph shall be submitted in such form, and shall be based on such factors, as the Office shall prescribe.
(2) The total number of positions in the Senior Executive Service may not at any time during any fiscal year exceed 105 percent of the total number of positions authorized under subsection (c) of this section for such fiscal year.
(e)(1) Not later than July 1, 1979, and from time to time thereafter as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management finds appropriate, the Director shall establish, by rule issued in accordance with
(2) The Director may, by rule, designate a number of career reserved positions which is less than the number required by paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the Director determines such lesser number necessary in order to designate as general positions one or more positions (other than positions described in
(A) involve policymaking responsibilities which require the advocacy or management of programs of the President and support of controversial aspects of such programs;
(B) involve significant participation in the major political policies of the President; or
(C) require the senior executives in the positions to serve as personal assistants of, or advisers to, Presidential appointees.
The Director shall provide a full explanation for his determination in each case.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 1109 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, referred to in subsec. (c), is section 1109 of
Section 413 of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is section 413 of
The date of such Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), probably means Oct. 13, 1978, the date of the enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978.
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Limitation on Number of DOD SES Positions
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) the distribution of Senior Executive Service positions across the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Military Departments, the Defense Agencies and Field Activities, the unified and specified combatant commands, and other key elements of the Department of Defense;
"(B) the by-year reductions to Senior Executive Service positions consistent with the distribution required under subparagraph (A); and
"(C) recommendations for any legislative action that may be necessary for personnel management and shaping authorities to achieve the required limitation.
"(2)
"(3)
"(c)
"(d)
Conversion to Senior Executive Service
"(a) For the purpose of this section, 'agency', 'Senior Executive Service position', 'career appointee', 'career reserved position', 'limited term appointee', 'noncareer appointee', and 'general position' have the meanings set forth in
"(b)(1) Under the guidance of the Office of Personnel Management, each agency shall—
"(A) designate those positions which it considers should be Senior Executive Service positions and designate which of those positions it considers should be career reserved positions; and
"(B) submit to the Office a written request for—
"(i) a specific number of Senior Executive Service positions; and
"(ii) authority to employ a specific number of noncareer appointees.
"(2) The Office of Personnel Management shall review the designations and requests of each agency under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and shall establish interim authorizations in accordance with
"(c)(1) Each employee serving in a position at the time it is designated as a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (b) of this section shall elect to—
"(A) decline conversion and be appointed to a position under such employee's current type of appointment and pay system, retaining the grade, seniority, and other rights and benefits associated with such type of appointment and pay system; or
"(B) accept conversion and be appointed to a Senior Executive Service position in accordance with the provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of this section.
The appointment of an employee in an agency because of an election under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not result in the separation or reduction in grade of any other employee in such agency.
"(2) Any employee in a position which has been designated a Senior Executive Service position under this section shall be notified in writing of such designation, the election required under paragraph (1) of this subsection, and the provisions of subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of this section. The employee shall be given 90 days from the date of such notification to make the election under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
"(d) Each employee who has elected to accept conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under—
"(1) a career or career-conditional appointment; or
"(2) a similar type of appointment in an excepted service position, as determined by the Office;
in a position which is designated as a Senior Executive Service position shall be appointed as a career appointee to such Senior Executive Service position without regard to section 3393(b)–(e) of
"(e) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under an excepted appointment in a position which is not designated a career reserved position in the Senior Executive Service, but is—
"(1) a position in Schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations;
"(2) a position filled by noncareer executive assignment under subpart F of part 305 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; or
"(3) a position in the Executive Schedule under subchapter II of
shall be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a Senior Executive Service position.
"(f) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, who is serving in a position described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (e) of this section, and whose position is designated as a career reserved position under subsection (b) of this section shall be appointed as a noncareer appointee to an appropriate general position in the Senior Executive Service or shall be separated.
"(g) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section, who is serving in a position described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (e) of this section, and whose position is designated as a Senior Executive Service position and who has reinstatement eligibility to a position in the competitive service, may, on request to the Office, be appointed as a career appointee to a Senior Executive Service position. The name of, and basis for reinstatement eligibility for, each employee appointed as a career appointee under this subsection shall be published in the Federal Register.
"(h) Each employee who has elected conversion to a Senior Executive Service position under subsection (c)(1)(B) of this section and who is serving under a limited executive assignment under subpart F of part 305 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, shall—
"(1) be appointed as a limited term appointee to a Senior Executive Service position if the position then held by such employee will terminate within 3 years of the date of such appointment;
"(2) be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a Senior Executive Service position if the position then held by such employee is designated as a general position; or
"(3) be appointed as a noncareer appointee to a general position if the position then held by such employee is designated as a career reserved position.
"(i) The rate of basic pay for any employee appointed to a Senior Executive Service position under this section shall be greater than or equal to the rate of basic pay payable for the position held by such employee at the time of such appointment.
"(j) Any employee who is aggrieved by any action by any agency under this section is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under
"(k) The Office shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this section."
[
§3134. Limitations on noncareer and limited appointments
(a) During each calendar year, each agency shall—
(1) examine its needs for employment of noncareer appointees for the fiscal year beginning in the following year; and
(2) submit to the Office of Personnel Management, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office, a written request for authority to employ a specific number of noncareer appointees for such fiscal year.
(b) The number of noncareer appointees in each agency shall be determined annually by the Office on the basis of demonstrated need of the agency. The total number of noncareer appointees in all agencies may not exceed 10 percent of the total number of Senior Executive Service positions in all agencies.
(c) Subject to the 10 percent limitation of subsection (b) of this section, the Office may adjust the number of noncareer positions authorized for any agency under subsection (b) of this section if emergency needs arise that were not anticipated when the original authorizations were made.
(d) The number of Senior Executive Service positions in any agency which are filled by noncareer appointees may not at any time exceed the greater of—
(1) 25 percent of the total number of Senior Executive Service positions in the agency; or
(2) the number of positions in the agency which were filled on the date of the enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 by—
(A) noncareer executive assignments under subpart F of part 305 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on such date, or
(B) appointments to level IV or V of the Executive Schedule which were not required on such date to be made by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
This subsection shall not apply in the case of any agency having fewer than 4 Senior Executive Service positions.
(e) The total number of limited emergency appointees and limited term appointees in all agencies may not exceed 5 percent of the total number of Senior Executive Service positions in all agencies.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of enactment of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is the date of enactment of
Level IV or V of the Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B), are set out in
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
[§3135. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–66, title II, §2181(a)(1), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 732 ]
Section, added
§3136. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
SUBCHAPTER III—THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
§3151. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service
(a) The Attorney General may by regulation establish a personnel system for senior personnel within the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration to be known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the "FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service"). The regulations establishing the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service shall—
(1) meet the requirements set forth in section 3131 for the Senior Executive Service;
(2) provide that positions in the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service meet requirements that are consistent with the provisions of section 3132(a)(2);
(3) provide rates of pay for the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service that are not in excess of the maximum rate or less than the minimum rate of basic pay established for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 and that are adjusted at the same time and to the same extent as rates of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service are adjusted;
(4) provide a performance appraisal system for the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service that conforms to the provisions of subchapter II of
(5) provide for—
(A) removal consistent with section 3592;
(B) reduction-in-force procedures consistent with section 3595(a), together with measures to ensure that a member of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service may not be removed due to a reduction in force unless reasonable efforts to place such member in another such position are first taken;
(C) procedures in accordance with which any furlough affecting the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service shall be carried out;
(D) removal or suspension consistent with subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 7543 (except that any hearing or appeal to which a member of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service is entitled shall be held or decided pursuant to procedures established by regulations of the Attorney General); and
(E) recertification consistent with section 3393a; 1
(6) permit the payment of performance awards to members of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service consistent with the provisions applicable to performance awards under section 5384; and
(7) provide that members of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service may be granted sabbatical leaves consistent with the provisions of section 3396(c).
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a), the Attorney General may—
(1) make applicable to the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service any of the provisions of this title applicable to applicants for or members of the Senior Executive Service; and
(2) appoint, promote, and assign individuals to positions established within the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service without regard to the provisions of this title governing appointments and other personnel actions in the competitive service.
(c) The President, based on the recommendations of the Attorney General, may award ranks to members of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service in a manner consistent with the provisions of section 4507.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Attorney General may detail or assign any member of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service to serve in a position outside the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Administration (as the case may be) in which the member's expertise and experience may be of benefit to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Administration (as the case may be) or another Government agency. Any such member shall not by reason of such detail or assignment lose any entitlement or status associated with membership in the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service.
(e) The Attorney General shall each year submit to Congress, at the time the budget is submitted by the President to the Congress for the next fiscal year, a report on the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service. The report shall include, in the aggregate and by agency—
(1) the number of FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service positions established as of the end of the preceding fiscal year;
(2) the number of individuals being paid at each rate of basic pay for the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service as of the end of the preceding fiscal year;
(3) the number, distribution, and amount of awards paid to members of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service during the preceding fiscal year; and
(4) the number of individuals removed from the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service during the preceding fiscal year—
(A) for less than fully successful performance;
(B) due to a reduction in force; or
(C) for any other reason.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 3393a, referred to in subsec. (a)(5)(E), was repealed by
Provisions of this title governing appointments and other personnel actions in the competitive service, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), are classified generally to
Amendments
2005—Subsec. (b).
"(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an individual may not be selected for the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service unless such individual is a career employee in the civil service.
"(B) For the purpose of subparagraph (A), 'career employee in the civil service' shall have such meaning as the Attorney General, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, by regulation prescribes."
1989—Subsec. (a)(5)(E).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
1 See References in Text note below.
§3152. Limitation on pay
Members of the FBI–DEA Senior Executive Service shall be subject to the limitation under section 5307.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1992—
SUBCHAPTER IV—TEMPORARY ORGANIZATIONS ESTABLISHED BY LAW OR EXECUTIVE ORDER
§3161. Employment and compensation of employees
(a)
(1) is established by law or Executive order for a specific period not in excess of three years for the purpose of performing a specific study or other project; and
(2) is terminated upon the completion of the study or project or upon the occurrence of a condition related to the completion of the study or project.
(b)
(2) The period of an appointment under paragraph (1) may not exceed three years, except that under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management the period of appointment may be extended for up to an additional two years.
(3) The positions of employment in a temporary organization are in the excepted service of the civil service.
(c)
(d)
(2) The rate of basic pay for the chairman, a member, an executive director, a staff director, or another executive level position of a temporary organization may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay established for the Senior Executive Service under
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the rate of basic pay for other positions in a temporary organization may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule under
(4) The rate of basic pay for a senior staff position of a temporary organization may, in a case determined by the head of the temporary organization as exceptional, exceed the maximum rate of basic pay authorized under paragraph (3), but may not exceed the maximum rate of basic pay authorized for an executive level position under paragraph (2).
(5) In this subsection, the term "basic pay" includes locality pay provided for under
(e)
(f)
(g)
(1) is being separated from the temporary organization for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, or malfeasance; and
(2) applies for return not later than 30 days before the earlier of—
(A) the date of the termination of the employment in the temporary organization; or
(B) the date of the termination of the temporary organization.
(h)
(i)
(2) Donors of voluntary services accepted for a temporary organization under this subsection may include the following:
(A) Advisors.
(B) Experts.
(C) Members of the commission, committee, board, or other temporary organization, as the case may be.
(D) A person performing services in any other capacity determined appropriate by the head of the temporary organization.
(3) The head of the temporary organization—
(A) shall ensure that each person performing voluntary services accepted under this subsection is notified of the scope of the voluntary services accepted;
(B) shall supervise the volunteer to the same extent as employees receiving compensation for similar services; and
(C) shall ensure that the volunteer has appropriate credentials or is otherwise qualified to perform in each capacity for which the volunteer's services are accepted.
(4) A person providing volunteer services accepted under this subsection shall be considered an employee of the Federal Government in the performance of those services for the purposes of the following provisions of law:
(A)
(B)
(C)
(Added
SUBCHAPTER V—PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOWS PROGRAM
§3171. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(f)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(g)
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transition
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13704. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
Ex. Ord. No. 13704, Aug. 17, 2015, 80 F.R. 50751, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(b) The Program shall be administered by a Director, appointed by the Administrator under authorities of the General Services Administration (GSA). GSA shall provide necessary staff, resources and administrative support for the Program to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(c) GSA shall appoint the Fellows and, in cooperation with agencies, shall facilitate placement of the Fellows to participate in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals.
(b) The Administrator will designate a representative to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the membership of the Advisory Board shall include the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget's Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government, and the Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer, or their designees and such other persons as may be designated by the Administrator. Consistent with law, the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia, or non-profits to ensure the Program is continually identifying opportunities to apply advanced skillsets and innovative practices in effective ways to address the Nation's most significant challenges.
(b) Following publication of these processes, the Director may accept for consideration applications from individuals. The Director shall establish, administer, review, and revise, if appropriate, a Government-wide cap on the number of Fellows.
The Director shall establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and standards for the Program.
(b) Prior to the selection of Fellows, the Director will consult with agencies and executive branch departments, regarding potential projects and how best to meet those needs. Following such consultation, the Director shall select and appoint individuals to serve as Fellows.
(c) The Fellows shall serve under short-term, time-limited appointments. As a general matter, they shall be appointed for no less than 6 months and no longer than 2 years in the Program. The Director shall facilitate the process of placing Fellows at requesting agencies and executive branch departments.
(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
§3172. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program advisory board
(a)
(b)
(1) the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget;
(2) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management;
(3) the Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government of the Office of Management and Budget;
(4) the Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer; and
(5) other individuals as may be designated by the Administrator.
(c)
(Added
CHAPTER 33 —EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT
SUBCHAPTER I—EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT
SUBCHAPTER II—OATH OF OFFICE
SUBCHAPTER III—DETAILS, VACANCIES, AND APPOINTMENTS
SUBCHAPTER IV—TRANSFERS
SUBCHAPTER V—PROMOTION
SUBCHAPTER VI—ASSIGNMENTS TO AND FROM STATES
SUBCHAPTER VII—AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
SUBCHAPTER VIII—APPOINTMENT, REASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
Amendment of Analysis
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—
2024—
2023—
2022—
2018—
2016—
2013—
2002—
1998—
1996—
1995—
1993—
1992—
1990—
1989—
1988—
1985—
1979—
1978—
1975—
1972—
1971—
1970—
1967—
1966—
1 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.
SUBCHAPTER I—EXAMINATION, CERTIFICATION, AND APPOINTMENT
§3301. Civil service; generally
(a)
(1) prescribe such regulations for the admission of individuals into the civil service in the executive branch as will best promote the efficiency of that service;
(2) ascertain the fitness of applicants as to age, health, character, knowledge, and ability for the employment sought; and
(3) appoint and prescribe the duties of individuals to make inquiries for the purpose of this section.
(b)
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §1753 (less last 16 words). |
The words "civil service in the executive branch" are substituted for "civil service of the United States" to confirm the grant of authority in view of the definition of "civil service" in section 2101. The word "will" is substituted for "may". The words "for the employment sought" are substituted for "for the branch of service into which he seeks to enter" as the latter are archaic since there are no "branches" within the executive branch. The word "applicant" is substituted for "candidate".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 1998 Amendment
Short Title of 1991 Amendment
Modifications to National Security Education Program
"(a)
"(1)
"(A) the United States Government actively encourages and financially supports the training, education, and development of many United States citizens;
"(B) as a condition of some of those supports, many of those citizens have an obligation to seek either compensated or uncompensated employment in the Federal sector; and
"(C) it is in the United States national interest to maximize the return to the Nation of funds invested in the development of such citizens by seeking to employ them in the Federal sector.
"(2)
"(A) establish procedures for ensuring that United States citizens who have incurred service obligations as the result of receiving financial support for education and training from the United States Government and have applied for Federal positions are considered in all recruitment and hiring initiatives of Federal departments, bureaus, agencies, and offices; and
"(B) advertise and open all Federal positions to United States citizens who have incurred service obligations with the United States Government as the result of receiving financial support for education and training from the United States Government."
Temporary Measures To Facilitate Reemployment of Certain Displaced Federal Employees
National Advisory Council on the Public Service
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'National Advisory Council on the Public Service Act of 1990'.
"SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
"The Congress finds that—
"(1) recognition of the services rendered by Federal employees (hereinafter in this Act referred to as 'national public service') should be accorded a high and continuing place on the national agenda;
"(2) the National Commission on the Public Service, through its good works, has documented the need for greater advocacy on behalf of those performing national public service;
"(3) although public service is an honorable profession, members of the public do not always perceive it favorably;
"(4) serious obstacles often hinder the Government's efforts to recruit and retain the best and the brightest for national public service;
"(5) just as the public has a right to expect Federal employees to adhere to the highest standards of excellence and ethicality, so Federal employees have a right to expect an atmosphere of trust and respect, and a sense of accomplishment from their work; and
"(6) an advisory council is needed to provide the President and the Congress with bipartisan, objective assessments of, and recommendations concerning, the Federal workforce.
"SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
"There shall be established a council to be known as the National Advisory Council on the Public Service (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 'Council').
"SEC. 4. FUNCTIONS.
"The Council shall—
"(1) regularly assess the state of the Federal workforce;
"(2) in conjunction with the President, the Congress, and the Judiciary, seek to attract individuals of the highest caliber to careers involving national public service, and encourage them and others of similar distinction who are already part of the Federal workforce to make a continuing commitment to national public service;
"(3) promote better public understanding of the role of Federal employees in implementing Government programs and policies, and otherwise seek to improve the public perception of Federal employees;
"(4) encourage efforts to build student interest in performing national public service (whether those efforts are undertaken at the community level, in the classroom, or otherwise); and
"(5) develop methods for improving motivation and excellence among Federal employees.
"SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.
"(a)
"(1) 2 Members of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate and the other of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate.
"(2) 2 Members of the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the other of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives.
"(3) The Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (or his delegate).
"(4) 10 individuals appointed by the President—
"(A) 4 of whom shall be chosen from among officers serving in the executive branch;
"(B) 1 of whom shall be chosen from among career employees in the civil service;
"(C) 1 of whom shall be a Federal employee who is a member of a labor organization (as defined by
"(D) 4 of whom shall be chosen from among members of the public who do not hold any Government office or position.
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(2) While serving away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of duties for the Council, members shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as authorized by
"(f)
"(g)
"(h)
"SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"SEC. 7. POWERS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1) may accept money and other property donated, bequeathed, or devised to the Council without condition or restriction (other than that it be used to carry out the work of the Council); and
"(2) may use, sell, or otherwise dispose of any such property to carry out its functions under this Act, except that, upon the termination of the Council, any such property shall be disposed of in accordance with applicable provisions of law governing the disposal of Federal property.
"SEC. 8. REPORTS.
"The Council shall transmit to the President and each House of the Congress—
"(1) within 1 and 2 years, respectively, after the date on which the Council first meets, reports containing its preliminary findings and recommendations; and
"(2) within 3 years after the date on which the Council first meets, a final report containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Council, together with its recommendations for such legislation or administrative actions as it considers appropriate.
"SEC. 9. COMMENCEMENT; TERMINATION.
"(a)
"(b)
"SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION.
"There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act."
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 8743. Extending the Classified Civil Service
Ex. Ord. No. 8743, Apr. 23, 1941, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 9230, Aug. 20, 1942; Ex. Ord. No. 9678, Jan. 14, 1946; Ex. Ord. No. 9712, Apr. 13, 1946; Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 1 of the act of November 26, 1940, entitled "Extending the Classified Executive Civil Service of the United States" (
(b) There is hereby created in the Office of Personnel Management (hereinafter referred to as the Office) a board to be known as the Board of Legal Examiners (hereinafter referred to as the Board). The Board shall consist of the Solicitor General of the United States and the chief law officer of the Office of Personnel Management, as members ex officio, and nine members to be appointed by the President, four of whom shall be attorneys chosen from the chief officers of the Executive departments, agencies or corporate instrumentalities of the Government, two from the law-teaching profession, and three from attorneys engaged in private practice. The President shall designate the chairman of the Board. Five members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may transact business notwithstanding vacancies thereon. Members of the Board shall receive no salary as such, but shall be entitled to necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
(c) It shall be the duty of the Board to promote the development of a merit system for the recruitment, selection, appointment, promotion, and transfer of attorneys in the classified civil service in accordance with the general procedures outlined in Plan A of the report of the Committee on Civil Service Improvement, appointed by Executive Order No. 8044 of January 31, 1939.
(d) The Board, in consultation with the Office, shall determine the regulations and procedures under this section governing the recruitment and examination of applicants for attorney positions, and the selection, appointment, promotion and transfer of attorneys, in the classified service.
(e) The Office shall in the manner determined by the Board establish a register or registers for attorney positions in the classified service and such positions shall thereafter be filled from such registers as are designated by the Board. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, any register so established shall not be in effect for a period longer than one year from the date of its establishment. Upon request of the Board, the Office shall appoint regional or local boards of examiners composed of persons approved by the Board, within or without the Federal service, to interview and examine applicants as the Board shall direct.
(f) The number of names to be placed upon any register of eligibles for attorney positions shall be limited to the number recommended by the Board; and such registers shall not be ranked according to the ratings received by the eligibles, except that persons entitled to veterans' preference as defined in section 1 of Civil Service Rule VI shall be appropriately designated thereon.
(g) Any person whose name has been placed upon three registers of eligibles covering positions of the same grade, and who has not been appointed therefrom, shall not thereafter be eligible for placement upon any subsequently established register covering positions of such grade.
(h) So far as practicable and consistent with good administration, the eligibles on any register for attorney positions and appointments for such register shall be apportioned among the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia upon the basis of population as ascertained in the last preceding census. The Office shall certify to the appointing officer for each vacancy all the eligibles on the appropriate register except those whose appointment would, in the determination of the Board, be inconsistent with the apportionment policy herein prescribed. The appointing officer shall make selections for any vacancy or vacancies in attorney positions from the register so certified, with sole reference to merit and fitness.
(i) Any position affected by this section may be filled before appropriate registers have been established pursuant to this section only by a person whose appointment is approved by the Board. The Board may require as a condition of its approval that persons thus proposed for appointment pass a noncompetitive examination and may designate examining committees composed of persons within or without the Federal service to conduct such examinations. Persons whose appointment was approved by the Board prior to March 16, 1942, and who pass a noncompetitive examination prescribed by the Board shall be eligible for a classified civil-service status after the expiration of six months from the date of appointment upon compliance with the provisions of Section 6 of Civil Service Rule II other than those provisions relating to examination. Effective March 16, 1942, all appointments to attorney and law clerk (trainee) positions shall be for the duration of the present war and for six months thereafter unless specifically limited to a shorter period.
(j) The incumbent of any attorney position covered into the classified service by section 1 of this order may acquire a classified civil-service status in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(a) of the act of November 26, 1940 (
(k) The Office with the approval of the Board shall appoint a competent person to act as Executive Secretary to the Board; and the Office shall furnish such further professionals, clerical, stenographic, and other assistants as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(l) The Civil Service Rules are hereby amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this section.
(b) Any person who, in order to perform active service with the military or naval forces of the United States, has left a position in any department or agency (other than a temporary position) which is covered into the classified civil service under section 1 of this order, may, upon his applications and upon the request of the head of the same or any other department or agency, be reinstated in any position for which the Office finds he is qualified, and upon reinstatement shall acquire a classified civil-service status: Provided, (1) that he has been honorably discharged from the military or naval service, and (2) that he qualifies in such suitable noncompetitive examination as the Office may prescribe.
Executive Order No. 9367
Ex. Ord. No. 9367, Aug. 4, 1943, 8 F.R. 11017, which prohibited, with certain exceptions, instructions of applicants for civil service and foreign service examinations by officers or employees of the government, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 11408, Apr. 25, 1968, 33 F.R. 6459.
Ex. Ord. No. 10577. Civil Service Rules
Ex. Ord. No. 10577, Nov. 22, 1954, 19 F.R. 7521, eff. Jan. 23, 1955, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 10675, Aug. 21, 1956, 21 F.R. 6327; Ex. Ord. No. 10745, Dec. 12, 1957, 22 F.R. 10025; Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, amended generally the Civil Service Rules, provided for transition from the indefinite appointment system to the career-conditional appointment system, and revoked Ex. Ord. No. 9830, Feb. 24, 1947, 12 F.R. 1259; Ex. Ord. No. 9973, June 28, 1948, 13 F.R. 3600; Ex. Ord. No. 10180, Nov. 13, 1950, 15 F.R. 7745; Ex. Ord. No. 10440, Mar. 31, 1953, 18 F.R. 1823; and Ex. Ord. No. 10463, June 25, 1953, 18 F.R. 3655. The Civil Service Rules are set out in Parts 1 to 10 of Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. The Civil Service Rules were also amended by the following Executive Orders:
Ex. Ord. No. 10641, Oct. 26, 1955, 20 F.R. 8137, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055.
Ex. Ord. No. 10869, Mar. 9, 1960, 25 F.R. 2073.
Ex. Ord. No. 11315, Nov. 17, 1966, 31 F.R. 14729, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055.
Ex. Ord. No. 11839, Feb. 15, 1975, 40 F.R. 7351.
Ex. Ord. No. 11856, May 7, 1975, 40 F.R. 20259.
Ex. Ord. No. 11887, Nov. 4, 1975, 40 F.R. 51411.
Ex. Ord. No. 11935, Sept. 2, 1976, 41 F.R. 37301, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055.
Ex. Ord. No. 12021, Nov. 30, 1977, 42 F.R. 61237.
Ex. Ord. No. 12043, Mar. 7, 1978, 43 F.R. 9773, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055.
Ex. Ord. No. 12125, Mar. 15, 1979, 44 F.R. 16879.
Ex. Ord. No. 12148, §5–212, July 20, 1979, 44 F.R. 43239, set out in a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 12300, Mar. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 18683, superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12940, Nov. 28, 1994, 59 F.R. 61519.
Ex. Ord. No. 12748, §6(a), formerly §8(a), Feb. 1, 1991, 56 F.R. 4521, as amended, set out as a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 12896, Feb. 3, 1994, 59 F.R. 5515.
Ex. Ord. No. 12940, Nov. 28, 1994, 59 F.R. 61519.
Ex. Ord. No. 13124, §2(b), June 4, 1999, 64 F.R. 31103.
Ex. Ord. No. 13197, Jan. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 7853.
Ex. Ord. No. 13764, §1, Jan. 17, 2017, 82 F.R. 8115.
Ex. Ord. No. 13843, §3(a), July 10, 2018, 83 F.R. 32756.
Ex. Ord. No. 14029, §3, May 14, 2021, 86 F.R. 27025.
Ex. Ord. No. 14171, §4, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8626.
Ex. Ord. No. 14284, §§2, 3, Apr. 24, 2025, 90 F.R. 17729.
Ex. Ord. No. 14317, §4, July 17, 2025, 90 F.R. 34753.
Executive Order No. 10590
Ex. Ord. No. 10590, Jan. 18, 1955, 20 F.R. 409, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 10722, Aug. 7, 1957, 22 F.R. 6287; Ex. Ord. No. 10773, July 1, 1958, 23 F.R. 5061; Ex. Ord. No. 10782, Sept. 8, 1958, 23 F.R. 6971, which established the President's Committee on Government Employment Policy, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11246, Sept. 24, 1965, 30 F.R. 12319, set out as a note under
Executive Order No. 10880
Ex. Ord. No. 10880, June 7, 1960, 25 F.R. 5131, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, which provided for conversion of indefinite or temporary appointments to career or career-conditional appointments, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617.
Executive Order No. 10925
Ex. Ord. No. 10925, Mar. 7, 1961, 26 F.R. 1977, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11114, June 24, 1963, 28 F.R. 6485; Ex. Ord. No. 11162, July 28, 1964, 29 F.R. 10563, which established the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11246, Sept. 24, 1965, 30 F.R. 12319, set out as a note under
Executive Order No. 11114
Ex. Ord. No. 11114, June 24, 1963, 28 F.R. 6485, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11162, July 28, 1964, 29 F.R. 10563, which extended the authority of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11246, Sept. 24, 1965, 30 F.R. 12319, set out as a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 11141. Discrimination on the Basis of Age
Ex. Ord. No. 11141, Feb. 12, 1964, 29 F.R. 2477, provided:
WHEREAS the principle of equal employment opportunity is now an established policy of our Government and applies equally to all who wish to work and are capable of doing so; and
WHEREAS discrimination in employment because of age, except upon the basis of a bona fide occupational qualification, retirement plan, or statutory requirement, is inconsistent with that principle and with the social and economic objectives of our society; and
WHEREAS older workers are an indispensable source of productivity and experience which our Nation can ill afford to lose; and
WHEREAS President Kennedy, mindful that maximum national growth depends on the utilization of all manpower resources, issued a memorandum on March 14, 1963, reaffirming the policy of the Executive Branch of the Government of hiring and promoting employees on the basis of merit alone and emphasizing the need to assure that older people are not discriminated against because of their age and receive fair and full consideration for employment and advancement in Federal employment; and
WHEREAS, to encourage and hasten the acceptance of the principle of equal employment opportunity for older persons by all sectors of the economy, private and public, the Federal Government can and should provide maximum leadership in this regard by adopting that principle as an express policy of the Federal Government not only with respect to Federal employees but also with respect to persons employed by contractors and subcontractors engaged in the performance of Federal contracts:
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States and as President of the United States, I hereby declare that it is the policy of the Executive Branch of the Government that (1) contractors and subcontractors engaged in the performance of Federal contracts shall not, in connection with the employment, advancement, or discharge of employees, or in connection with the terms, conditions, or privileges of their employment, discriminate against persons because of their age except upon the basis of a bona fide occupational qualification, retirement plan, or statutory requirement, and (2) that contractors and subcontractors, or persons acting on their behalf, shall not specify, in solicitations or advertisements for employees to work on Government contracts, a maximum age limit for such employment unless the specified maximum age limit is based upon a bona fide occupational qualification, retirement plan, or statutory requirement. The head of each department and agency shall take appropriate action to enunciate this policy, and to this end the Federal Procurement Regulations and the Armed Services Procurement Regulation shall be amended by the insertion therein of a statement giving continuous notice of the existence of the policy declared by this order.
Lyndon B. Johnson.
Executive Order No. 11162
Ex. Ord. No. 11162, July 28, 1964, 29 F.R. 10563, which related to membership of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11246, Sept. 24, 1965, 30 F.R. 12319, set out as a note under
Executive Order No. 11202
Ex. Ord. No. 11202, Mar. 5, 1965, 30 F.R. 3185, which established career or career-conditional appointments for student trainees, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 11813, Oct. 7, 1974, 39 F.R. 36317, formerly set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 11203. Career Appointments to Certain Qualified Employees of Treasury Department
Ex. Ord No. 11203, Mar. 12, 1965; 30 F.R. 3417, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 2 of the Civil Service Act (
(1) he has completed at least three years of full-time continuous service in a position concerned with the protective function;
(2) The Secretary of the Treasury, or his designee, recommends the conversion of the employee's appointment within 90 days after the employee meets the service requirements of this section, or within 90 days after the date of this Order, whichever is later;
(3) he shall have passed a competitive examination appropriate for the position he is occupying or meets noncompetitive examination standards the Office of Personnel Management prescribes for his position; and
(4) he meets all other requirements prescribed by the Office pursuant to Section 5 of this Order.
(1) "full-time continuous service" means service without a break of more than 30 calendar days;
(2) except as provided in paragraph (3) of this section, active service in the Armed Forces of the United States shall be deemed to be full-time continuous service in a position concerned with the protective function if the employee concerned shall have left a position concerned with the protective function to enter the Armed Forces and shall have been re-employed in a position concerned with the protective function within 120 days after he shall have been discharged from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions; and
(3) active service in the Armed Forces shall not be deemed to be full-time continuous service in a position concerned with the protective function if such active service exceeds a total of four years plus any period of additional service imposed pursuant to law.
Ex. Ord. No. 11219. Appointment in Competitive Service of Foreign Service Officers and Employees
Ex. Ord. No. 11219, May 6, 1965, 30 F.R. 6381, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 12292, Feb. 23, 1981, 46 F.R. 13967, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by section 1753 of the Revised Statutes [
(a) Is qualified for the position in the competitive service;
(b) Was appointed in the Foreign Service under authority of the Foreign Service Act of 1946 as amended [former
(c) Served in the Foreign Service under an unlimited, career-type appointment and, immediately before his separation from that appointment, he completed at least one year of continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service which may include the service that made him eligible for his career-type appointment; and
(d) Is appointed within 3 years after his separation from the Foreign Service, or he completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before his separation from the unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service which may include the service that made him eligible for such appointment, or he is entitled to preference under section 2 of the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944, as amended [
(b) A person appointed under Section 1 of this Order becomes a career employee when he:
(1) Has completed at least 3 years of substantially continuous service under one or more nontemporary appointments in the Foreign Service immediately before his separation from the unlimited, career-type appointment in that Service which may include the service that made him eligible for such appointment;
(2) Is appointed to a position in the competitive service required by law or Executive order to be filled on a permanent or career basis; or
(3) Has completed the service requirement for career tenure in the competitive service.
For the purpose of subparagraph (3) of this paragraph, service in the Foreign Service is creditable in meeting the service requirement only if the person concerned is appointed to a nontemporary position in the competitive service under Section 1 of this Order within 30 days after his separation from the Foreign Service.
Executive Order No. 11315
Ex. Ord. No. 11315, Nov. 17, 1966, 31 F.R. 14729, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, §2–101(a), Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, added Civil Service Rule IX and amended Civil Service Rule VI, provided for transition to the full establishment of executive assignments under Rule IX, and delegated responsibility for the administration of the executive assignment system established by this Order to the Office of Personnel Management and heads of agencies affected by Rule IX. Civil Service Rule IX, as established by this Order, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12748, §8(a), Feb. 1, 1991, 56 F.R. 4521, set out under
Executive Order No. 11598
Ex. Ord. No. 11598, June 16, 1971, 36 F.R. 11711, formerly set out as a note under this section, which related to the listing of certain job vacancies by federal agencies and government contractors and subcontractors, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11701, Jan. 24, 1973, 38 F.R. 2675, set out as a note under
Executive Order No. 11813
Ex. Ord. No. 11813, Oct. 7, 1974, 39 F.R. 36317, which related to career or career-conditional appointments for cooperative education students, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12015, Oct. 26, 1977, 42 F.R. 56947, formerly set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 11955. Career or Career-Conditional Appointment to Certain Qualified Employees of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Ex. Ord. No. 11955, Jan. 10, 1977, 42 F.R. 2499, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
(a) the candidate has successfully completed two years of service as a candidate in an appropriate training program;
(b) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or the Administrator's designee, recommends the conversion of the candidate's appointment within ninety days of completion of the requirements of section 1(a);
(c) the candidate meets noncompetitive examination standards prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management; and
(d) the candidate meets all other requirements prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management pursuant to section 3 of this order.
Executive Order No. 12008
Ex. Ord. No. 12008, Aug. 25, 1977, 42 F.R. 43373, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, which established a Presidential Management Intern Program, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12364, May 24, 1982, 47 F.R. 22931, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 12015
Ex. Ord. No. 12015, Oct. 26, 1977, 42 F.R. 56947, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055; Ex. Ord. No. 13024, Nov. 7, 1996, 61 F.R. 58125, which related to career or career-conditional appointments in competitive service for students completing approved career-related work-study programs, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13562, §8(b), Dec. 27, 2010, 75 F.R. 82588, set out below, on the effective date of final regulations promulgated by the Director of OPM to implement the Internship Program [July 10, 2012, see 77 F.R. 28194].
Executive Order No. 12026
For provisions relating to eligibility for reinstatement in the competitive civil service of certain employees of the Energy Department, see Ex. Ord. No. 12026, Dec. 5, 1977, 42 F.R. 61849, set out as a note under
Executive Order No. 12257
Ex. Ord. No. 12257, Dec. 18, 1980, 45 F.R. 84005, which provided for noncompetitive conversion of participants in the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act program to career or career-conditional Civil Service status, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12553, Feb. 25, 1986, 51 F.R. 7237.
Executive Order No. 12362
Ex. Ord. No. 12362, May 12, 1982, 47 F.R. 21231, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12585, Mar. 3, 1987, 52 F.R. 6773, which related to appointment to competitive status of certain overseas employees upon return to the United States, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12721, July 30, 1990, 55 F.R. 31349, set out below.
Executive Order No. 12364
Ex. Ord. No. 12364, May 24, 1982, 47 F.R. 22931, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12645, July 12, 1988, 53 F.R. 26750, which related to the Presidential Management Intern Program, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 13318, Nov. 21, 2003, 68 F.R. 66317, formerly set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 12505. Career Appointments to Certain Office of Management and Budget Employees
Ex. Ord. No. 12505, Feb. 12, 1985, 50 F.R. 6151, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the laws of the United States of America, including
(a) The employee has completed at least one year of full-time continuous service in a position concerned with the paperwork reduction and regulatory program;
(b) There is a continuing need for the position filled by the employee;
(c) The employee's past performance has been satisfactory and the employee possesses the qualifications necessary to continue in the position; and
(d) The employee meets the citizenship requirements and qualification standards appropriate for the position.
Ronald Reagan.
Executive Order No. 12596
Ex. Ord. No. 12596, May 7, 1987, 52 F.R. 17537, which provided for noncompetitive conversion to career status of certain employees in professional and administrative career positions, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13162, July 6, 2000, 65 F.R. 43212, set out as a note below.
Ex. Ord. No. 12685. Noncompetitive Conversion of Personal Assistants to Employees With Disabilities
Ex. Ord. No. 12685, July 28, 1989, 54 F.R. 31796, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including
George Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 12718. President's Advisory Commission on the Public Service
Ex. Ord. No. 12718, June 29, 1990, 55 F.R. 27451, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended ([former] 5 U.S.C. App.) [see
(1) improving the efficiency and attractiveness of the Federal civil service;
(2) increasing the interest among American students in pursuing careers in the public service; and
(3) strengthening the image of the public service in American life.
(b) The Commission shall submit a report on its activities to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the President each year.
(b) All executive agencies are directed, to the extent permitted by law, to provide such information, advice, and assistance to the Commission as the Commission may request.
(c) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, to the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of funds, provide the Commission with administrative services, staff support, and necessary expenses.
George Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 12721. Eligibility of Overseas Employees for Noncompetitive Appointments
Ex. Ord. No. 12721, July 30, 1990, 55 F.R. 31349, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including
(b) Existing regulations prescribed by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management under Executive Order No. 12362, as amended, shall continue in effect until modified or superseded by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
George Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 13124. Amending the Civil Service Rules Relating To Federal Employees With Psychiatric Disabilities
Ex. Ord. No. 13124, June 4, 1999, 64 F.R. 31103, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(a) It is the policy of the United States to assure equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for persons with disabilities. The Federal Government as an employer should serve as a model for the employment of persons with disabilities and utilize the full potential of these talented citizens.
(b) The Civil Service Rules governing appointment of persons with psychiatric disabilities were adopted years ago when attitudes about mental illness were different than they are today, which led to stricter standards for hiring persons with psychiatric disabilities than for persons with mental retardation or severe physical disabilities. The Civil Service Rules provide that persons with mental retardation, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities may be hired under excepted appointing authorities. While persons with mental retardation or severe physical disabilities may be appointed for more than 2 years and may convert to competitive status after completion of 2 years of satisfactory service in their excepted position, people with psychiatric disabilities may not.
(c) The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the President's Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities believe that the Federal Government could better benefit from the contributions of persons with psychiatric disabilities if they were given the same opportunities available to people with mental retardation or severe physical disabilities.
(a) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall, consistent with OPM authority, provide that persons with psychiatric disabilities are subject to the same hiring rules as persons with mental retardation or severe physical disabilities.
(b) [Amended Civil Service Rule III.]
William J. Clinton.
Executive Order No. 13162
Ex. Ord. No. 13162, July 6, 2000, 65 F.R. 43211, which established the Federal Career Intern Program and provided for its oversight by the Office of Personnel Management, was revoked, effective Mar. 1, 2011, by Ex. Ord. No. 13562, §8(a), Dec. 27, 2010, 75 F.R. 82588, set out as a note below.
Executive Order No. 13318
Ex. Ord. No. 13318, Nov. 21, 2003, 68 F.R. 66317, which related to the Presidential Management Fellows Program, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13562, §7(c), formerly §8(c), Dec. 27, 2010, 75 F.R. 82588, as renumbered by Ex. Ord. No. 14217, §2(e), Feb. 19, 2025, 90 F.R. 10577, set out below, on the effective date of final regulations promulgated by the Director of OPM to implement required changes to the PMF Program [July 10, 2012, see 77 F.R. 28194].
Ex. Ord. No. 13473. To Authorize Certain Noncompetitive Appointments in the Civil Service for Spouses of Certain Members of the Armed Forces
Ex. Ord. No. 13473, Sept. 25, 2008, 73 F.R. 56703, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(a) the term "agency" has the meaning specified for the term "executive agency" in
(b) the term "Armed Forces" has the meaning specified for that term in
(c) the term "active duty" means full-time duty in an armed force and includes full-time National Guard duty, except that, for Reserve Component members, the term "active duty" does not include training duties or attendance at service schools.
(d) the term "permanent change of station" means the assignment, detail, or transfer of a member of the Armed Forces serving at a present permanent duty station to a different permanent duty station under a competent authorization or order that does not:
(i) specify the duty as temporary;
(ii) provide for assignment, detail, or transfer, after that different permanent duty station, to a further different permanent duty station; or (iii) [sic] direct return to the present permanent duty station; and
(e) the term "totally disabled retired or separated member" means a member of the Armed Forces who:
(i) retired under
(a) the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, is performing active duty pursuant to orders that authorize a permanent change of station move, if such spouse relocates to the member's new permanent duty station;
(b) the spouse of a totally disabled retired or separated member of the Armed Forces; or
(c) the unremarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while performing active duty.
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof; and
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative functions.
(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
George W. Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 13518. Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government
Ex. Ord. No. 13518, Nov. 9, 2009, 74 F.R. 58533, provided:
By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(a) Mission and Function of the Council. The Council shall:
(i) advise and assist the President and the Director of OPM in establishing a coordinated Government-wide effort to increase the number of veterans employed by the Federal Government by enhancing recruitment and training;
(ii) serve as a national forum for promoting veterans' employment opportunities in the executive branch; and
(iii) establish performance measures to assess the effectiveness of, and submit an annual report to the President on the status of, the Veterans Employment Initiative described in section 3 of this order.
(b) Membership of the Council. The Council shall consist of the heads of the following agencies and such other executive branch agencies as the President may designate:
(i) the Department of State;
(ii) the Department of the Treasury;
(iii) the Department of Defense;
(iv) the Department of Justice;
(v) the Department of the Interior;
(vi) the Department of Agriculture;
(vii) the Department of Commerce;
(viii) the Department of Labor;
(ix) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(x) the Department of Housing and Urban Development;
(xi) the Department of Transportation;
(xii) the Department of Energy;
(xiii) the Department of Education;
(xiv) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(xv) the Department of Homeland Security;
(xvi) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(xvii) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(xviii) the Agency for International Development;
(xix) the General Services Administration;
(xx) the National Science Foundation;
(xxi) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;
(xxii) the Office of Personnel Management;
(xxiii) the Small Business Administration; and
(xxiv) the Social Security Administration.
A member of the Council may designate, to perform the Council functions of the member, a senior official who is part of the member's agency, and who is a full-time officer or employee of the Federal Government.
(c) Administration of the Council. The Co-Chairs shall convene meetings of the Council, determine its agenda, and direct its work. At the direction of the Co-Chairs, the Council may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Council members or their designees, as appropriate. The Vice Chair shall designate an Executive Director for the Council to support the Vice Chair in managing the Council's activities. The OPM shall provide administrative support for the Council to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(d) Steering Committee. There is established within the Council a Steering Committee consisting of the Secretaries of Defense, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security, the Director of OPM, and any other Council member designated by the Co-Chairs. The Steering Committee shall be responsible for providing leadership, accountability, and strategic direction to the Council.
(a) develop an agency-specific Operational Plan for promoting employment opportunities for veterans, consistent with the Government-wide Veterans Recruitment and Employment Strategic Plan described in section 4 of this order, merit system principles, the agency's strategic human capital plan, and other applicable workforce planning strategies and initiatives;
(b) within 120 days of the date of this order, establish a Veterans Employment Program Office, or designate an agency officer or employee with full-time responsibility for its Veterans Employment Program, to be responsible for enhancing employment opportunities for veterans within the agency, consistent with law and merit system principles, including developing and implementing the agency's Operational Plan, veterans recruitment programs, and training programs for veterans with disabilities, and for coordinating employment counseling to help match the career aspirations of veterans to the needs of the agency;
(c) provide mandatory annual training to agency human resources personnel and hiring managers concerning veterans' employment, including training on veterans' preferences and special authorities for the hiring of veterans;
(d) identify key occupations for which the agency will provide job counseling and training to better enable veterans to meet agency staffing needs associated with those occupations; and
(e) coordinate with the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to promote further development and application of technology designed to assist transitioning service members and veterans with disabilities.
(a) develop a Government-wide Veterans Recruitment and Employment Strategic Plan, to be updated at least every 3 years, addressing barriers to the employment of veterans in the executive branch and focusing on:
(i) identifying actions that agency leaders should take to improve employment opportunities for veterans;
(ii) developing the skills of transitioning military service members and veterans;
(iii) marketing the Federal Government as an employer of choice to transitioning service members and veterans;
(iv) marketing the talent, experience, and dedication of transitioning service members and veterans to Federal agencies; and
(v) disseminating Federal employment information to veterans and hiring officials;
(b) provide Government-wide leadership in recruitment and employment of veterans in the executive branch;
(c) identify key occupations, focusing on positions in high-demand occupations where talent is needed to meet Government-wide staffing needs, for which the Federal Government will provide job counseling and training under section 5(a) of this order to veterans and transitioning military service personnel;
(d) develop mandatory training for both human resources personnel and hiring managers on veterans' employment, including veterans' preference and special hiring authorities;
(e) compile and post on the OPM website Government-wide statistics on the hiring of veterans; and
(f) within 1 year of the date of this order and with the advice of the Council, provide recommendations to the President on improving the ability of veterans' preference laws to meet the needs of the new generation of veterans, especially those transitioning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the needs of Federal hiring officials.
(a) The Secretaries of Defense, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security shall, in consultation with OPM, develop and implement counseling and training programs to align veterans' and transitioning service members' skills and career aspirations to Federal employment opportunities, targeting Federal occupations that are projected to have heavy recruitment needs.
(b) The Secretary of Labor shall conduct employment workshops for veterans and transitioning military service personnel as part of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), and integrate in those workshops information about the Federal hiring process, veterans' preference laws, special hiring authorities, and Federal job opportunities.
(c) The Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) shall:
(i) reinforce military leadership's commitment and support of the service members' transition process; and
(ii) institute policies that encourage every eligible service member to take the opportunity to enroll in any or all of the four components of the TAP.
(d) The Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs shall:
(i) assist veterans and transitioning service members in translating military skills, training, and education to Federal occupations through programs developed under subsection (a) of this section; and
(ii) provide training to employment and rehabilitation counselors on the Federal hiring process, veterans' preferences, special hiring authorities, and identifying Federal employment opportunities for veterans.
(i) authority granted by law to a department or agency or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Ex. Ord. No. 13562. Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates
Ex. Ord. No. 13562, Dec. 27, 2010, 75 F.R. 82585, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 14217, §2(e), Feb. 19, 2025, 90 F.R. 10577, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
To compete effectively for students and recent graduates, the Federal Government must improve its recruiting efforts; offer clear paths to Federal internships for students from high school through post-graduate school; offer clear paths to civil service careers for recent graduates; and provide meaningful training, mentoring, and career-development opportunities. Further, exposing students and recent graduates to Federal jobs through internships and similar programs attracts them to careers in the Federal Government and enables agency employers to evaluate them on the job to determine whether they are likely to have successful careers in Government.
Accordingly, pursuant to my authority under
(a) a description of the positions that executive departments and agencies (agencies) may fill through the Pathways Programs because conditions of good administration necessitate excepting those positions from the competitive hiring rules;
(b) rules governing whether, to what extent, and in what manner public notice should be provided of job opportunities in the Pathways Programs;
(c) a description of career-development, training, and mentorship opportunities for participants in the Pathways Programs;
(d) requirements that managers meaningfully assess the performance of participants in the Pathways Programs to identify those who should be considered for conversion to career civil service positions;
(e) a description of OPM oversight of agency use of the Pathways Programs to ensure that (i) they serve as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the competitive hiring process, and (ii) agencies are using the Pathways Programs in a genuine effort to develop talent for careers in the civil service;
(f) a description of OPM plans to evaluate agencies' effectiveness in recruiting and retaining talent using the Pathways Programs and of the satisfaction of Pathways Programs participants and their hiring managers; and
(g) standard naming conventions across agencies, so that students and recent graduates can clearly understand and compare the career pathway opportunities available to them in the Federal Government.
(a) Participants in the program shall be referred to as "Interns" and shall be students enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in qualifying educational institutions and programs, as determined by OPM.
(b) Subject to any exceptions OPM may establish by regulation, agencies shall provide Interns with meaningful developmental work and set clear expectations regarding the work experience of the intern.
(c) Students employed by third-party internship providers but placed in agencies may, to the extent permitted by OPM regulations, be treated as participants in the Internship Program.
(a) Participants in the program shall be referred to as "Recent Graduates" and must have obtained a qualifying degree, or completed a qualifying career or technical education program, as determined by OPM, within the preceding 2 years, except that veterans who, due to their military service obligation, were precluded from participating in the Recent Graduates Program during the 2-year period after obtaining a qualifying degree or completing a qualifying program shall be eligible to participate in the Program within 6 years of obtaining a qualifying degree or completing a qualifying program.
(b) Responsibilities assigned to a Recent Graduate shall be consistent with his or her qualifications, educational background, and career interests, the purpose of the Recent Graduates Program, and agency needs.
(b) Appointments to the Recent Graduates program shall not exceed 2 years, unless extended by the employing agency for up to 120 days thereafter.
(c) Appointment to a Pathways Program shall confer no right to further Federal employment in either the competitive or excepted service upon the expiration of the appointment, except that agencies may convert eligible participants noncompetitively to term, career, or career conditional appointments after satisfying requirements to be established by OPM, and agencies may noncompetitively convert participants who were initially converted to a term appointment under this section to a career or career-conditional appointment before the term appointment expires.
(b) The Director of OPM shall:
(i) promulgate such regulations as the Director determines may be necessary to implement this order;
(ii) provide oversight of the Pathways Programs;
(iii) establish, if appropriate, a Government-wide cap on the number of noncompetitive conversions to the competitive service of Interns or Recent Graduates (or a Government-wide combined conversion cap applicable to both categories together);
(iv) administer, and review and revise annually or as needed, any Government-wide cap established pursuant to this subsection;
(v) provide guidance on conducting an orderly transition from existing student and internship programs to the Pathways Programs established pursuant to this order; and
(vi) consider for publication in the Federal Register at an appropriate time a proposed rule seeking public comment on the elimination of the Student Temporary Employment Program, established through OPM regulations at 5 CFR 213.3202(a).
(c) In accordance with regulations prescribed pursuant to this order and applicable law, agencies shall:
(i) use appropriate merit-based procedures for recruitment, assessment, placement, and ongoing career development for participants in the Pathways Programs;
(ii) provide for equal employment opportunity in the Pathways Programs without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit-based factor;
(iii) apply veterans' preference criteria; and
(iv) within 45 days of the date of this order, designate a Pathways Programs Officer (at the agency level, or at bureaus or components within the agency) to administer Pathways Programs, to serve as liaison with OPM, and to report to OPM on the implementation of the Pathways Programs and the individuals hired under them.
(b) On the effective date of final regulations promulgated by the Director of OPM to implement the Internship Program, Executive Order 12015 (pursuant to which the Student Career Experience Program was established), as amended, is superseded and revoked.
(c) On the effective date of final regulations promulgated by the Director of OPM to implement changes to the PMF Program required by this order, Executive Order 13318 (Presidential Management Fellows Program), as amended, is superseded and revoked.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) authority granted by law, regulation, Executive Order, or Presidential Directive to an executive department, agency, or head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Ex. Ord. No. 13678. Conversion Authority for Criminal Investigators (Special Agents) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Ex. Ord. No. 13678, Oct. 3, 2014, 79 F.R. 60949, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
Criminal Investigators of the ATF, who have been appointed under Schedule B, and who have completed 3 years of fully satisfactory service, may be converted non-competitively to career appointments if they meet qualifications and other requirements established by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Ex. Ord. No. 13704. Presidential Innovation Fellows Program
Ex. Ord. No. 13704, Aug. 17, 2015, 80 F.R. 50751, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(b) The Program shall be administered by a Director, appointed by the Administrator under authorities of the General Services Administration (GSA). GSA shall provide necessary staff, resources and administrative support for the Program to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(c) GSA shall appoint the Fellows and, in cooperation with agencies, shall facilitate placement of the Fellows to participate in projects that have the potential for significant positive effects and are consistent with the President's goals.
(b) The Administrator will designate a representative to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board. In addition to the Chair, the membership of the Advisory Board shall include the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget's Administrator of the Office of Electronic Government, and the Assistant to the President and Chief Technology Officer, or their designees and such other persons as may be designated by the Administrator. Consistent with law, the Advisory Board may consult with industry, academia, or non-profits to ensure the Program is continually identifying opportunities to apply advanced skillsets and innovative practices in effective ways to address the Nation's most significant challenges.
(b) Following publication of these processes, the Director may accept for consideration applications from individuals. The Director shall establish, administer, review, and revise, if appropriate, a Government-wide cap on the number of Fellows.
The Director shall establish and publish salary ranges, benefits, and standards for the Program.
(b) Prior to the selection of Fellows, the Director will consult with agencies and executive branch departments, regarding potential projects and how best to meet those needs. Following such consultation, the Director shall select and appoint individuals to serve as Fellows.
(c) The Fellows shall serve under short-term, time-limited appointments. As a general matter, they shall be appointed for no less than 6 months and no longer than 2 years in the Program. The Director shall facilitate the process of placing Fellows at requesting agencies and executive branch departments.
(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Ex. Ord. No. 13749. Providing for the Appointment in the Competitive Service of Certain Employees of the Foreign Service
Ex. Ord. No. 13749, Nov. 29, 2016, 81 F.R. 87391, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
Executive Order 13597 of January 19, 2012, sought to ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa applicants be interviewed within three weeks of receiving an application. The Department of State's ability to maintain this 80 percent benchmark will come under increasing pressure in the future given current and projected staffing shortfalls through 2023. These staffing gaps could adversely affect the Department of State's ability to sustain border security and immigration control at peak efficiency and effectiveness, which will have effects on tourism, job creation, and U.S. economic growth. Use of the Limited Non-Career Appointment hiring authority will provide flexibility to address, for the foreseeable future, both this increased demand and recurring institutional and national needs across the Federal Government.
Accordingly, pursuant to my authority under
(a) have received a satisfactory or better performance rating (or equivalent) for service under the qualifying Limited Non-Career Appointment; and
(b) exercise the eligibility for noncompetitive appointment within a period of 1 year after completion of the qualifying Limited Non-Career Appointment. Such period may be extended to not more than 3 years in the case of persons who, following such service, are engaged in military service, in the pursuit of studies at an institution of higher learning, or in other activities that, in the view of the appointing authority, warrant an extension of such period. Such period may also be extended to permit the adjudication of a background investigation.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal Government; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Ex. Ord. No. 13750. Providing for the Appointment of Alumni of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, and the Critical Language Scholarship Program to the Competitive Service
Ex. Ord. No. 13750, Nov. 29, 2016, 81 F.R. 87393, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
Accordingly, pursuant to my authority under
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof, or the status of that department or agency within the Federal Government; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Barack Obama.
Ex. Ord. No. 13842. Establishing an Exception to Competitive Examining Rules for Appointment to Certain Positions in the United States Marshals Service, Department of Justice
Ex. Ord. No. 13842, July 10, 2018, 83 F.R. 32753, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(b) Appointments to the positions identified in subsection (a) of this section:
(i) may not be made to positions of a confidential or policy-determining character or to positions in the Senior Executive Service; and
(ii) shall constitute Schedule B appointments that are:
(A) excepted from the competitive service; and
(B) subject to laws and regulations governing Schedule B appointments, including basic qualification standards established by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) for the applicable occupation and grade level.
(b) The Director shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement this order.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
Ex. Ord. No. 13843. Excepting Administrative Law Judges From the Competitive Service
Ex. Ord. No. 13843, July 10, 2018, 83 F.R. 32755, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
Previously, appointments to the position of ALJ have been made through competitive examination and competitive service selection procedures. The role of ALJs, however, has increased over time and ALJ decisions have, with increasing frequency, become the final word of the agencies they serve. Given this expanding responsibility for important agency adjudications, and as recognized by the Supreme Court in Lucia, at least some—and perhaps all—ALJs are "Officers of the United States" and thus subject to the Constitution's Appointments Clause, which governs who may appoint such officials.
As evident from recent litigation, Lucia may also raise questions about the method of appointing ALJs, including whether competitive examination and competitive service selection procedures are compatible with the discretion an agency head must possess under the Appointments Clause in selecting ALJs. Regardless of whether those procedures would violate the Appointments Clause as applied to certain ALJs, there are sound policy reasons to take steps to eliminate doubt regarding the constitutionality of the method of appointing officials who discharge such significant duties and exercise such significant discretion.
Pursuant to my authority under
(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) shall:
(i) adopt such regulations as the Director determines may be necessary to implement this order, including, as appropriate, amendments to or rescissions of regulations that are inconsistent with, or that would impede the implementation of, this order, giving particular attention to 5 CFR, part 212, subpart D; 5 CFR, part 213, subparts A and C; 5 CFR 302.101; and 5 CFR, part 930, subpart B; and
(ii) provide guidance on conducting a swift, orderly transition from the existing appointment process for ALJs to the Schedule E process established by this order.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
Ex. Ord. No. 13932. Modernizing and Reforming the Assessment and Hiring of Federal Job Candidates
Ex. Ord. No. 13932, June 26, 2020, 85 F.R. 39457, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
America's private employers have modernized their recruitment practices to better identify and secure talent through skills- and competency-based hiring. As the modern workforce evolves, the Federal Government requires a more efficient approach to hiring. Employers adopting skills- and competency-based hiring recognize that an overreliance on college degrees excludes capable candidates and undermines labor-market efficiencies. Degree-based hiring is especially likely to exclude qualified candidates for jobs related to emerging technologies and those with weak connections between educational attainment and the skills or competencies required to perform them. Moreover, unnecessary obstacles to opportunity disproportionately burden low-income Americans and decrease economic mobility.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) oversees most aspects of the civilian Federal workforce, including creating and maintaining the General Schedule classification system and determining the duties, responsibilities, and qualification requirements for Federal jobs. Executive departments and agencies (agencies), however, are responsible for vetting and selecting specific candidates to fill particular job openings consistent with statutory requirements and OPM rules and guidance, including applicable minimum educational requirements. Currently, for most Federal jobs, traditional education—high school, college, or graduate-level—rather than experiential learning is either an absolute requirement or the only path to consideration for candidates without many years of experience. As a result, Federal hiring practices currently lag behind those of private sector leaders in securing talent based on skills and competency.
My Administration is committed to modernizing and reforming civil service hiring through improved identification of skills requirements and effective assessments of the skills job seekers possess. We encourage these same practices in the private sector. Modernizing our country's processes for identifying and hiring talent will provide America a more inclusive and demand-driven labor force.
Through the work of the National Council for the American Worker and the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board, my Administration is fulfilling its commitment to expand employment opportunities for workers. The increased adoption of apprenticeship programs by American employers, the creation of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs, and the implementation of Federal hiring reforms, including those in this order, represent important steps toward providing more Americans with pathways to family-sustaining careers. In addition, the Principles on Workforce Freedom and Mobility announced by my Administration in January 2020 detail reforms that will expand opportunities and eliminate unnecessary education costs for job seekers. This order builds on the broader work of my Administration to expand opportunity and create a more inclusive 21st-century economy.
This order directs important, merit-based reforms that will replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competency-based hiring and will hold the civil service to a higher standard—ensuring that the individuals most capable of performing the roles and responsibilities required of a specific position are those hired for that position—that is more in line with the principles on which the merit system rests.
(i) An agency may prescribe a minimum educational requirement for employment in the Federal competitive service only when a minimum educational qualification is legally required to perform the duties of the position in the State or locality where those duties are to be performed.
(ii) Unless an agency is determining a candidate's satisfaction of a legally required minimum educational requirement, an agency may consider education in determining a candidate's satisfaction of some other minimum qualification only if the candidate's education directly reflects the competencies necessary to satisfy that qualification and perform the duties of the position.
(b) Position descriptions and job postings published by agencies for positions within the competitive service should be based on the specific skills and competencies required to perform those jobs.
(b) In assessing candidates, agencies shall not rely solely on candidates' self-evaluations of their stated abilities. Applicants must clear other assessment hurdles in order to be certified for consideration.
(c) Agencies shall continually evaluate the effectiveness of different assessment strategies to promote and protect the quality and integrity of their hiring processes.
(a) the term "assessment" refers to any valid and reliable method of collecting information on an individual for the purposes of making a decision about qualification, hiring, placement, promotion, referral, or entry into programs leading to advancement;
(b) the term "competitive service" has the meaning specified by
(c) the term "education" refers to Post High-School Education as that term is defined in the OPM General Schedule Qualification Policies; and
(d) the term "qualification" means the minimum requirements necessary to perform work of a particular position or occupation successfully and safely.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
Ex. Ord. No. 13957. Creating Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service
Ex. Ord. No. 13957, Oct. 21, 2020, 85 F.R. 67631, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14003, §2(a), Jan. 22, 2021, 86 F.R. 7231, reinstated and amended by Ex. Ord. No. 14171, §§2, 3, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8625, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
The Federal Government benefits from career professionals in positions that are not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition but who discharge significant duties and exercise significant discretion in formulating and implementing executive branch policy and programs under the laws of the United States. The heads of executive departments and agencies (agencies) and the American people also entrust these career professionals with non-public information that must be kept confidential.
With the exception of attorneys in the Federal service who are appointed pursuant to Schedule A of the excepted service and members of the Senior Executive Service, appointments to these positions are generally made through the competitive service. Given the importance of the functions they discharge, employees in such positions must display appropriate temperament, acumen, impartiality, and sound judgment.
Due to these requirements, agencies should have a greater degree of appointment flexibility with respect to these employees than is afforded by the existing competitive service process.
Further, effective performance management of employees in confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating positions is of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, the Government's current performance management is inadequate, as recognized by Federal workers themselves. For instance, the 2016 Merit Principles Survey reveals that less than a quarter of Federal employees believe their agency addresses poor performers effectively.
Separating employees who cannot or will not meet required performance standards is important, and it is particularly important with regard to employees in confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating positions. High performance by such employees can meaningfully enhance agency operations, while poor performance can significantly hinder them. Senior agency officials report that poor performance by career employees in policy-relevant positions has resulted in long delays and substandard-quality work for important agency projects, such as drafting and issuing regulations.
Pursuant to my authority under
(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (Director) shall:
(i) adopt such regulations as the Director determines may be necessary to implement this order, including, as appropriate[,] providing for the application of Civil Service Rule 6.3(a) to Schedule Policy/Career positions and, [sic] amendments to or rescissions of regulations that are inconsistent with, or that would impede the implementation of, this order, giving particular attention to 5 CFR, part 212, subpart D; 5 CFR, part 213, subparts A and C; and 5 CFR 302.101; and
(ii) provide guidance on conducting a swift, orderly transition from existing appointment processes to the Schedule Policy/Career process established by this order.
(i) for positions not excepted from the competitive service by statute, petition the Director to recommend that the President place in Schedule Policy/Career any such competitive service, Schedule A, Schedule B, or Schedule D positions within the agency that the agency head determines to be of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character and that are not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition. Any such petition shall include a written explanation documenting the basis for the agency head's determination that such position should be placed in Schedule Policy/Career; and
(ii) for positions excepted from the competitive service by statute, determine which such positions are of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character and are not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition. The agency head shall publish this determination in the Federal Register. Such positions shall be considered Schedule Policy/Career positions for the purposes of agency actions under sections 5(d) and 6 of this order.
(b) The requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall apply to currently existing positions and newly created positions.
(c) When conducting the review required by subsection (a) of this section, each agency head should give particular consideration to the appropriateness of either petitioning the Director to place in Schedule Policy/Career or including in the determination published in the Federal Register, as applicable, positions whose duties include the following:
(i) substantive participation in the advocacy for or development or formulation of policy, especially:
(A) substantive participation in the development or drafting of regulations and guidance; or
(B) substantive policy-related work in an agency or agency component that primarily focuses on policy;
(ii) the supervision of attorneys;
(iii) substantial discretion to determine the manner in which the agency exercises functions committed to the agency by law;
(iv) viewing, circulating, or otherwise working with proposed regulations, guidance, executive orders, or other non-public policy proposals or deliberations generally covered by deliberative process privilege and either:
(A) directly reporting to or regularly working with an individual appointed by either the President or an agency head who is paid at a rate not less than that earned by employees at Grade 13 of the General Schedule; or
(B) working in the agency or agency component executive secretariat (or equivalent); or
(v) conducting, on the agency's behalf, collective bargaining negotiations under
(vi) directly or indirectly supervising employees in Schedule Policy/Career positions; or
(vii) duties that the Director otherwise indicates may be appropriate for inclusion in Schedule Policy/Career.
(d) The Director shall promptly recommend to the President which positions should be placed in Schedule Policy/Career.
(e) Each agency head shall, as necessary and appropriate, expeditiously petition the Federal Labor Relations Authority to determine whether any Schedule Policy/Career position must be excluded from a collective bargaining unit under
(b) Employees in or applicants for Schedule Policy/Career positions are not required to personally or politically support the current President or the policies of the current administration. They are required to faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability, consistent with their constitutional oath and the vesting of executive authority solely in the President. Failure to do so is grounds for dismissal.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstances, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of any of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
(e) Nothing in this order shall be construed to limit or narrow the positions that are or may be listed in Schedule C.
Executive Order No. 14003
Ex. Ord. No. 14003, Jan. 22, 2021, 86 F.R. 7231, protecting the Federal workforce and revoking certain presidential and regulatory actions, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(o), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8238, and Ex. Ord. No. 14171, §6, Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8626.
Executive Order No. 14143
Ex. Ord. No. 14143, Jan. 16, 2025, 90 F.R. 6751, which related to the appointment of alumni of AmeriCorps to the competitive service, was repealed by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(zzz), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Ex. Ord. No. 14284. Strengthening Probationary Periods in the Federal Service
Ex. Ord. No. 14284, Apr. 24, 2025, 90 F.R. 17729, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
The Government Accountability Office has documented, however, that agencies have not been using probationary and trial periods as effectively as they could to remove appointees whose continued employment is not in the public interest. As a result of this failure to remove poor performers, agencies have often retained and given tenure to underperforming employees who should have been screened out during their probationary period.
Conditions of good administration require that agency approval should be required before probationary employees become tenured Federal employees. As the Merit Systems Protection Board recommended in its 2005 report The Probationary Period: A Critical Assessment Opportunity, there should be "procedures so that a probationer does not automatically become an employee in the absence of agency action." And in the absence of agency certification that the probationer will be an asset to the Government, "the probationer's employment should automatically terminate upon the expiration of the probationary period." This order directs this commonsense change.
Further, the regulations at subpart H of part 315 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, which purport to limit agency action with respect to employees serving a probationary period, are not statutorily required, place undue burdens on agencies in terminating probationary employees, and deter managers from undertaking that effort.
To ensure that agencies make better use of probationary and trial periods, this order issues a new Civil Service Rule XI that will supersede subpart H. Under Civil Service Rule XI, agencies will have to affirmatively determine that the continued employment of individuals serving probationary or trial periods would benefit the Federal service before such appointments are finalized.
(b) The Director of OPM shall within 30 days of the date of this order [Apr. 24, 2025] prepare and publish a rule rescinding subpart H and making conforming amendments.
(i) The head of each executive department and agency (agency) shall identify each employee at their agency serving an initial probationary or trial period in the Federal service that ends 90 days or more from the date of this order.
(ii) Each agency head shall designate in writing individuals at their agency who shall be responsible for evaluating the continued employment of employees serving an initial probationary or trial period in the Federal service. Agency heads should limit such designations to those individuals who can properly assess the needs and interests of the organization and alignment with the organizational goals of the agency or the Federal Government.
(b) At least 60 days prior to the end of each employee's initial probationary or trial period, individuals designated pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall, to the extent practicable, meet with each employee serving an initial probationary or trial period to discuss the employee's performance and conduct (based in part on input from the employee's supervisor), the needs of the agency, and whether the employee's continued employment would advance the public interest, the organizational goals of the agency, and the efficiency of the service.
(c) Within 30 days of the end of each employee's probationary or trial period, the agency head or an individual designated by the agency head pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, consistent with Civil Service Rule XI and other applicable law, shall determine whether to finalize the employee's appointment to the Federal service, or whether to terminate their service.
(d) Before finalizing an employee's appointment to the Federal service at the conclusion of the probationary or trial period, the agency head or an individual designated by the agency head pursuant to subsection (a) of this section must certify in writing that such individual's continued employment will advance the public interest.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) If any provision of this order, including any of its applications, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and all of its other applications shall not be affected thereby.
Donald J. Trump.
Ex. Ord. No. 14317 . Creating Schedule G in the Excepted Service
Ex. Ord. No. 14317, July 17, 2025, 90 F.R. 34753, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
There is, however, no excepted service schedule for noncareer positions of a policy-making or policy-advocating character. Pursuant to
(b) In making appointments to positions in Schedule G of the excepted service, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs:
(i) shall consider whether prospective appointees would be suitable exponents of the President's policies; and
(ii) shall not take into account prospective appointees' political affiliation or political activity.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Office of Personnel Management.
Donald J. Trump.
Improving the Federal Recruitment and Hiring Process
Memorandum of President of the United States, May 11, 2010, 75 F.R. 27157, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
To deliver the quality services and results the American people expect and deserve, the Federal Government must recruit and hire highly qualified employees, and public service should be a career of choice for the most talented Americans. Yet the complexity and inefficiency of today's Federal hiring process deters many highly qualified individuals from seeking and obtaining jobs in the Federal Government.
I therefore call on executive departments and agencies (agencies) to overhaul the way they recruit and hire our civilian workforce. Americans must be able to apply for Federal jobs through a commonsense hiring process and agencies must be able to select high-quality candidates efficiently and quickly. Moreover, agency managers and supervisors must assume a leadership role in recruiting and selecting employees from all segments of our society. Human resource offices must provide critical support for these efforts. The ability of agencies to perform their missions effectively and efficiently depends on a talented and engaged workforce, and we must reform our hiring system to further strengthen that workforce.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including
(a) consistent with merit system principles and other requirements of
(1) eliminate any requirement that applicants respond to essay-style questions when submitting their initial application materials for any Federal job;
(2) allow individuals to apply for Federal employment by submitting resumes and cover letters or completing simple, plain language applications, and assess applicants using valid, reliable tools; and
(3) provide for selection from among a larger number of qualified applicants by using the "category rating" approach (as authorized by
(b) require that managers and supervisors with responsibility for hiring are:
(1) more fully involved in the hiring process, including planning current and future workforce requirements, identifying the skills required for the job, and engaging actively in the recruitment and, when applicable, the interviewing process; and
(2) accountable for recruiting and hiring highly qualified employees and supporting their successful transition into Federal service, beginning with the first performance review cycle starting after November 1, 2010;
(c) provide the OPM and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) timelines and targets to:
(1) improve the quality and speed of agency hiring by:
(i) reducing substantially the time it takes to hire mission-critical and commonly filled positions;
(ii) measuring the quality and speed of the hiring process; and
(iii) analyzing the causes of agency hiring problems and actions that will be taken to reduce them; and
(2) provide every agency hiring manager training on effective, efficient, and timely ways to recruit and hire well-qualified individuals;
(d) notify individuals applying for Federal employment through USAJOBS, an OPM-approved Federal web-based employment search portal, about the status of their application at key stages of the application process; and
(e) identify a senior official accountable for leading agency implementation of this memorandum.
(a) establish a Government-wide performance review and improvement process for hiring reform actions described in section 1 of this memorandum, including:
(1) a timeline, benchmarks, and indicators of progress; [and]
(2) a goal-focused, data-driven system for holding agencies accountable for improving the quality and speed of agency hiring, achieving agency hiring reform targets, and satisfying merit system principles and veterans' preference requirements; and [sic]
(b) develop a plan to promote diversity in the Federal workforce, consistent with the merit system principle (codified at
(c) evaluate the Federal Career Intern Program established by Executive Order 13162 of July 6, 2000, provide recommendations concerning the future of that program, and propose a framework for providing effective pathways into the Federal Government for college students and recent college graduates;
(d) provide guidance or propose regulations, as appropriate, to streamline and improve the quality of job announcements for Federal employment to make sure they are easily understood by applicants;
(e) evaluate the effectiveness of shared registers used in filling positions common across multiple agencies and develop a strategy for improving agencies' use of these shared registers for commonly filled Government-wide positions;
(f) develop a plan to increase the capacity of USAJOBS to provide applicants, hiring managers, and human resource professionals with information to improve the recruitment and hiring processes; and
(g) take such further administrative action as appropriate to implement sections 1 and 2 of this memorandum.
(1) track key human resource data, including progress on hiring reform implementation; and
(2) assist senior agency leaders, hiring managers, and human resource professionals with identifying and replicating best practices within the Federal Government for improving new employee quality and the hiring process.
(b) Each agency shall regularly review its key human resource performance and work with the OPM and the OMB to achieve timelines and targets for correcting agency hiring problems.
(c) The OPM shall submit to the President an annual report on the impact of hiring initiatives set forth in this memorandum, including its recommendations for further improving the Federal Government's hiring process.
(1) authority granted by law or Executive Order to an agency, or the head thereof; or
(2) functions of the Director of the OMB relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Director of the OPM, in consultation with the OMB, may grant an exception to any of the requirements set forth in section 1 of this memorandum to an agency that demonstrates that exceptional circumstances prevent it from complying with that requirement.
Barack Obama.
Enhancing Safeguards To Prevent the Undue Denial of Federal Employment Opportunities to the Unemployed and Those Facing Financial Difficulty Through No Fault of Their Own
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 31, 2014, 79 F.R. 7045, provided:
Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies
The Federal Government is America's largest employer. While seeking to employ a talented and productive workforce, it has a responsibility to lead by example. Although executive departments and agencies (agencies) generally can, and do, take job applicants' employment history and other factors into account when making hiring decisions, it is the policy of my Administration that applicants should not face undue obstacles to Federal employment because they are unemployed or face financial difficulties. The Government must continue to take steps to ensure the fair treatment of applicants, as well as incumbent Federal employees, who face financial difficulties through no fault of their own and make good faith efforts to meet those obligations. Therefore, I hereby direct as follows:
(i) is or was unemployed; or
(ii) has experienced or is experiencing financial difficulty through no fault of the applicant, if the applicant has undertaken a good-faith effort to meet his or her financial obligations.
(b) Consistent with existing law, agencies shall not remove, suspend, or demote a current Federal employee if the basis of the action is that the employee has experienced, or is experiencing, financial difficulty through no fault of the employee, and the employee has undertaken a good-faith effort to meet his or her financial obligations.
(c) Agencies shall review their recruiting and hiring practices to determine whether such processes intentionally or inadvertently place applicants at an undue disadvantage because of the factors set forth in subsection (a) of this section and report the results to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) within 90 days of the date of this memorandum. Taking into account the results, the Director of OPM shall issue guidance to Chief Human Capital Officers to assist agencies with implementation of this memorandum.
(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof;
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals;
(iii) the authority granted by law, Executive Order, or regulation to a department or agency, or the head thereof, to determine eligibility for access to classified information or to occupy a sensitive position; or
(iv) the authority granted by law or Executive Order to a department or agency, or the head thereof, to take adverse actions against Federal employees for their failure to comply with any law, rule, or regulation imposing upon them an obligation to satisfy in good faith their just financial obligations, including Federal, State, or local taxes.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) The Director of OPM is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Barack Obama.
§3302. Competitive service; rules
The President may prescribe rules governing the competitive service. The rules shall provide, as nearly as conditions of good administration warrant, for—
(1) necessary exceptions of positions from the competitive service; and
(2) necessary exceptions from the provisions of
Each officer and individual employed in an agency to which the rules apply shall aid in carrying out the rules.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §2(1) (less function of Civil Service Commission), (2) 8 (last sentence), |
The reference to the competitive service is substituted for the reference to the Act creating that service. The reference to reasons for the exceptions is omitted as covered by
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024—Par. (2).
1993—Par. (2).
1979—Par. (2).
1978—Par. (2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment; Savings Provision
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 11521. Veterans Readjustment Appointment for Veterans of Vietnam Era
Ex. Ord. No. 11521, Mar. 26, 1970, 35 F.R. 5311, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
WHEREAS this Nation has an obligation to assist veterans of the armed forces in readjusting to civilian life;
WHEREAS the Federal Government, as an employer, should reflect its recognition of this obligation in its personnel policies and practices;
WHEREAS veterans, by virtue of their military service, have lost opportunities to pursue education and training oriented toward civilian careers;
WHEREAS the Federal Government is continuously concerned with building an effective workforce, and veterans constitute a major recruiting source; and
WHEREAS the development of skills is most effectively achieved through a program combining employment with education or training:
NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the United States, by
(1) served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam era;
(2) at the time of his appointment has completed not more than fourteen years of education; and
(3) is found qualified to perform the duties of the position.
(b) Employment under paragraph (a) of this section is authorized only under a training or educational program developed by an agency in accordance with guidelines established by the Office of Personnel Management.
(c) An employee given a veterans readjustment appointment under paragraph (a) of this section shall serve subject to:
(1) the satisfactory performance of assigned duties; and
(2) participation in the training or educational program under which he is appointed.
(d) An employee who does not satisfactorily meet the conditions set forth in paragraph (c) of this section shall be removed in accordance with appropriate procedures.
(e) An employee serving under a veterans readjustment appointment may be promoted, reassigned, or transferred.
(f) An employee who completes the training or educational program and who has satisfactorily completed two years of substantially continuous service under a veterans readjustment appointment shall be converted to career-conditional or career employment. An employee converted under this paragraph shall automatically acquire a competitive status.
(g) In selecting an applicant for appointment under this section, an agency shall not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or political affiliation.
(b) The Office of Personnel Management may determine the circumstances under which service under a transitional appointment may be deemed service under a veterans readjustment appointment for the purpose of paragraph (f) of section 1 of this order.
(a) "agency" means a military department as defined in
(b) "Vietnam era" means the period beginning August 5, 1964, and ending on such date thereafter as may be determined by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress.
§3303. Competitive service; recommendations of Senators or Representatives
An individual concerned in examining an applicant for or appointing him in the competitive service may not receive or consider a recommendation of the applicant by a Senator or Representative, except as to the character or residence of the applicant.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §10, |
The prohibition is restated in positive form. The words "An individual concerned in examining an applicant for or appointing him in the competitive service" are substituted for "any person concerned in making any examination or appointment under this act". The word "applicant" is substituted for "person who shall apply for office or place under the provisions of this act". The word "Representative" is substituted for "Member of the House of Representatives".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—
1993—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment; Savings Provision
Amendment by
§3304. Competitive service; examinations
(a)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(A) the Office; or
(B) an agency to which the Director has delegated examining authority under section 1104(a)(2).
(5)
(6)
(7)
(A) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives.
(8)
(A) who possesses an understanding of the duties of, and knowledge, skills, and abilities required for, the position for which the employee or selecting official is developing or administering an examination; and
(B) whom the delegated examining unit of the examining agency that employs the employee or selecting official designates to assist in the development and administration of technical assessments.
(9)
(A) allows for the demonstration of job-related skills, abilities, knowledge, and competencies;
(B) is based upon a job analysis; and
(C) does not solely include or principally rely upon a self-assessment from an automated examination.
(b)
(1) open, competitive examinations for testing applicants for appointment in the competitive service which are practical in character and as far as possible relate to matters that fairly test the relative capacity and fitness of the applicants for the appointment sought;
(2) noncompetitive examinations when competent applicants do not compete after notice has been given of the existence of the vacancy; and
(3) authority for agencies to appoint, without regard to the provision of sections 3309 through 3318, candidates directly to positions for which—
(A) public notice has been given; and
(B) the Office of Personnel Management has determined that there exists a severe shortage of candidates (or, with respect to the Department of Veterans Affairs, that there exists a severe shortage of highly qualified candidates) or that there is a critical hiring need.
The Office shall prescribe, by regulation, criteria for identifying such positions and may delegate authority to make determinations under such criteria.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(A)
(B)
(3)
(A)
(i) the prioritization of—
(I) job classifications; and
(II) resource requirements; and
(ii) a timeline for full implementation of the transition.
(B)
(i) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;
(ii) the Chair of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council;
(iii) employee representatives; and
(iv) relevant external stakeholders.
(4)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(i)
(I) the examining agency determines that use of a technical assessment is impracticable for the job series; and
(II) the head of the examining agency submits to the Director and the relevant committees a certification that use of the technical assessment is impracticable, which certification shall include—
(aa) identification of the job series;
(bb) identification of the number of positions that are included in the job series within the agency for which the examining agency is conducting examinations; and
(cc) a description of the rationale for the determination.
(ii)
(I) beginning on the date that is 1 day after the date on which the applicable certification is submitted under clause (i)(II); and
(II) ending on the date that is 3 years after the date on which the applicable certification is submitted under clause (i)(II).
(iii)
(d)
(1)
(A) develop, in partnership with human resources employees of the examining agency, a position-specific assessment that is relevant to the position, based on job analysis, which may include—
(i) a structured interview;
(ii) a work-related exercise;
(iii) a custom or generic procedure used to measure an applicant's employment or career-related qualifications and interests; or
(iv) another assessment that—
(I) allows for the demonstration of job-related technical skills, abilities, and knowledge; and
(II) is relevant to the position for which the assessment is developed; and
(B) administer the assessment developed under subparagraph (A) to—
(i) determine whether an applicant for the position has a passing score to be qualified for the position; or
(ii) rank applicants for the position for category rating purposes under section 3319.
(2)
(A) conduct a feasibility study that examines the practicability, including a cost benefit analysis, of—
(i) the sharing of technical assessments by an examining agency with another examining agency;
(ii) mechanisms for each examining agency to maintain appropriate control over examination material that is shared by the examining agency as described in clause (i);
(iii) limits on customization of a technical assessment that is shared as described in clause (i) and mechanisms to ensure that the resulting technical assessment satisfies the requirements under part 300 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation); and
(iv) the development of an online platform on which examining agencies can share and customize technical assessments as described in this subparagraph; and
(B) submit to the relevant committees a report on the study conducted under subparagraph (A).
(e)
(1)
(2)
(A) improving examinations;
(B) facilitating the writing of job announcements for the competitive service;
(C) sharing high-quality certificates of eligible applicants; and
(D) facilitating hiring for the competitive service using examinations.
(f)
(1) facilitating hiring actions across the Federal Government;
(2) providing training;
(3) creating tools and guides to facilitate hiring for the competitive service; and
(4) developing technical assessments.
(g)
(h)
(i)
(2) Notwithstanding a contrary provision of this title or of the rules and regulations prescribed under this title for the administration of the competitive service, an individual who served for at least 3 years as a technician acquires a competitive status for transfer to the competitive service if such individual—
(A) is involuntarily separated from service as a technician other than by removal for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency;
(B) passes a suitable noncompetitive examination; and
(C) transfers to the competitive service within 1 year after separating from service as a technician.
(j)
(k)
(l)
(2) If selected, a preference eligible or veteran described in paragraph (1) shall receive a career or career-conditional appointment, as appropriate.
(3) This subsection shall not be construed to confer an entitlement to veterans' preference that is not otherwise required by law.
(4) The area of consideration for all merit promotion announcements which include consideration of individuals of the Federal workforce shall indicate that preference eligibles and veterans who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions after 3 years or more of active service are eligible to apply. The announcements shall be publicized in accordance with section 3327.
(5) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this subsection. The regulations shall ensure that an individual who has completed an initial tour of active duty is not excluded from the application of this subsection because of having been released from such tour of duty shortly before completing 3 years of active service, having been honorably released from such duty.
(m)
(1)
(A) the term "Department" means the Department of Defense; and
(B) the term "time-limited appointment" means a temporary or term appointment in the competitive service.
(2)
(A) the employee was appointed initially under open, competitive examination under subchapter I of this chapter to the time-limited appointment;
(B) the employee has served under 1 or more time-limited appointments within the Department for a period or periods totaling more than 2 years without a break of 2 or more years; and
(C) the employee's performance has been at an acceptable level of performance throughout the period or periods referred to in subparagraph (B).
(3)
(A) becomes a career-conditional employee, unless the employee has otherwise completed the service requirements for career tenure; and
(B) acquires competitive status upon appointment.
(4)
(A) the employee applies for a position covered by this section not later than 2 years after the most recent date of separation; and
(B) the employee's most recent separation was for reasons other than misconduct or performance.
(5)
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §2(2)1, |
|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §2(2)7 (less last 17 words), |
||
| (b) | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §7 (as applicable to appointment), |
|
| (c) | Nov. 26, 1940, ch. 919, §2(b), Feb. 12, 1946, ch. 3, May 29, 1958, |
|
| June 24, 1952, ch. 456, |
||
| (d) | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §3 (7th sentence), |
In subsection (a), the authority of the President to prescribe rules is added on authority of former section 633(1), which is carried into section 3302. The words "competitive service" are substituted for "public service" since the requirements do not apply to the excepted or uniformed service.
In subsection (b), the words "That after the expiration of six months from the passage of this act" are omitted as executed. The words "in the competitive service" are substituted for "in either of the said classes now existing, or that may be arranged hereunder pursuant to said rules" because of the definition of "competitive service" in section 2102. In the second sentence, the words "the provisions of this title governing the competitive service" are substituted for "this act".
In subsection (c), the provisions of former section 631b(b) and (c) are combined and restated for clarity. The words "From and after the effective date of this Act" and "From and after the date of approval of this Act" are omitted as executed. The words "competitive service" are substituted for "classified civil service" in view of the definition of "competitive service" in section 2102. The words "or as a clerical employee of the Senate or House of Representatives" are omitted as included in the reference to "an individual . . . in the legislative branch in a position in which he was paid by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House of Representatives". The words "and nothing in this Act shall be construed to impair any right of retransfer provided for under civil service laws or regulations made thereunder" are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (d), the word "Employees" is substituted for "collector, postmaster, and other officers of the United States".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of enactment of the Chance to Compete Act of 2024, referred to in subsecs. (c)(2), (3)(A), (4)(A), (B) and (d)(2), is the date of enactment of
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsecs. (c) to (g).
Subsecs. (h), (i).
Subsec. (j).
Subsecs. (k), (l).
Subsec. (m).
2022—Subsec. (g).
2017—Subsec. (a)(3)(B).
2009—Subsec. (a)(3)(B).
"(i) the Office of Personnel Management has determined that there exists a severe shortage of candidates or there is a critical hiring need; or
"(ii) the candidate is a participant in the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Defense Education Program under
2006—Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(ii).
2004—Subsec. (a)(3)(B).
2002—Subsec. (a)(3).
1999—Subsec. (f)(2), (3).
Subsec. (f)(4).
Subsec. (f)(5).
1998—Subsec. (f).
1996—Subsec. (c)(1).
1995—Subsec. (c).
"(1) for at least 3 years in the legislative branch in a position in which he was paid by the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives; or
"(2) for at least 4 years as a secretary or law clerk, or both, to a justice or judge of the United States;
acquires a competitive status for transfer to the competitive service if he is involuntarily separated without prejudice from the legislative or judicial branch, passes a suitable noncompetitive examination, and transfers to the competitive service within 1 year of the separation from the legislative or judicial branch. For the purpose of this subsection, an individual who has served for at least 2 years in a position in the legislative branch described by paragraph (1) of this subsection and who is separated from that position to enter the armed forces is deemed to have held that position during his service in the armed forces."
Subsec. (d).
1986—Subsecs. (d), (e).
1978—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Effective Date of 1995 Amendment
"(1) conduct a study on excepted service considerations for competitive service appointments relating to such amendment; and
"(2) take all necessary actions for the regulations described under such amendment to take effect as final regulations on the effective date of this section."
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Reports
"(a)
"(1)
"(A) examines the progress of examining agencies in implementing the requirements of this Act [see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note set out under
"(B) identifies any significant difficulties encountered in the implementation described in subparagraph (A).
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) provides a reason for the delay; and
"(B) advises the public and the relevant committees of the anticipated date of publication and submission of the report.
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) the type of examination used; and
"(B) summary data from examinations that are closed, audited, and anonymous on the use of examinations for the competitive service, including technical assessments.
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) the related announcement is closed;
"(B) certificates have been audited; and
"(C) all hiring processes are completed.
"(4)
"(A) provides a reason for the delay; and
"(B) advises the public and the relevant committees of the anticipated date of publication and submission of the report.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
[For definitions of terms used in section 5 of
Evaluation for Potential Updates or Revisions to Government-Wide Systems of Records at the Office of Personnel Management
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) issue the updates or revisions; and
"(2) notify the relevant committees [Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives]."
Direct Hiring for Federal Wage Schedule Employees
Definitions in Pub. L. 118–188
"(1) each term that is defined in
"(2) the term 'competitive service' has the meaning given the term in
1 So in original. Probably should be followed by "than".
2 So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
§3304a. Competitive service; career appointment after 3 years' temporary service
(a) An individual serving in a position in the competitive service under an indefinite appointment or a temporary appointment pending establishment of a register (other than an individual serving under an overseas limited appointment, or in a position classified above GS–15 pursuant to section 5108) acquires competitive status and is entitled to have his appointment converted to a career appointment, without condition, when—
(1) he completes, without break in service of more than 30 days, a total of at least 3 years of service in such a position;
(2) he passes a suitable noncompetitive examination;
(3) the appointing authority (A) recommends to the Office of Personnel Management that the appointment of the individual be converted to a career appointment and (B) certifies to the Office that the work performance of the individual for the past 12 months has been satisfactory; and
(4) he meets Office qualification requirements for the position and is otherwise eligible for career appointment.
(b) The employing agency shall terminate the appointment of an individual serving in a position in the competitive service under an indefinite or temporary appointment described in subsection (a) of this section, not later than 90 days after he has completed the 3-year period referred to in subsection (a)(1) of this section, if, prior to the close of such 90-day period, such individual has not met the requirements and conditions of subparagraphs (2) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) In computing years of service under subsection (a)(1) of this section for an individual who leaves a position in the competitive service to enter the armed forces and is reemployed in such a position within 120 days after separation under honorable conditions, the period from the date he leaves his position to the date he is reemployed is included.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (a).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
1970—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
"(a) This section and section 3 of this Act [amending provisions set out as a note under
"(b) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the first section and section 2 of this Act [enacting this section and section 3303 of former Title 39, The Postal Service] shall become effective on the one hundred and twentieth day following the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 11, 1967].
"(c) For the purpose of the application of
§3305. Competitive service; examinations; when held
(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall hold examinations for the competitive service at least twice a year in each State and territory or possession of the United States where there are individuals to be examined.
(b) The Office shall hold an examination for a position to which an appointment has been made within the preceding 3 years, on the application of an individual who qualifies as a preference eligible under section 2108(3)(C)–(G) of this title. The examination shall be held during the quarter following the application.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §3 (last 24 words of 6th sentence), |
|
| (b) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §10, |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
1967 Act
This section amends various sections [§§3305, 3309, 3318] of
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
[§3306. Repealed. Pub. L. 95–228, §1, Feb. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 25 ]
Section,
§3307. Competitive service; maximum-age entrance requirements; exceptions
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of this section appropriated funds may not be used to pay an employee who establishes a maximum-age requirement for entrance into the competitive service.
(b) The Secretary may, with the concurrence of such agent as the President may designate, determine and fix the maximum limit of age within which an original appointment to a position as an air traffic controller may be made.
(c) The Secretary of the Interior may determine and fix the minimum and maximum limits of age within which original appointments to the United States Park Police may be made.
(d) The head of any agency may determine and fix the minimum and maximum limits of age within which an original appointment may be made to a position as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, as defined by section 8331(20) and (21), respectively, of this title.
(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the head of an agency may determine and fix the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a firefighter or law enforcement officer, as defined by section 8401(14) or (17), respectively, of this title.
(2)(A) In the case of the conversion of an agency function from performance by a contractor to performance by an employee of the agency, the head of the agency, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may waive any maximum limit of age, determined or fixed for positions within such agency under paragraph (1), if necessary in order to promote the recruitment or appointment of experienced personnel.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph—
(i) the term "agency" means the Department of Defense or a military department; and
(ii) the term "head of the agency" means—
(I) in the case of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense; and
(II) in the case of a military department, the Secretary of such military department.
(f) The Secretary of Energy may determine and fix the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a nuclear materials courier, as defined by section 8331(27) or 8401(33).
(g) The Secretary of Homeland Security may determine and fix the maximum age limit for an original appointment to a position as a customs and border protection officer, as defined by section 8401(36).
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1956, ch. 452, §302 (less proviso), |
The prohibition is restated in positive form. The word "officers" is omitted as included in "employees" in view of the definition of "employee" in section 2105.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in subsec. (b), see
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (e).
2007—Subsec. (g).
1998—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (f).
1988—Subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e).
1980—Subsec. (b).
1974—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
1972—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2007 Amendment; Transition Rules
"(1)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(i)
"(ii)
"(C)
"(i) to the extent that such service is subject to the Civil Service Retirement System, by applying
"(ii) to the extent such service is subject to the Federal Employees' Retirement System, by applying section 8415(d) [now 8415(e)] of
"(D)
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
"(i)
"(I) to be treated in accordance with the amendments made by subsection (a) or (b) [amending
"(II) to be treated as if subsections (a) and (b) had never been enacted.
"Failure to make a timely election under this paragraph shall be treated in the same way as an election made under subclause (I) on the last day allowable under clause (ii).
"(ii)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) holds a position within U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and
"(B) is considered a law enforcement officer for purposes of subchapter III of
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Effective Date of 1972 Amendment
Amendment by
Regulations
United States Park Police; Age Limits for Original Appointments
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 11817. Office of Personnel Management Designated Agent To Concur With Agency Determination Fixing Age Limits for Making Original Appointments Respecting Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Positions
Ex. Ord. No. 11817, Nov. 5, 1974, 39 F.R. 39427, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
§3308. Competitive service; examinations; educational requirements prohibited; exceptions
The Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency may not prescribe a minimum educational requirement for an examination for the competitive service except when the Office decides that the duties of a scientific, technical, or professional position cannot be performed by an individual who does not have a prescribed minimum education. The Office shall make the reasons for its decision under this section a part of its public records.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §5 (less 1st 2 sentences), |
The prohibition is restated in positive form. The words "The Civil Service Commission or other examining agency" are added because these are the only agencies to which the prohibition could apply.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3309. Preference eligibles; examinations; additional points for
A preference eligible who receives a passing grade in an examination for entrance into the competitive service is entitled to additional points above his earned rating, as follows—
(1) a preference eligible under section 2108(3)(C)–(G) of this title—10 points; and
(2) a preference eligible under section 2108(3)(A)–(B) of this title—5 points.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §3 (less proviso), |
||
| Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, §2, |
||
| Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, §2(a), |
||
| July 14, 1952, ch. 728, §2, |
||
| Aug. 14, 1953, ch. 485, §1(a) "Sec. 3 (1st sentence)", |
The word "competitive" is added before "service" for clarity. Application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and to the government of the District of Columbia, as provided in former section 858, is carried into section 3320.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1997—Par. (2).
1967—Cl. (1).
§3310. Preference eligibles; examinations; guards, elevator operators, messengers, and custodians
In examinations for positions of guards, elevator operators, messengers, and custodians in the competitive service (other than for positions of housekeeping aides in the Department of Veterans Affairs), competition is restricted to preference eligibles as long as preference eligibles are available.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §3 (proviso), Aug. 14, 1953, ch. 485, §1(a) "Sec. 3 (2d sentence)", |
The words "in the competitive service" are added for clarity. The reference to "examinations held prior to December 31, 1954, for positions of apprentices" is omitted as obsolete. Application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and to the government of the District of Columbia, as provided in former section 858, is carried into section 3320.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—
§3311. Preference eligibles; examinations; crediting experience
In examinations for the competitive service in which experience is an element of qualification, a preference eligible is entitled to credit—
(1) for service in the armed forces when his employment in a similar vocation to that for which examined was interrupted by the service; and
(2) for all experience material to the position for which examined, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether he received pay therefor.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §4, |
The words "for the competitive service" are added after "examinations" for clarity. Application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and to the government of the District of Columbia, as provided in former section 858, is carried into section 3320.
In paragraph (1), the words "service in the armed forces" are substituted for "in the military or naval service of the United States" on authority of the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §305(a),
In paragraph (2), the words "material to the position for which examined" are substituted for "valuable" for clarity.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3312. Preference eligibles; physical qualifications; waiver
(a) In determining qualifications of a preference eligible for examination for, appointment in, or reinstatement in the competitive service, the Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency shall waive—
(1) requirements as to age, height, and weight, unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position; and
(2) physical requirements if, in the opinion of the Office or other examining agency, after considering the recommendation of an accredited physician, the preference eligible is physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.
(b) If an examining agency determines that, on the basis of evidence before it, a preference eligible under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §5 (1st 2 sentences, less so much as relates to promotion, retention, and transfer), |
The section is restated for clarity and conciseness. The words "for which examination is given" and "for which the examination is given" are omitted as surplusage. The application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and the government of the District of Columbia is preserved by section 3320.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3313. Competitive service; registers of eligibles
The names of applicants who have qualified in examinations for the competitive service shall be entered on appropriate registers or lists of eligibles in the following order—
(1) for scientific and professional positions in GS–9 or higher, in the order of their ratings, including points added under
(2) for all other positions—
(A) disabled veterans who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more, in order of their ratings, including points added under
(B) remaining applicants, in the order of their ratings, including points added under
The names of preference eligibles shall be entered ahead of others having the same rating.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, 287, §7, |
The section is restated for clarity and conciseness. The words "for the competitive service" are added for clarity. Application of this section to the excepted service in the executive branch and to the government of the District of Columbia is carried into section 3320. The words "employment lists" are omitted as included in "appropriate registers or lists of eligibles".
In paragraph (1), the words "in GS–9 or higher" are substituted for "in grade 9 or higher of the General Schedule of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended" in view of the codification of the Act in this title, and, in specific sections 5104 and 5332.
In paragraph (2)(A), the term "disabled veterans" is substituted for "preference eligibles" in view of the definition of "disabled veteran" in section 2108(2).
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3314. Registers; preference eligibles who resigned
A preference eligible who resigns, on request to the Office of Personnel Management, is entitled to have his name placed again on all registers for which he may have been qualified, in the order named by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §16, |
The last 28 words of former section 865 relating to recertification and reappointments are omitted since under sections 3317 and 3318(a) certification and appointment follow from placing on registers.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3315. Registers; preference eligibles furloughed or separated
(a) A preference eligible who has been separated or furloughed without delinquency or misconduct, on request, is entitled to have his name placed on appropriate registers and employment lists for every position for which his qualifications have been established, in the order named by
(b) The Office may declare a preference eligible who has been separated or furloughed without pay under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287 §15 (1st sentence), |
|
| (b) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §14 (2d proviso), |
In subsection (a), the term "Executive agency" is substituted for "any agency or project of the Federal Government" on authority of former section 869. The last 28 words of the 1st sentence of former section 864 relating to recertification and reappointment are omitted since under sections 3317 and 3318(a) certification and appointment follow from placing on registers.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
[§3315a. Repealed. Pub. L. 93–416, §22(c), Sept. 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1150 ]
Section, added
§3316. Preference eligibles; reinstatement
On request of an appointing authority, a preference eligible who has resigned or who has been dismissed or furloughed may be certified for, and appointed to, a position for which he is eligible in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §13, |
The word "authority" is substituted for "officer" in recognition of the several appointing authorities named in section 2105(a)(1).
The words "in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia" are substituted for "in the civil service, Federal, or District of Columbia, or in any establishment, agency, bureau, administration, project, or department, temporary or permanent" on authority of former section 869.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3317. Competitive service; certification using numerical ratings
(a)
(1)
(2)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3317,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
"(1)
"(2)
§3318. Competitive service; selections using numerical ratings
(a)
(b)
(1)
(A) in the same occupational series as the position for which the certification of eligibles was issued (in this subsection referred to as the "original position"); and
(B) at a similar grade level as the original position.
(2)
(3)
(A) shall be made in accordance with subsection (a); and
(B) subject to paragraph (4), may be made without any additional posting under section 3327.
(4)
(A) provide notice of the available position to employees of the other appointing authority;
(B) provide up to 10 business days for employees of the other appointing authority to apply for the position; and
(C) review the qualifications of employees submitting an application.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(d)[sic]
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3318,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective on the date, not later than one year after Aug. 13, 2018, on which the Director of the Office of Personnel Management issues final regulations for implementation, see section 1107(d) of
Regulations
§3319. Competitive service; selection using category rating
(a) The Office, in exercising its authority under section 3304, or an agency to which the Office has delegated examining authority under section 1104(a)(2), may establish category rating systems for evaluating applicants for positions in the competitive service, under 2 or more quality categories based on merit consistent with regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, rather than assigned individual numerical ratings.
(b) Within each quality category established under subsection (a), preference-eligibles shall be listed ahead of individuals who are not preference eligibles. For other than scientific and professional positions at GS–9 of the General Schedule (equivalent or higher), qualified preference-eligibles who have a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more shall be listed in the highest quality category.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(A) in the same occupational series as the position for which the certification of eligibles was issued (in this subsection referred to as the "original position"); and
(B) at a similar grade level as the original position.
(3)
(4)
(A) shall be made in accordance with this subsection; and
(B) subject to paragraph (5), may be made without any additional posting under section 3327.
(5)
(A) provide notice of the available position to employees of the appointing authority employing the other appointing official;
(B) provide up to 10 business days for employees of the other appointing authority to apply for the position; and
(C) review the qualifications of employees submitting an application.
(6)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(d) Each agency that establishes a category rating system under this section shall submit in each of the 3 years following that establishment, a report to Congress on that system including information on—
(1) the number of employees hired under that system;
(2) the impact that system has had on the hiring of veterans and minorities, including those who are American Indian or Alaska Natives, Asian, Black or African American, and native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders; and
(3) the way in which managers were trained in the administration of that system.
(e) The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe such regulations as it considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (b), is set out under
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3319,
Amendments
2018—
Subsec. (c)(6).
Subsec. (c)(7).
2016—Subsec. (c).
"(1) An appointing official may select any applicant in the highest quality category or, if fewer than 3 candidates have been assigned to the highest quality category, in a merged category consisting of the highest and the second highest quality categories.
"(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the appointing official may not pass over a preference-eligible in the same category from which selection is made, unless the requirements of section 3317(b) or 3318(b), as applicable, are satisfied."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of
§3320. Excepted service; government of the District of Columbia; selection
The nominating or appointing authority shall select for appointment to each vacancy in the excepted service in the executive branch and in the government of the District of Columbia from the qualified applicants in the same manner and under the same conditions required for the competitive service by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §9, |
||
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §20, |
Former sections 858 and 869 are combined and restated for clarity and to conform to section 3318(a). The word "authority" is substituted for "officer" in recognition of the several appointing authorities named in section 2105(a)(1). The words "shall select for appointment to each vacancy in the expected service in the executive branch and in the government of the District of Columbia from the qualified applicants in the same manner and under the same conditions required for the competitive service by
This section merely continues, and does not in any way change, the requirements in former section 858 relative to the selection of applicants for positions in the excepted service. Under this section, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other agencies having positions in the excepted service will continue to fill those positions in the same manner that they have been filled under former section 858. Such excepted appointments are appointments authorized to be made without regard to the statutes, rules, and regulations governing appointments in the competitive service and this is not changed.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2018—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
Amendment by
Assistance of United States Civil Service Commission in Developing Merit System for District of Columbia
§3321. Competitive service; probationary period
(a) The President may take such action, including the issuance of rules, regulations, and directives, as shall provide as nearly as conditions of good administration warrant for a period of probation—
(1) before an appointment in the competitive service becomes final; and
(2) before initial appointment as a supervisor or manager becomes final.
(b) An individual—
(1) who has been transferred, assigned, or promoted from a position to a supervisory or managerial position, and
(2) who does not satisfactorily complete the probationary period under subsection (a)(2) of this section,
shall be returned to a position of no lower grade and pay than the position from which the individual was transferred, assigned, or promoted. Nothing in this section prohibits an agency from taking an action against an individual serving a probationary period under subsection (a)(2) of this section for cause unrelated to supervisory or managerial performance.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply with respect to appointments in the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27. §2(2)4, |
The authority of the President to prescribe rules is added on authority of former section 633(1), which is carried into section 3302. Wording is changed because in practice an appointment is not made after probation. The words "or employment" are omitted as included within "appointment".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (c).
2015—Subsec. (c).
1988—Subsec. (c).
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3322. Voluntary separation before resolution of personnel investigation
(a) With respect to any employee occupying a position in the competitive service or the excepted service who is the subject of a personnel investigation and resigns from Government employment prior to the resolution of such investigation, the head of the agency from which such employee so resigns shall, if an adverse finding was made with respect to such employee pursuant to such investigation, make a permanent notation in the employee's official personnel record file. The head shall make such notation not later than 40 days after the date of the resolution of such investigation.
(b) Prior to making a permanent notation in an employee's official personnel record file under subsection (a), the head of the agency shall—
(1) notify the employee in writing within 5 days of the resolution of the investigation and provide such employee a copy of the adverse finding and any supporting documentation;
(2) provide the employee with a reasonable time, but not less than 30 days, to respond in writing and to furnish affidavits and other documentary evidence to show why the adverse finding was unfounded (a summary of which shall be included in any notation made to the employee's personnel file under subsection (d)); and
(3) provide a written decision and the specific reasons therefore to the employee at the earliest practicable date.
(c) An employee is entitled to appeal the decision of the head of the agency to make a permanent notation under subsection (a) to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701.
(d)(1) If an employee files an appeal with the Merit Systems Protection Board pursuant to subsection (c), the agency head shall make a notation in the employee's official personnel record file indicating that an appeal disputing the notation is pending not later than 2 weeks after the date on which such appeal was filed.
(2) If the head of the agency is the prevailing party on appeal, not later than 2 weeks after the date that the Board issues the appeal decision, the head of the agency shall remove the notation made under paragraph (1) from the employee's official personnel record file.
(3) If the employee is the prevailing party on appeal, not later than 2 weeks after the date that the Board issues the appeal decision, the head of the agency shall remove the notation made under paragraph (1) and the notation of an adverse finding made under subsection (a) from the employee's official personnel record file.
(e) In this section, the term "personnel investigation" includes—
(1) an investigation by an Inspector General; and
(2) an adverse personnel action as a result of performance, misconduct, or for such cause as will promote the efficiency of the service under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3322,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
§3323. Automatic separations; reappointment; reemployment of annuitants
(a) An individual who reaches the retirement age prescribed for automatic separation applicable to him may not be continued in the civil service or in the government of the District of Columbia. An individual separated on account of age under a statute or regulation providing for retirement on account of age is not eligible for appointment in the civil service or in the government of the District of Columbia. The President, when in his judgment the public interest so requires, may except an individual from this subsection by Executive order. This subsection does not apply to an individual named by a statute providing for the continuance of the individual in the civil service or in the government of the District of Columbia.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding other statutes, an annuitant, as defined by section 8331 or 8401, receiving annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund is not barred by reason of his retired status from employment in an appointive position for which the annuitant is qualified. An annuitant so reemployed, other than an annuitant reappointed under paragraph (2) of this subsection, serves at the will of the appointing authority.
(2) Subject to such regulations as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may prescribe, any annuitant to whom the first sentence of paragraph (1) of this subsection applies and who has served as an administrative law judge pursuant to an appointment under
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a member of the Foreign Service retired under section 812 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is not barred by reason of his retired status from employment in a position in the civil service for which he is qualified. An annuitant so reemployed serves at the will of the appointing authority.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Chief of Engineers of the Army, under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | June 30, 1932, ch. 314, §204, |
|
| (b) | July 31, 1956, ch. 804, §401 "Sec. 13(a)", |
|
| (c) | Sept. 8, 1960, |
|
| (d) | June 20, 1938, ch. 535, §5, |
In subsection (a), the words "On and after July 1, 1932" are omitted as executed. The words "heretofore or hereafter" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "in the civil service" are substituted for "civilian service in any branch or service of the United States Government" and "to any appointive office, position, or employment under the United States" in view of the definition of "civil service" in section 2101.
In subsection (b), the words "receiving annuity from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund" are substituted for "heretofore or hereafter retired under this chapter". The word "authority" is substituted for "officer" in recognition of the several appointing authorities named in section 2105(a)(1).
In subsection (c), the words "Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section" are substituted for "Notwithstanding the provisions of
In subsection (d), the words "Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section" are substituted for "The provisions of
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 812 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in subsec. (c), is classified to
Amendments
1992—Subsec. (b)(1).
1984—Subsec. (b).
1980—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
§3324. Appointments to positions classified above GS–15
(a) An appointment to a position classified above GS–15 pursuant to section 5108 may be made only on approval of the qualifications of the proposed appointee by the Director of the Office of Personnel Management on the basis of qualification standards developed by the agency involved in accordance with criteria specified in regulations prescribed by the Director. This section does not apply to a position—
(1) to which appointment is made by the Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court;
(2) to which appointment is made by the President;
(3) to which appointment is made by the Librarian of Congress; or
(4) the incumbent of which is paid from—
(A) appropriations for the Executive Office of the President under the heading "The White House Office", "Special Projects", "Council of Economic Advisers", or "National Security Council"; or
(B) funds appropriated to the President under the heading "Emergency Fund for the President" by the Treasury, Post Office, and Executive Office Appropriation Act, 1966, or a later statute making appropriations for the same purpose.
(b) The Office may prescribe regulations necessary for the administration of this section.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 20, 1958, Sept. 13, 1960, |
In subsection (a), the words "in GS–16, 17, and 18" are substituted for "in grades 16, 17, and 18 of the General Schedule".
In subsection (a)(2), the words "by the President" are coextensive with and substituted for "by the President alone or by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate".
In subsection (a)(4)(A), the words "Office of Emergency Planning" are substituted for "Office of Defense Mobilization" on authority of 1958 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §2(a), effective July 1, 1958,
In subsection (a)(4)(B), the words " 'Emergency Fund for the President' by the Treasury, Post Office, and Executive Office Appropriation Act, 1966" are substituted for " 'Emergency Fund for the President, National Defense' by the General Government Matters Appropriation Act, 1959" to reflect the heading and title of the current appropriation Act.
Subsection (b) is added on authority of former sections 1072 and 1072a, which are carried into section 5115.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
1967 Act
This section amends
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Treasury, Post Office, and Executive Office Appropriation Act, 1966, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(B), is
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (a).
1992—
Subsec. (a)(1).
1990—
Subsec. (a).
1979—Subsec. (a)(4)(A).
1978—Subsecs. (a), (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1967 Amendment
Amendment by
§3325. Appointments to scientific and professional positions
(a) Positions established under
(b) This section does not apply to positions established under section 3104(c).
(c) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Oct. 4, 1961, |
|
| (b) | Oct. 11, 1962, |
In subsection (a), the words "or its designee" are substituted for "or such officers or agents as the Commission may designate".
For repeal of the Act of Aug. 1, 1947, ch. 433,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2008—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (c).
1992—Subsec. (b).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3326. Appointments of retired members of the armed forces to positions in the Department of Defense
(a) For the purpose of this section, "member" and "Secretary concerned" have the meanings given them by
(b) A retired member of the armed forces may be appointed to a position in the civil service in or under the Department of Defense (including a nonappropriated fund instrumentality under the jurisdiction of the armed forces) during the period of 180 days immediately after his retirement only if—
(1) the proposed appointment is authorized by the Secretary concerned or his designee for the purpose, and, if the position is in the competitive service, after approval by the Office of Personnel Management; or
(2) the minimum rate of basic pay for the position has been increased under
(c) A request by appropriate authority for the authorization, or the authorization and approval, as the case may be, required by subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be accompanied by a statement which shows the actions taken to assure that—
(1) full consideration, in accordance with placement and promotion procedures of the department concerned, was given to eligible career employees;
(2) when selection is by other than certification from an established civil service register, the vacancy has been publicized to give interested candidates an opportunity to apply;
(3) qualification requirements for the position have not been written in a manner designed to give advantage to the retired member; and
(4) the position has not been held open pending the retirement of the retired member.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Aug. 19, 1964, |
|
| (b), (c) | Aug. 19, 1964, |
In subsection (a), the definition of "armed forces" is omitted as unnecessary in view of the definition in section 2101.
In subsection (b), the words "position in the civil service" are substituted for "civilian office" in view of the definition of "civil service" in section 2101. The words "(including a nonappropriated fund instrumentality under the jurisdiction of the armed forces)" are added on authority of former section 3101(3).
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2016—Subsec. (b)(3).
1990—Subsec. (b)(2).
1979—Subsec. (b)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Suspension of Section
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
§3327. Civil service employment information
(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall provide that information concerning opportunities to participate in competitive examinations conducted by, or under authority delegated by, the Office of Personnel Management shall be made available to the employment offices of the United States Employment Service.
(b) Subject to such regulations as the Office may issue, each agency shall promptly notify the Office and the employment offices of the United States Employment Service of—
(1) each vacant position in the agency which is in the competitive service or the Senior Executive Service and for which the agency seeks applications from persons outside the Federal service, and
(2) the period during which applications will be accepted.
As used in this subsection, "agency" means an agency as defined in
(c) The Office of Personnel Management may authorize the Department of Defense to use flexible outreach methods, including curated prospect sourcing, provided that all hiring opportunities remain publicly accessible and merit-based.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3327,
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of
§3328. Selective Service registration
(a) An individual—
(1) who was born after December 31, 1959, and is or was required to register under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act (
(2) who is not so registered or knowingly and willfully did not so register before the requirement terminated or became inapplicable to the individual,
shall be ineligible for appointment to a position in an Executive agency.
(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply to an individual—
(1) who is a veteran;
(2) who provides evidence of active duty service to the Executive agency in which the individual seeks an appointment; and
(3) for whom the requirement to register under section 3 of the Military Selective Service Act (
(c) The Office of Personnel Management, in consultation with the Director of the Selective Service System, shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include provisions prescribing procedures for the adjudication of determinations of whether a failure to register was knowing and willful. Such procedures shall require that such a determination may not be made if the individual concerned shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the failure to register was neither knowing nor willful. Such procedures may provide that determinations of eligibility under the requirements of this section shall be adjudicated by the Executive agency making the appointment for which the eligibility is determined.
(d) In this section, the terms "active duty" and "veteran" have the meaning given those terms in
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsecs. (b), (c).
Subsec. (d).
1987—Subsec. (b).
§3329. Appointments of military reserve technicians to positions in the competitive service
(a) For the purpose of this section, the term "military reserve technician" has the meaning given the term "military technician (dual status)" by section 8401(30).
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that, except as provided in subsection (d), any military reserve technician who is involuntarily separated from technician service, after completing at least 15 years of such service and 20 years of service creditable under
(c)(1) The position for which placement consideration shall be provided to a former military technician under subsection (b) shall be a position—
(A) in either the competitive service or the excepted service;
(B) within the Department of Defense; and
(C) in which the person is qualified to serve, taking into consideration whether the employee in that position is required to be a member of a reserve component of the armed forces as a condition of employment.
(2) To the maximum extent practicable, the position shall also be in a pay grade or other pay classification sufficient to ensure that the rate of basic pay of the former military technician, upon appointment to the position, is not less than the rate of basic pay last received by the former military technician for technician service before separation.
(d) This section shall not apply in the case of—
(1) an involuntary separation for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency; or
(2) a technician who, as of the date of application under this section, is eligible for immediate (including for disability) or early retirement under subchapter III of
(e) The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Codification
Another section 3329 was renumbered
Amendments
2000—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
1997—Subsec. (b).
1996—Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
"(1) in the competitive service;
"(2) within the Department of Defense;
"(3) for which the individual is qualified; and
"(4) the rate of basic pay for which is not less than the rate last received for technician service before separation."
1 See References in Text note below.
§3330. Government-wide list of vacant positions
(a) For the purpose of this section, the term "agency" means an Executive agency, excluding the Government Accountability Office and any agency (or unit thereof) whose principal function is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities, as determined by the President.
(b) The Office of Personnel Management shall establish and keep current a comprehensive list of all announcements of vacant positions in the competitive service within each agency that are to be filled by appointment for more than one year and for which applications are being (or will soon be) accepted from outside the agency's work force.
(c) Included for any position listed shall be—
(1) a brief description of the position, including its title, tenure, location, and rate of pay;
(2) application procedures, including the period within which applications may be submitted and procedures for obtaining additional information; and
(3) any other information which the Office considers appropriate.
(d) The list shall be available to members of the public.
(e) The Office shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. Any requirement under this section that agencies notify the Office as to the availability of any vacant positions shall be designed so as to avoid any duplication of information otherwise required to be furnished under
(f) The Office may, to the extent it determines appropriate, charge such fees to agencies for services provided under this section and for related Federal employment information. The Office shall retain such fees to pay the costs of providing such services and information.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (a).
1996—
1995—
Subsec. (f).
§3330a. Preference eligibles; administrative redress
(a)(1)(A) A preference eligible who alleges that an agency has violated such individual's rights under any statute or regulation relating to veterans' preference may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor.
(B) A veteran described in section 3304(l)(1) who alleges that an agency has violated such section with respect to such veteran may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor.
(2)(A) A complaint under this subsection must be filed within 60 days after the date of the alleged violation.
(B) Such complaint shall be in writing, be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, specify the agency against which the complaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations that form the basis for the complaint.
(3) The Secretary shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a potential complainant with respect to a complaint under this subsection.
(b)(1) The Secretary of Labor shall investigate each complaint under subsection (a).
(2) In carrying out any investigation under this subsection, the Secretary's duly authorized representatives shall, at all reasonable times, have reasonable access to, for purposes of examination, and the right to copy and receive, any documents of any person or agency that the Secretary considers relevant to the investigation.
(3) In carrying out any investigation under this subsection, the Secretary may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents relating to any matter under investigation. In case of disobedience of the subpoena or contumacy and on request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may apply to any district court of the United States in whose jurisdiction such disobedience or contumacy occurs for an order enforcing the subpoena.
(4) Upon application, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to issue writs commanding any person or agency to comply with the subpoena of the Secretary or to comply with any order of the Secretary made pursuant to a lawful investigation under this subsection and the district courts shall have jurisdiction to punish failure to obey a subpoena or other lawful order of the Secretary as a contempt of court.
(c)(1)(A) If the Secretary of Labor determines as a result of an investigation under subsection (b) that the action alleged in a complaint under subsection (a) occurred, the Secretary shall attempt to resolve the complaint by making reasonable efforts to ensure that the agency specified in the complaint complies with applicable provisions of statute or regulation relating to veterans' preference.
(B) The Secretary of Labor shall make determinations referred to in subparagraph (A) based on a preponderance of the evidence.
(2) If the efforts of the Secretary under subsection (b) with respect to a complaint under subsection (a) do not result in the resolution of the complaint, the Secretary shall notify the person who submitted the complaint, in writing, of the results of the Secretary's investigation under subsection (b).
(d)(1) If the Secretary of Labor is unable to resolve a complaint under subsection (a) within 60 days after the date on which it is filed, the complainant may elect to appeal the alleged violation to the Merit Systems Protection Board in accordance with such procedures as the Merit Systems Protection Board shall prescribe, except that in no event may any such appeal be brought—
(A) before the 61st day after the date on which the complaint is filed; or
(B) later than 15 days after the date on which the complainant receives written notification from the Secretary under subsection (c)(2).
(2) An appeal under this subsection may not be brought unless—
(A) the complainant first provides written notification to the Secretary of such complainant's intention to bring such appeal; and
(B) appropriate evidence of compliance with subparagraph (A) is included (in such form and manner as the Merit Systems Protection Board may prescribe) with the notice of appeal under this subsection.
(3) Upon receiving notification under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary shall not continue to investigate or further attempt to resolve the complaint to which the notification relates.
(e)(1) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a preference eligible from appealing directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board from any action which is appealable to the Board under any other law, rule, or regulation, in lieu of administrative redress under this section.
(2) A preference eligible may not pursue redress for an alleged violation described in subsection (a) under this section at the same time the preference eligible pursues redress for such violation under any other law, rule, or regulation.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
2004—Subsec. (a)(1).
§3330b. Preference eligibles; judicial redress
(a) In lieu of continuing the administrative redress procedure provided under section 3330a(d), a preference eligible, or a veteran described by section 3330a(a)(1)(B) with respect to a violation described by such section, may elect, in accordance with this section, to terminate those administrative proceedings and file an action with the appropriate United States district court not later than 60 days after the date of the election.
(b) An election under this section may not be made—
(1) before the 121st day after the date on which the appeal is filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 3330a(d); or
(2) after the Merit Systems Protection Board has issued a judicially reviewable decision on the merits of the appeal.
(c) An election under this section shall be made, in writing, in such form and manner as the Merit Systems Protection Board shall by regulation prescribe. The election shall be effective as of the date on which it is received, and the administrative proceeding to which it relates shall terminate immediately upon the receipt of such election.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (a).
§3330c. Preference eligibles; remedy
(a) If the Merit Systems Protection Board (in a proceeding under section 3330a) or a court (in a proceeding under section 3330b) determines that an agency has violated a right described in section 3330a, the Board or court (as the case may be) shall order the agency to comply with such provisions and award compensation for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by the individual by reason of the violation involved. If the Board or court determines that such violation was willful, it shall award an amount equal to backpay as liquidated damages.
(b) A preference eligible who prevails in an action under section 3330a or 3330b shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
(Added
§3330d. Appointment of military and Department of Defense, Department of State, and intelligence community spouses
(a)
(1) The term "active duty"—
(A) has the meaning given that term in
(B) includes full-time National Guard duty (as defined in
(C) for a member of a reserve component (as described in
(2) The term "agency"—
(A) has the meaning given the term "Executive agency" in
(B) does not include the Government Accountability Office.
(3) The term "covered spouse" means an individual who is married to an individual who—
(A)(i) is an employee of the Department of State or an element of the intelligence community; or
(ii) is a member of the Armed Forces who is assigned to an element of the intelligence community; and
(B) is transferred in the interest of the Government from one official station within the applicable agency to another within the agency (that is outside of normal commuting distance) for permanent duty.
(4) The term "intelligence community" has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (
(5) The term "remote work" refers to a work flexibility arrangement under which an employee—
(A) is not expected to physically report to the location from which the employee would otherwise work, considering the position of the employee; and
(B) performs the duties and responsibilities of such employee's position, and other authorized activities, from an approved worksite—
(i) other than the location from which the employee would otherwise work;
(ii) that may be inside or outside the local commuting area of the location from which the employee would otherwise work; and
(iii) that is typically the residence of the employee.
(6) The term "spouse of a disabled or deceased member of the Armed Forces" means an individual—
(A) who is married to a member of the Armed Forces who—
(i) is retired, released, or discharged from the Armed Forces; and
(ii) on the date on which the member retires, is released, or is discharged, has a disability rating of 100 percent under the standard schedule of rating disabilities in use by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
(B) who—
(i) was married to a member of the Armed Forces on the date on which the member dies while on active duty in the Armed Forces; and
(ii) has not remarried.
(7) The term "spouse of an employee of the Department of Defense" means an individual who is married to an employee of the Department of Defense who is transferred in the interest of the Government from one official station within the Department to another within the Department (that is outside of normal commuting distance) for permanent duty.
(8) The term "telework" has the meaning given the term in section 6501.
(b)
(1) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty;
(2) a spouse of a disabled or deceased member of the Armed Forces;
(3) a spouse of a member of the Armed Forces on active duty, or a spouse of a disabled or deceased member of the Armed Forces, to a position in which the spouse will engage in remote work;
(4) a spouse of an employee of the Department of Defense, including to a position in which the spouse will engage in remote work; or
(5) a covered spouse to a position in which the covered spouse will engage in remote work.
(c)
(1)
(2)
(Added
Amendment of Section
For revival of section by
For expiration of amendments and revival of section by
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Subsection (a)(4), referred to in subsec. (c)(1), was redesignated subsec. (a)(6) of this section by
Amendments
2024—
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
Subsec. (a)(6).
Subsec. (a)(7).
Subsec. (a)(8).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (b)(5).
2023—
Subsec. (a)(3), (4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
Subsec. (a)(6).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (c)(1).
2018—
Subsec. (a)(3) to (6).
Subsecs. (b) to (d).
2016—Subsec. (c)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective and Termination Dates of 2024 Amendment
"(1)
"(2) the item for such section in the table of sections for subchapter I of
Termination Date of 2023 Amendment
"(1) the authority provided by this section [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note below], and the amendments made by this section [amending this section], shall expire; and
"(2) the provisions of
Termination Date of 2018 Amendment
Regulations
Rule of Construction
OPM Limitation and Reports
"(1)
"(A) monitor the number of those appointments;
"(B) require the head of each agency with the authority to make those appointments under that provision to submit to the Director an annual report on those appointments, including information on the number of individuals so appointed, the types of positions filled, and the effectiveness of the authority for those appointments; and
"(C) not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2023], submit, to the Committees on Armed Services and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committees on Armed Services and Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives, a report on the use and effectiveness of the authority described in subparagraph (B).
"(2)
"(A) shall treat the spouse as a relocating spouse under paragraph (1); and
"(B) may limit the number of those appointments."
[For termination of section 1119(c) of
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13832. Enhancing Noncompetitive Civil Service Appointments of Military Spouses
Ex. Ord. No. 13832, May 9, 2018, 83 F.R. 22343, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(i) the husband or wife of a member of the Armed Forces who, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, is performing active duty pursuant to orders that authorize a permanent change of station move, if such husband or wife relocates to the member's new permanent duty station;
(ii) the husband or wife of a totally disabled retired or separated member of the Armed Forces; or
(iii) the unremarried widow or widower of a member of the Armed Forces killed while performing active duty.
(b) "Member of the Armed Forces" has the meaning set forth in 5 CFR 315.612(b)(4).
(c) "Agency" has the meaning set forth in
(d) "Military spouse hiring authority" shall refer to the appointment authority set forth in
(b) It shall be the policy of the United States to enhance employment support for military spouses. This policy will assist agencies in tapping into a pool of talented individuals and will promote the national interest of the United States and the well-being of our military families. It will also help retain members of the Armed Forces, enhance military readiness, recognize the tremendous sacrifices and service of the members of our Armed Forces and their families, and decrease the burden of regulations that can inhibit the entry of military spouses into the workforce.
(b) Agencies shall actively advertise and promote the military spouse hiring authority and actively solicit applications from military spouses for posted and other agency positions (including through USAJOBS).
(c) The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shall consider whether changes to 5 CFR 315.612 are appropriate to account for cases in which there are no agency job openings within the geographic area of the permanent duty station of the member of the Armed Forces for which the member's spouse is qualified.
(d) OPM shall also periodically circulate notifications concerning the military spouse hiring authority and its eligibility requirements to each agency's Chief Human Capital Officer or the agency's equivalent officer, for such officer to transmit to appropriate offices and to notify eligible populations. Within 180 days of the date of this order [May 9, 2018], OPM shall post to its website, and circulate to each agency's Chief Human Capital Officer or the agency's equivalent officer, information about the military spouse hiring authority. That posting shall include a discussion of section 1131 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017,
(e) Within 180 days of the date of this order, OPM shall educate agencies concerning the military spouse hiring authority and ensure human resources personnel and hiring managers are briefed on techniques for its effective use. Concurrently, within 180 days of the date of this order, OPM shall provide any additional clarifying guidance it deems appropriate to agencies on provisions of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010,
(f) Beginning in Fiscal Year 2019, agencies shall report annually (by December 31 of each year) to OPM and the Department of Labor the number of positions made available under the military spouse hiring authority, the number of applications submitted under the military spouse hiring authority, and the number of military spouses appointed under the military spouse hiring authority during the preceding fiscal year. Such report shall also describe actions taken during that period to advertise the military spouse hiring authority, as well as any other actions taken to promote the hiring of military spouses.
(b) The annual report described in subsection (a) of this section shall also include recommendations, developed in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, for actions that could be taken to improve license portability and remove barriers to the employment of military spouses.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
Ex. Ord. No. 14100. Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors
Ex. Ord. No. 14100, June 9, 2023, 88 F.R. 39111, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Military families, like their civilian counterparts, increasingly look to rely upon dual incomes; however, the 21 percent unemployment rate experienced by active-duty military spouses in the workforce makes that a difficult goal to achieve and maintain. Nearly one in five military families cite challenges with spousal employment as a reason when considering leaving active-duty service. The challenges associated with the military lifestyle, including permanent change-of-station moves every 2 to 3 years on average for active-duty families, mean that military spouses often struggle to find options for work that are portable or allow them to build a sustainable long-term career. Employment challenges are not limited to active-duty spouses, as Reserve and National Guard spouses must balance their careers against the unpredictable nature of the service member's schedule, activations, and deployments. Employment challenges can continue to affect the employability and career trajectory of veteran spouses well after a service member leaves the service.
Recognizing the importance of military family economic well-being to the all-volunteer force, the Federal Government employs more than 16,000 military, veteran, and surviving spouses. As the Nation's largest employer, we must be a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, and, in doing so, we recognize that military spouses are an underserved community. Whether they choose public service, employment in the private sector, or entrepreneurship through building a small business, it is the policy of my Administration to advance economic opportunity for military spouses. My Administration also recognizes the imperative of promoting economic security for military spouses—the vast majority of whom are women—under the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.
In addition, my Administration understands that access to high-quality, affordable child care is a necessity for working families, and a military readiness issue. While the Department of Defense offers the largest employer-sponsored child care network in the country, military families still face challenges related to capacity and non-traditional work schedules. Many military families seeking care outside of the gates of our military bases struggle to find care they can afford. Because access to child care should not be an impediment to service, I have directed the Secretary of Defense to ensure the Fourteenth Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, undertaken in January 2023, includes an assessment of child care access and cost in its review of military benefits and pay, along with consideration of factors such as the challenge of military spouse unemployment, frequent military moves, and periods of geographic separation between service members and their spouses, including dual military couples.
Military spouses can also be service members themselves, wearing the Nation's uniform in our Active Components, National Guard, or Reserve forces, with a higher percentage of women service members in a dual military marriage than their male counterparts. As we recognize the 75th anniversary of women's integration into the Armed Forces, my Administration is committed to removing barriers to women's ability to serve, including difficulty in accessing child care, which poses a challenge for both spouses, but disproportionately affects retention for women, especially women in dual military couples, and can play a factor in women's early separation from the Armed Forces.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the all-volunteer force, we must appreciate now more than ever that the commitment and resilience of military-connected families are essential to the recruitment, retention, and readiness of our Armed Forces and the enduring strength of our Nation. Meeting the economic, social, and emotional needs of our military and veteran families, military caregivers, and survivors is a national security imperative. In times of peace and of war, military and veteran families, military caregivers, and survivors have sacrificed much for our country, answering the call to duty time and again. We owe them nothing less than the dignity of a meaningful career and the opportunity to build economic security for their families.
(a) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Deputy Director for Management of the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall develop and issue a Government-wide Military and Veteran Spouse, Military Caregiver, and Survivor Hiring and Retention Strategic Plan (Military-Connected Plan) within 180 days of the date of this order [June 9, 2023] that builds upon the Government-wide plans required by Executive Order 13583 of August 18, 2011 (Establishing a Coordinated Government-Wide Initiative to Promote Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Workforce) [
(i) define measures of success for the recruitment, hiring, and retention of military and veteran spouses, military caregivers, and survivors based on leading policies and practices in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors;
(ii) include plans for OPM to consult with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security in developing enhanced support for the retention of military spouses in Federal careers, consistent with merit system principles as defined in
(iii) consistent with merit system principles, identify strategies—including pursuing development of a legislative proposal, as appropriate—to eliminate, where applicable, barriers to the employment of military and veteran spouses, military caregivers, and survivors in the Federal workforce, including with respect to recruitment; hiring, including an assessment of whether to pursue expanded eligibility for derivative preference; promotion; retention; performance evaluations and awards; professional development programs; mentoring programs or sponsorship initiatives; internship, fellowship, and registered apprenticeship programs; employee resource group and affinity group programs; and training, learning, and onboarding programs;
(iv) identify strategies for marketing the talent, experience, and diversity of military and veteran spouses, military caregivers, and survivors to agencies; and
(v) develop a data-driven approach to increasing transparency and accountability in hiring and retention—including by encouraging agencies to set goals for hiring under the Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointment Authority established by
(b) Beginning with Fiscal Year 2025, the Director of OPM shall revise the title of the "Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch" annual report to "Employment of Veterans and Military-Connected Spouses and Survivors in the Federal Executive Branch," and shall include in the report the existing data previously reported in the "Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch" report, including statistics on the hiring of military and veteran spouses and survivors in a manner that allows for comparison and analysis of the distinct populations and hiring mechanisms.
(c) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Director of OPM shall collaborate on opportunities to better share Federal employee survey data to enable analysis and reporting relevant to the employment of military and veteran spouses and survivors.
(d) In collaboration with the Director of OPM and consistent with
(e) The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Equitable Data, as designated by Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 2023 (Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government) [
(f) The Secretaries of Defense, Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security shall work together through existing interagency collaborations, including the Transition Assistance Program, to increase training and employment opportunities for military spouses in the workforce through the transition to veteran spouse status.
(a) Beginning with Fiscal Year 2025, agencies shall list the Military Spouse Noncompetitive Appointment Authority established by
(b) The Secretary of Labor shall examine the eligibility of military and veteran spouses for programs that provide education, job training, employment services, employer engagement, and other relevant programs, and, as appropriate, shall work to reduce barriers that military and veteran spouses may face in accessing those programs.
(c) The Director of OPM shall examine the eligibility criteria for the Recent Graduates Program established by section 2 of Executive Order 13562 of December 27, 2010 (Recruiting and Hiring Students and Recent Graduates) [
(a) The Director of OPM shall issue guidance to agencies:
(i) reinforcing existing telework and remote work flexibility options pursuant to
(ii) encouraging agencies to support the policies set forth in section 1 of this order by granting up to 5 days of administrative leave to military spouses during a geographic relocation occurring as directed by a service member's orders; and
(iii) encouraging agencies to collaborate so that a military spouse or military caregiver Federal employee may be placed in another Federal agency position when arrangements to retain a military spouse or military caregiver—including following changes to support continuity of care or relocation due to permanent change-of-station orders for the active-duty service member—are unavailable to allow them to continue in their existing position.
(b) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, when reevaluating or entering agreements with host nations, shall consider work options for military spouses who are performing remote work for non-Department of Defense entities, so as to reduce barriers for military spouses seeking to continue their private sector- or self-employment.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the heads of the Military Departments, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate with the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, to amend their respective legal assistance instructions to allow for consultation, advice, and assistance to military families on Status of Forces Agreements and other agreements with host nations affecting family employment, so as to provide support for military spouses navigating complex employment requirements related to working remotely while their active-duty service member spouse is stationed overseas. Those amendments shall specify that legal assistance is limited to the personal civil legal affairs of military dependents affected by employment restrictions related to a Status of Forces Agreement or other host nation agreement, and does not extend to their employers or the establishment, management, or taxation of small business organizations.
(a) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address residential security and safety requirements for military spouses employed by the Federal Government and working overseas through the DETO program. The MOU shall be communicated to sponsoring agencies, and the Secretaries of State and Defense shall develop appropriate guidance to communicate the provisions of the MOU to military spouses who are civilian employees of the Federal Government.
(b) To promote consistency and effective coordination in the implementation of the DETO program across the executive branch, agencies shall:
(i) develop common standards for DETO policies, including identification of points of contact and creation of guidelines to ensure that such policies are communicated and advertised in a manner accessible to military spouse employees;
(ii) establish a DETO application system and develop a method to track DETO applications received and processed, as well as application processing timelines; and
(iii) establish time frames for DETO application processing and approvals, considering the time-sensitive nature of decisions for applications by military spouses due to permanent change-of-station moves and other factors unique to military families.
(a) expand access to resources tailored to military and veteran spouses who are interested in starting or growing a small business, including guidance to help military spouses with relocating a business following a military move; and
(b) evaluate access to capital gaps for military spouse entrepreneurs.
(a) in coordination with the Director of OPM, establish flexible spending accounts for the care of military dependents, available to military personnel no later than January 1, 2024; and
(b) expand pathways for military spouses to provide certified, home-based child care on military installations, including by providing them with support in seeking licensure and achieving government-mandated quality benchmarks.
(a) The term "active duty" has the meaning set forth in
(b) The term "agency" means any authority of the United States that is an "agency" under
(c) The term "derivative preference" means those who are "preference eligible," as defined in
(d) The term "military caregiver" means the spouse, child, parent, or next of kin of a veteran who is the primary caregiver for a veteran undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy for a serious injury or illness who was a member of the Armed Forces (including a member of the National Guard or Reserves) and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
(e) The term "military spouse" means an individual married to a member of the Armed Forces who is performing active duty.
(f) The term "survivor" means the spouse, child, parent, or next of kin of a service member who died while on active duty, or from a service-connected disability following discharge or release under conditions other than dishonorable.
(g) The term "veteran spouse" means an individual married to a retired or separated member of the Armed Forces who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, so long as the marriage occurred prior to or during the service member's active service.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
J.R. Biden, Jr.
1 See References in Text note below.
§3330e. Review of official personnel file of former Federal employees before rehiring
(a) If a former Government employee is a candidate for a position within the competitive service or the excepted service, prior to making any determination with respect to the appointment or reinstatement of such employee to such position, the appointing authority shall review and consider merit-based information relating to such employee's former period or periods of service such as official personnel actions, employee performance ratings, and disciplinary actions, if any, in such employee's official personnel record file.
(b) In subsection (a), the term "former Government employee" means an individual whose most recent position with the Government prior to becoming a candidate as described under subsection (a) was within the competitive service or the excepted service.
(c) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this section. Such regulations may not contain provisions that would increase the time required for agency hiring actions.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
§3330f. Government policy and supporting position data
(a)
(1)
(A) any Executive agency, the United States Postal Service, and the Postal Regulatory Commission;
(B) the Architect of the Capitol, the Government Accountability Office, the Government Publishing Office, and the Library of Congress; and
(C) the Executive Office of the President and any component within that Office (including any successor component), including—
(i) the Council of Economic Advisors;
(ii) the Council on Environmental Quality;
(iii) the National Security Council;
(iv) the Office of the Vice President;
(v) the Office of Policy Development;
(vi) the Office of Administration;
(vii) the Office of Management and Budget;
(viii) the Office of the United States Trade Representative;
(ix) the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
(x) the Office of National Drug Control Policy; and
(xi) the White House Office, including the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.
(2)
(A) means an individual serving in a policy and supporting position; and
(B) includes an individual serving in such a position temporarily in an acting capacity in accordance with—
(i) sections 3345 through 3349d (commonly referred to as the "Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998");
(ii) any other statutory provision described in section 3347(a)(1); or
(iii) a Presidential appointment described in section 3347(a)(2).
(3)
(4)
(5)
(A) means any position at an agency, as determined by the Director, that, but for this section and section 2(b)(3) of the PLUM Act of 2022, would be included in the publication entitled "United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions", (commonly referred to as the "Plum Book"); and
(B) may include—
(i) a position on any level of the Executive Schedule under subchapter II of
(ii) a general position (as defined in section 3132(a)(9)) in the Senior Executive service;
(iii) a position in the Senior Foreign Service;
(iv) a position of a confidential or policy-determining character under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; and
(v) any other position classified at or above level GS–14 of the General Schedule (or equivalent) that is excepted from the competitive service by law because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties.
(b)
(1) Each policy and supporting position in the Federal Government, including any such position that is vacant.
(2) The name of each individual who—
(A) is serving in a position described in paragraph (1); or
(B) previously served in a position described in such paragraph under the applicable President.
(3) Information on—
(A) any Government-wide or agency-wide limitation on the total number of positions in the Senior Executive Service under section 3133 or 3134 or the total number of positions under schedule C of subpart C of part 213 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; and
(B) the total number of individuals occupying such positions.
(c)
(1) the agency, and agency component, (including the agency and bureau code used by the Office of Management and Budget) in which the position is located;
(2) the name of the position;
(3) the name of the individual occupying the position (if any);
(4) the geographic location of the position, including the city, State or province, and country;
(5) the pay system under which the position is paid;
(6) the level, grade, or rate of pay;
(7) the term or duration of the appointment (if any);
(8) the expiration date, in the case of a time-limited appointment;
(9) a unique identifier for each appointee;
(10) whether the position is vacant; and
(11) for any position that is vacant—
(A) for a position for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the name of the acting official; and
(B) for other positions, the name of the official performing the duties of the vacant position.
(d)
(e)
(f)
(1)
(2)
(A) specific data standards that an agency shall follow to ensure that the information is complete, accurate, and reliable;
(B) data quality assurance methods; and
(C) the timeframe during which an agency shall provide or upload the information, including the timeframe described under paragraph (4).
(3)
(A) the information required by the Director;
(B) complete, accurate, and reliable information; or
(C) the information during the timeframe specified by the Director.
(4)
(A)
(i) the policy and supporting positions in the agency;
(ii) the appointees occupying such positions in the agency; and
(iii) the former appointees who served in such positions in the agency under the President then in office.
(B)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(g)
(1)
(2)
(A) an explanation of how the agency ensured the information is complete, accurate, and reliable; and
(B) a certification that the information is complete, accurate, and reliable.
(h)
(1)
(A)
(B)
(2)
(A) request additional information from an agency; and
(B) use any additional information provided to the Director or the White House Office of Presidential Personnel for the purposes of verification.
(3)
(i)
(1)
(2)
(A) on, or through a link on, the covered website;
(B) at no cost; and
(C) in a searchable, sortable, downloadable, and machine-readable format.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 2(b)(3) of the PLUM Act of 2022, referred to in subsec. (a)(5)(A), probably means section 5322(b)(3) of
The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(5)(B)(v), is set out under
The date of enactment of the PLUM Act of 2022, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (f)(2), is the date of enactment of subtitle B of title LIII of div. E of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Other Matters Relating to Public Website
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) the quality of data required to be collected and whether the data is complete, accurate, timely, and reliable;
"(B) any challenges experienced by agencies in implementing this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle; and
"(C) any suggestions or modifications to enhance compliance with this subtitle and the amendments made by this subtitle, including best practices for agencies to follow.
"(3)
"(A) the covered website shall serve as the public directory for policy and supporting positions in the Government; and
"(B) the publication entitled 'United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions', commonly referred to as the 'Plum Book', shall no longer be issued or published.
"(4)
"(A)
"(B)
§3330g. DOD use of shared talent pools and structured assessments
(a)
(b)
(Added
SUBCHAPTER II—OATH OF OFFICE
§3331. Oath of office
An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: "I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God." This section does not affect other oaths required by law.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §1757. |
All but the quoted language in R.S. §1757 is omitted as obsolete since R.S. §1757 was originally an alternative oath to the oath prescribed in R.S. §1756 which oath was repealed by the Act of May 13, 1884, ch. 46, §2,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3332. Officer affidavit; no consideration paid for appointment
An officer, within 30 days after the effective date of his appointment, shall file with the oath of office required by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Dec. 11, 1926, ch. 4, §1, |
The section is restated for clarity and conciseness. The term "officer" is coextensive with and substituted for "Each individual appointed hereafter as a civil officer of the United States by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the President alone, or by a court of law, or by the head of a department" in view of the definition of "officer" in section 2104.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3333. Employee affidavit; loyalty and striking against the Government
(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, an individual who accepts office or employment in the Government of the United States or in the government of the District of Columbia shall execute an affidavit within 60 days after accepting the office or employment that his acceptance and holding of the office or employment does not or will not violate
(b) An affidavit is not required from an individual employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia for less than 60 days for sudden emergency work involving the loss of human life or the destruction of property. This subsection does not relieve an individual from liability for violation of
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 690, §2, |
||
| [Uncodified]. | June 29, 1956, ch. 479, §3 (as applicable to the Act of Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 690, §2, |
The section is restated for clarity and to conform to the style of section 3332.
In subsection (a), the words "after August 9, 1955" are omitted as executed. The words "if the affidavit is executed prior to acceptance of such office or employment" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "From and after July 1, 1956", appearing in the Act of June 29, 1956, are omitted as executed.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
SUBCHAPTER III—DETAILS, VACANCIES, AND APPOINTMENTS
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2021'.
"SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
"In this Act:
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(A) the Chief Human Capital Officers Council established under section 1303 of the Chief Human Capital Officers Act of 2002 [
"(B) the Chief Information Officers Council established under
"(4)
"(5)
"(6)
"(7)
"(8)
"(9)
"(10)
"(11)
"SEC. 3. ROTATIONAL CYBER WORKFORCE POSITIONS.
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) notice regarding any determination made by the head of the agency under paragraph (1); and
"(B) for each position with respect to which the head of the agency makes a determination under paragraph (1), the information required under subsection (b)(1).
"(b)
"(1) with respect to each such position, to the extent that the information does not disclose sensitive national security information, includes—
"(A) the title of the position;
"(B) the occupational series with respect to the position;
"(C) the grade level or work level with respect to the position;
"(D) the agency in which the position is located;
"(E) the duty location with respect to the position; and
"(F) the major duties and functions of the position; and
"(2) shall be used to support the rotational cyber workforce program.
"(c)
"SEC. 4. ROTATIONAL CYBER WORKFORCE PROGRAM.
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(b)
"(1) identify agencies for participation in the rotational cyber workforce program;
"(2) establish procedures for the rotational cyber workforce program, including—
"(A) any training, education, or career development requirements associated with participation in the rotational cyber workforce program;
"(B) any prerequisites or requirements for participation in the rotational cyber workforce program; and
"(C) appropriate rotational cyber workforce program performance measures, reporting requirements, employee exit surveys, and other accountability devices for the evaluation of the program;
"(3) provide that participation in the rotational cyber workforce program by an employee shall be voluntary;
"(4) provide that an employee shall be eligible to participate in the rotational cyber workforce program if the head of the employing agency of the employee, or a designee of the head of the employing agency of the employee, approves of the participation of the employee;
"(5) provide that the detail of an employee to a rotational cyber workforce position under the rotational cyber workforce program shall be on a nonreimbursable basis;
"(6) provide that agencies may agree to partner to ensure that the employing agency of an employee that participates in the rotational cyber workforce program is able to fill the position vacated by the employee;
"(7) require that an employee detailed to a rotational cyber workforce position under the rotational cyber workforce program, upon the end of the period of service with respect to the detail, shall be entitled to return to the position held by the employee, or an equivalent position, in the employing agency of the employee without loss of pay, seniority, or other rights or benefits to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee not been detailed;
"(8) provide that discretion with respect to the assignment of an employee under the rotational cyber workforce program shall remain with the employing agency of the employee;
"(9) require that an employee detailed to a rotational cyber workforce position under the rotational cyber workforce program in an agency that is not the employing agency of the employee shall have all the rights that would be available to the employee if the employee were detailed under a provision of law other than this Act from the employing agency to the agency in which the rotational cyber workforce position is located;
"(10) provide that participation by an employee in the rotational cyber workforce program shall not constitute a change in the conditions of the employment of the employee; and
"(11) provide that an employee participating in the rotational cyber workforce program shall receive performance evaluations relating to service in the rotational cyber workforce program in a participating agency that are—
"(A) prepared by an appropriate officer, supervisor, or management official of the employing agency, acting in coordination with the supervisor at the agency in which the employee is performing service in the rotational cyber workforce position;
"(B) based on objectives identified in the operation plan with respect to the employee; and
"(C) based in whole or in part on the contribution of the employee to the agency in which the employee performed such service, as communicated from that agency to the employing agency of the employee.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
"(4)
"(A)
"(B)
"SEC. 5. REPORTING BY GAO.
"Not later than the end of the third fiscal year after the fiscal year in which the operation plan under section 4(a) is issued, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report assessing the operation and effectiveness of the rotational cyber workforce program, which shall address, at a minimum—
"(1) the extent to which agencies have participated in the rotational cyber workforce program, including whether the head of each such participating agency has—
"(A) identified positions within the agency that are rotational cyber workforce positions;
"(B) had employees from other participating agencies serve in positions described in subparagraph (A); and
"(C) had employees of the agency request to serve in rotational cyber workforce positions under the rotational cyber workforce program in participating agencies, including a description of how many such requests were approved; and
"(2) the experiences of employees serving in rotational cyber workforce positions under the rotational cyber workforce program, including an assessment of—
"(A) the period of service;
"(B) the positions (including grade level and occupational series or work level) held by employees before completing service in a rotational cyber workforce position under the rotational cyber workforce program;
"(C) the extent to which each employee who completed service in a rotational cyber workforce position under the rotational cyber workforce program achieved a higher skill level, or attained a skill level in a different area, with respect to information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions; and
"(D) the extent to which service in rotational cyber workforce positions has affected intra-agency and interagency integration and coordination of cyber practices, functions, and personnel management.
"SEC. 6. SUNSET.
"Effective 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act [June 21, 2022], this Act is repealed."
Annual Report to Congress on Employees or Members of Armed Services Detailed to Executive Agencies; Exemptions
§3341. Details; within Executive or military departments
(a) The head of an Executive department or military department may detail employees among the bureaus and offices of his department, except employees who are required by law to be exclusively engaged on some specific work.
(b)(1) Details under subsection (a) of this section may be made only by written order of the head of the department, and may be for not more than 120 days. These details may be renewed by written order of the head of the department, in each particular case, for periods not exceeding 120 days.
(2) The 120-day limitation in paragraph (1) for details and renewals of details does not apply to the Department of Defense in the case of a detail—
(A) made in connection with the closure or realignment of a military installation pursuant to a base closure law or an organizational restructuring of the Department as part of a reduction in the size of the armed forces or the civilian workforce of the Department; and
(B) in which the position to which the employee is detailed is eliminated on or before the date of the closure, realignment, or restructuring.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term "base closure law" has the meaning given such term in
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| R.S. §166. |
The words "Executive department" are substituted for "department" as the definition of "department" applicable to this section is coextensive with the definition of "Executive department" in section 101.
The words "or military department" are inserted to preserve the application of the source law. Before enactment of the National Security Act Amendments of 1949 (
The word "detail" is coextensive with and is substituted for "alter the distribution". The word "clerks" is omitted as included in "employees". The words "as he may find it necessary and proper to do" and "from time to time" are omitted as surplusage.
This section was part of title IV of the Revised Statutes. The Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §201(d), as added Aug. 10, 1949, ch. 412, §4,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (c).
1996—Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Transfer of Appropriated Funds; Funding of Detailed Employees
For restriction on availability of funds for salaries of employees reassigned on temporary detail basis to another position without independent approval by head of employing department or agency, see section 515(3) of
[§3342. Repealed. Pub. L. 102–378, §2(13)(A), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1347 ]
Section, added
A prior section 3342,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Section repealed effective Oct. 1, 1991, see section 9(b)(3) of
§3343. Details; to international organizations
(a) For the purpose of this section—
(1) "agency", "employee", and "international organization" have the meanings given them by
(2) "detail" means the assignment or loan of an employee to an international organization without a change of position from the agency by which he is employed to an international organization.
(b) The head of an agency may detail, for a period of not more than 5 years, an employee of his agency to an international organization which requests services, except that under special circumstances, where the President determines it to be in the national interest, he may extend the 5-year period for up to an additional 3 years.
(c) An employee detailed under subsection (b) of this section is deemed, for the purpose of preserving his allowances, privileges, rights, seniority, and other benefits, an employee of the agency from which detailed, and he is entitled to pay, allowances, and benefits from funds available to that agency. The authorization and payment of these allowances and other benefits from appropriations available therefor is deemed to comply with
(d) Details may be made under subsection (b) of this section—
(1) without reimbursement to the United States by the international organization; or
(2) with agreement by the international organization to reimburse the United States for all or part of the pay, travel expenses, and allowances payable during the detail, and the reimbursement shall be credited to the appropriation, fund, or account used for paying the amounts reimbursed.
(e) An employee detailed under subsection (b) of this section may be paid or reimbursed by an international organization for allowances or expenses incurred in the performance of duties required by the detail, without regard to
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Aug. 28, 1958, |
|
| (b)–(e) | Aug. 28, 1958, |
In subsection (a)(2), the words "without a change of position from the agency by which he is employed to an international organization" are substituted for "without the employee's transfer from the Federal agency by which he is employed" to eliminate the necessity of carrying into this section the definition of "transfer" appearing in former section 2331(5).
In subsection (e), the words "
Other definitions appearing in former section 2331 are omitted from this section as inappropriate but are carried into section 3581.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1969—Subsec. (b).
Executive Documents
Details to International Organizations
For provisions concerning the providing for details of Federal employees to international organizations and the delegation of Presidential authority, concerning the extension of a detail under this section, to the Secretary of State, see Ex. Ord. No. 11552, Aug. 24, 1970, 35 F.R. 13569, set out as a note under
§3344. Details; administrative law judges
An agency as defined by
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 11, 1946, ch. 324, §11 (4th sentence), |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3345. Acting officer
(a) If an officer of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) whose appointment to office is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office—
(1) the first assistant to the office of such officer shall perform the functions and duties of the office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346;
(2) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct a person who serves in an office for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity subject to the time limitations of section 3346; or
(3) notwithstanding paragraph (1), the President (and only the President) may direct an officer or employee of such Executive agency to perform the functions and duties of the vacant office temporarily in an acting capacity, subject to the time limitations of section 3346, if—
(A) during the 365-day period preceding the date of death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve of the applicable officer, the officer or employee served in a position in such agency for not less than 90 days; and
(B) the rate of pay for the position described under subparagraph (A) is equal to or greater than the minimum rate of pay payable for a position at GS–15 of the General Schedule.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a person may not serve as an acting officer for an office under this section, if—
(A) during the 365-day period preceding the date of the death, resignation, or beginning of inability to serve, such person—
(i) did not serve in the position of first assistant to the office of such officer; or
(ii) served in the position of first assistant to the office of such officer for less than 90 days; and
(B) the President submits a nomination of such person to the Senate for appointment to such office.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any person if—
(A) such person is serving as the first assistant to the office of an officer described under subsection (a);
(B) the office of such first assistant is an office for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; and
(C) the Senate has approved the appointment of such person to such office.
(c)(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), the President (and only the President) may direct an officer who is nominated by the President for reappointment for an additional term to the same office in an Executive department without a break in service, to continue to serve in that office subject to the time limitations in section 3346, until such time as the Senate has acted to confirm or reject the nomination, notwithstanding adjournment sine die.
(2) For purposes of this section and sections 3346, 3347, 3348, 3349, 3349a, and 3349d, the expiration of a term of office is an inability to perform the functions and duties of such office.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is set out under
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3345,
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
"(1)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 13472. Executive Branch Responsibilities With Respect To Orders of Succession
Ex. Ord. No. 13472, Sept. 11, 2008, 73 F.R. 53353, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
(a) "agency" means:
(i) an executive agency as defined in
(ii) the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission; and
(b) "order of succession" means a list of officials by position who shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the head of the agency in the event that the office-holder has died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office. "Order of succession" does not include any order, rule, memorandum, or other document delegating or partially delegating the authority of an office.
(a) Each agency for which presidential action is required to establish an order of succession shall draft a proposed order of succession if no such order exists and, not later than 30 days from the date of this order, send such proposed draft order to the Counsel to the President for review and comment.
(b) Each agency described in subsection 3(a) of this order shall send any proposed updates or revisions to the agency's order of succession to the Counsel to the President for review and comment.
(c) Upon completion of the requirements set forth by subsections (a) or (b) of this section with respect to a proposed order, the agency shall submit the proposed order to the Office of Management and Budget in accordance with Executive Order 11030, as amended.
(b) Each agency described in subsection 4(a) of this order shall update and revise its order of succession as necessary. Before implementing any revisions to its order of succession, such agency shall send the proposed revisions to the Counsel to the President for review and comment.
(c) Not later than 30 days from the date of this order, and not later than 7 days from the issuance date of any subsequent final revision to an existing order of succession, each agency described in subsection 4(a) of this order shall provide a copy of its order of succession to the Counsel to the President, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(i) authority granted by law to a department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to delegate the President's authority under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998,
(c) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
George W. Bush.
EXECUTIVE DOCUMENTS DESIGNATING ORDERS OF SUCCESSION
Provisions relating to the exercise of Presidential authorities to designate an order of succession for executive agencies and offices are contained in the following:
Council on Environmental Quality
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2593, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(ppp), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Sept. 6, 2019, 84 F.R. 48227, as corrected Sept. 16, 2019, 84 F.R. 48549, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2593.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7627, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Sept. 6, 2019, 84 F.R. 48227.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Mar. 13, 2015, 80 F.R. 14289, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7627.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Sept. 18, 2008, 73 F.R. 54487, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Mar. 13, 2015, 80 F.R. 14289.
Department of Agriculture
Ex. Ord. No. 14134, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2577, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(jjj), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Ex. Ord. No. 13612, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31153, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14134, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2578.
Ex. Ord. No. 13542, May 13, 2010, 75 F.R. 27921, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13612, §3, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31154.
Ex. Ord. No. 13241, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66258, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(a), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13243; Ex. Ord. No. 13484, §§1, 2, Jan. 9, 2009, 74 F.R. 2285, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13542, §3, May 13, 2010, 75 F.R. 27922.
Ex. Ord. No. 11957, Jan. 13, 1977, 42 F.R. 3295, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13241, §4, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66259.
Department of Commerce
Ex. Ord. No. 13613, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31155.
Ex. Ord. No. 13242, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66260, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(b), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13243, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13613, §3, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31155.
Ex. Ord. No. 11880, Oct. 2, 1975, 40 F.R. 46089, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12608, Sept. 9, 1987, 52 F.R. 34617; Ex. Ord. No. 12998, Apr. 5, 1996, 61 F.R. 15873, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13242, §4, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66261.
Department of Defense
Ex. Ord. No. 13963, Dec. 10, 2020, 85 F.R. 81331.
Ex. Ord. No. 13533, Mar. 1, 2010, 75 F.R. 10163, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13963, §3, Dec. 10, 2020, 85 F.R. 81332.
Ex. Ord. No. 13394, Dec. 22, 2005, 70 F.R. 76665, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13533, §3, Mar. 1, 2010, 75 F.R. 10164.
Ex. Ord. No. 13000, Apr. 24, 1996, 61 F.R. 18483, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13394, §5, Dec. 22, 2005, 70 F.R. 76666.
Department of Health and Human Services
Ex. Ord. No. 13461, Feb. 15, 2008, 73 F.R. 9437.
Ex. Ord. No. 13250, Dec. 28, 2001, 67 F.R. 1597, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(h), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13461, §4, Feb. 15, 2008, 73 F.R. 9438.
Department of Homeland Security
Ex. Ord. No. 14135, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2579, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(kkk), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Ex. Ord. No. 13243, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66262, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(c), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244.
Ex. Ord. No. 11274, Mar. 30, 1966, 31 F.R. 5243, as amended by
Department of Justice
Ex. Ord. No. 14136, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2581, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(lll), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Ex. Ord. No. 13787, Mar. 31, 2017, 82 F.R. 16723, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14136, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2581.
Ex. Ord. No. 13775, Feb. 9, 2017, 82 F.R. 10697, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13787, §3, Mar. 31, 2017, 82 F.R. 16723.
Ex. Ord. No. 13762, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7619, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13775, §3, Feb. 9, 2017, 82 F.R. 10697.
Ex. Ord. No. 13557, Nov. 4, 2010, 75 F.R. 68679, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13762, §3 Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7619.
Ex. Ord. No. 13481, Dec. 9, 2008, 73 F.R. 75531, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13557, §3, Nov. 4, 2010, 75 F.R. 68679.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 8, 2006, 71 F.R. 74753, superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 13481, §3, Dec. 9, 2008, 73 F.R. 75531.
Department of Labor
Ex. Ord. No. 13755, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96329.
Ex. Ord. No. 13245, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66268, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(e), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13755, §3, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96329.
Ex. Ord. No. 10513, Jan. 19, 1954, 19 F.R. 369, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13245, §4, Dec. 8, 2001, 66 F.R. 66269.
Department of State
Ex. Ord. No. 13251, Dec. 28, 2001, 67 F.R. 1599, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(i), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244.
Ex. Ord. No. 12343, Jan. 27, 1982, 47 F.R. 4225, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13251, §4, Dec. 28, 2001, 67 F.R. 1599.
Department of the Air Force
Ex. Ord. No. 12909, Apr. 22, 1994, 59 F.R. 21909.
Department of the Army
Ex. Ord. No. 12908, Apr. 22, 1994, 59 F.R. 21907.
Department of the Interior
Ex. Ord. No. 13915, Apr. 14, 2020, 85 F.R. 21733.
Ex. Ord. No. 13244, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66267, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(d), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13915, §4, Apr. 14, 2020, 85 F.R. 21734.
Ex. Ord. No. 11487, Oct. 6, 1969, 34 F.R. 15593, as amended by
Department of the Navy
Ex. Ord. No. 12879, Nov. 8, 1993, 58 F.R. 59929.
Department of the Treasury
Ex. Ord. No. 14137, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2583, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(mmm), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Ex. Ord. No. 13735, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54709, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14137, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2583.
Ex. Ord. No. 13246, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66270, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(f), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13735, §4, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54709.
Ex. Ord. No. 11822, Dec. 10, 1974, 39 F.R. 43275, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13246, §4, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66270.
Department of Transportation
Ex. Ord. No. 13485, Jan. 9, 2009, 74 F.R. 2287.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Ex. Ord. No. 13736, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54711.
Ex. Ord. No. 13247, Dec. 18, 2001, 66 F.R. 66271, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13261, §4(g), Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13244, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13736, §3(a), (b), Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54711.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Feb. 12, 2003, 68 F.R. 10141, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13736, §3(d), Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54711.
Environmental Protection Agency
Ex. Ord. No. 13973, Jan. 8, 2021, 86 F.R. 3733.
Ex. Ord. No. 13763, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7621, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13973, §3, Jan. 8, 2021, 86 F.R. 3734.
Ex. Ord. No. 13737, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54713, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13763, §3, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7622.
Ex. Ord. No. 13614, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31157, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13737, §3, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54714.
Ex. Ord. No. 13261, Mar. 19, 2002, 67 F.R. 13243, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13344, July 7, 2004, 69 F.R. 41747, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13614, §3, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31157, amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13736, §3(b), Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54711.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Memorandum of President of the United States, Feb. 9, 2007, 72 F.R. 7343.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Memorandum of President of the United States, Nov. 26, 2002, 67 F.R. 79513, terminated upon the transfer of the authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7629.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96333.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 17, 2014, 79 F.R. 63803.
General Services Administration
Memorandum of President of the United States, Sept. 2, 2020, 85 F.R. 55585.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Sept. 20, 2013, 78 F.R. 59161, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Sept. 2, 2020, 85 F.R. 55585.
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Memorandum of President of the United States, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31161.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 16, 2009, 74 F.R. 4099.
National Archives and Records Administration
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96331.
Memorandum of President of the United States, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31163, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96331.
National Endowment for the Arts
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96335.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Memorandum of President of the United States, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54717.
Office of Management and Budget
Ex. Ord. No. 14138, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2585, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(nnn), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Ex. Ord. No. 13615, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31159, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14138, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2585.
Ex. Ord. No. 13370, Jan. 13, 2005, 70 F.R. 3137, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13615, §3, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31159.
Office of the National Cyber Director
Ex. Ord. No. 14139, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2587, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(ooo), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Office of Personnel Management
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2595, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(qqq), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 10, 2020, 85 F.R. 81775, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2595.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54715, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Dec. 10, 2020, 85 F.R. 81775.
Memorandum of President of the United States, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31165, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Aug. 12, 2016, 81 F.R. 54715.
Memorandum of President of the United States, May 5, 2005, 70 F.R. 28773, superseded by Memorandum of President of the United States, May 21, 2012, 77 F.R. 31165.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Mar. 11, 2003, 68 F.R. 12281, superseded by Memorandum of President of the United States, May 5, 2005, 70 F.R. 28773.
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2597, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(rrr), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7625, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2597.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Aug. 5, 2009, 74 F.R. 39871, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 13, 2017, 82 F.R. 7625.
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Memorandum of President of the United States, Sept. 20, 2013, 78 F.R. 59159.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Mar. 8, 2011, 76 F.R. 13499, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §4, Sept. 20, 2013, 78 F.R. 59159.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 3, 2008, 73 F.R. 58869, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §5, Mar. 8, 2011, 76 F.R. 13499.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 20, 2005, 70 F.R. 76375, superseded by Memorandum of President of the United States, §4, Oct. 3, 2008, 73 F.R. 58869.
Office of the United States Trade Representative
Memorandum of President of the United States, Feb. 20, 2007, 72 F.R. 8085.
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Memorandum of President of the United States, June 6, 2011, 76 F.R. 33613.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 16, 2009, 74 F.R. 4101, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, June 6, 2011, 76 F.R. 33613.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 2, 2020, 85 F.R. 19637.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Feb. 1, 2013, 78 F.R. 8953, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Apr. 2, 2020, 85 F.R. 19637.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 9, 2008, 73 F.R. 75533, superseded by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Feb. 1, 2013, 78 F.R. 8953.
Social Security Administration
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96337.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 17, 2014, 79 F.R. 63805, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Dec. 23, 2016, 81 F.R. 96337.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Oct. 17, 2008, 73 F.R. 62845, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Oct. 17, 2014, 79 F.R. 63805.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Apr. 17, 2006, 71 F.R. 20333, superseded by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Oct. 17, 2008, 73 F.R. 62845.
United States Agency for Global Media
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2599, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(sss), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
United States Agency for International Development
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2601, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(ttt), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Dec. 9, 2008, 73 F.R. 75535, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2601.
United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico
Memorandum of President of the United States, Aug. 31, 2009, 74 F.R. 45533.
United States International Development Finance Corporation
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2603, revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 14148, §2(uuu), Jan. 20, 2025, 90 F.R. 8240.
Memorandum of President of the United States, Jan. 8, 2021, 86 F.R. 2949, revoked by Memorandum of President of the United States, §3, Jan. 3, 2025, 90 F.R. 2603.
§3346. Time limitation
(a) Except in the case of a vacancy caused by sickness, the person serving as an acting officer as described under section 3345 may serve in the office—
(1) for no longer than 210 days beginning on the date the vacancy occurs; or
(2) subject to subsection (b), once a first or second nomination for the office is submitted to the Senate, from the date of such nomination for the period that the nomination is pending in the Senate.
(b)(1) If the first nomination for the office is rejected by the Senate, withdrawn, or returned to the President by the Senate, the person may continue to serve as the acting officer for no more than 210 days after the date of such rejection, withdrawal, or return.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if a second nomination for the office is submitted to the Senate after the rejection, withdrawal, or return of the first nomination, the person serving as the acting officer may continue to serve—
(A) until the second nomination is confirmed; or
(B) for no more than 210 days after the second nomination is rejected, withdrawn, or returned.
(c) If a vacancy occurs during an adjournment of the Congress sine die, the 210-day period under subsection (a) shall begin on the date that the Senate first reconvenes.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3346,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3347. Exclusivity
(a) Sections 3345 and 3346 are the exclusive means for temporarily authorizing an acting official to perform the functions and duties of any office of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) for which appointment is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless—
(1) a statutory provision expressly—
(A) authorizes the President, a court, or the head of an Executive department, to designate an officer or employee to perform the functions and duties of a specified office temporarily in an acting capacity; or
(B) designates an officer or employee to perform the functions and duties of a specified office temporarily in an acting capacity; or
(2) the President makes an appointment to fill a vacancy in such office during the recess of the Senate pursuant to clause 3 of section 2 of article II of the United States Constitution.
(b) Any statutory provision providing general authority to the head of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) to delegate duties statutorily vested in that agency head to, or to reassign duties among, officers or employees of such Executive agency, is not a statutory provision to which subsection (a)(1) applies.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3347,
Amendments
2004—
1999—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3348. Vacant office
(a) In this section—
(1) the term "action" includes any agency action as defined under section 551(13); and
(2) the term "function or duty" means any function or duty of the applicable office that—
(A)(i) is established by statute; and
(ii) is required by statute to be performed by the applicable officer (and only that officer); or
(B)(i)(I) is established by regulation; and
(II) is required by such regulation to be performed by the applicable officer (and only that officer); and
(ii) includes a function or duty to which clause (i)(I) and (II) applies, and the applicable regulation is in effect at any time during the 180-day period preceding the date on which the vacancy occurs.
(b) Unless an officer or employee is performing the functions and duties in accordance with sections 3345, 3346, and 3347, if an officer of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) whose appointment to office is required to be made by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office—
(1) the office shall remain vacant; and
(2) in the case of an office other than the office of the head of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office), only the head of such Executive agency may perform any function or duty of such office.
(c) If the last day of any 210-day period under section 3346 is a day on which the Senate is not in session, the second day the Senate is next in session and receiving nominations shall be deemed to be the last day of such period.
(d)(1) An action taken by any person who is not acting under section 3345, 3346, or 3347, or as provided by subsection (b), in the performance of any function or duty of a vacant office to which this section and sections 3346, 3347, 3349, 3349a, 3349b, and 3349c apply shall have no force or effect.
(2) An action that has no force or effect under paragraph (1) may not be ratified.
(e) This section shall not apply to—
(1) the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board;
(2) the General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority;
(3) any Inspector General appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate;
(4) any Chief Financial Officer appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate; or
(5) an office of an Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) if a statutory provision expressly prohibits the head of the Executive agency from performing the functions and duties of such office.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3348,
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (e)(5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349. Reporting of vacancies
(a) The head of each Executive agency (including the Executive Office of the President, and other than the Government Accountability Office) shall submit to the Comptroller General of the United States and to each House of Congress—
(1) notification of a vacancy in an office to which this section and sections 3345, 3346, 3347, 3348, 3349a, 3349b, 3349c, and 3349d apply and the date such vacancy occurred immediately upon the occurrence of the vacancy;
(2) the name of any person serving in an acting capacity and the date such service began immediately upon the designation;
(3) the name of any person nominated to the Senate to fill the vacancy and the date such nomination is submitted immediately upon the submission of the nomination; and
(4) the date of a rejection, withdrawal, or return of any nomination immediately upon such rejection, withdrawal, or return.
(b) If the Comptroller General of the United States makes a determination that an officer is serving longer than the 210-day period including the applicable exceptions to such period under section 3346 or section 3349a, the Comptroller General shall report such determination immediately to—
(1) the Committee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(2) the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of the House of Representatives;
(3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives;
(4) the appropriate committees of jurisdiction of the Senate and House of Representatives;
(5) the President; and
(6) the Office of Personnel Management.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3349,
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Sixth Congress, Jan. 6, 1999. Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349a. Presidential inaugural transitions
(a) In this section, the term "transitional inauguration day" means the date on which any person swears or affirms the oath of office as President, if such person is not the President on the date preceding the date of swearing or affirming such oath of office.
(b) With respect to any vacancy that exists during the 60-day period beginning on a transitional inauguration day, the 210-day period under section 3346 or 3348 shall be deemed to begin on the later of the date occurring—
(1) 90 days after such transitional inauguration day; or
(2) 90 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349b. Holdover provisions
Sections 3345 through 3349a shall not be construed to affect any statute that authorizes a person to continue to serve in any office—
(1) after the expiration of the term for which such person is appointed; and
(2) until a successor is appointed or a specified period of time has expired.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349c. Exclusion of certain officers
Sections 3345 through 3349b shall not apply to—
(1) any member who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to any board, commission, or similar entity that—
(A) is composed of multiple members; and
(B) governs an independent establishment or Government corporation;
(2) any commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
(3) any member of the Surface Transportation Board; or
(4) any judge appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to a court constituted under article I of the United States Constitution.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349d. Notification of intent to nominate during certain recesses or adjournments
(a) The submission to the Senate, during a recess or adjournment of the Senate in excess of 15 days, of a written notification by the President of the President's intention to submit a nomination after the recess or adjournment shall be considered a nomination for purposes of sections 3345 through 3349c if such notification contains the name of the proposed nominee and the office for which the person is nominated.
(b) If the President does not submit a nomination of the person named under subsection (a) within 2 days after the end of such recess or adjournment, effective after such second day the notification considered a nomination under subsection (a) shall be treated as a withdrawn nomination for purposes of sections 3345 through 3349c.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 30 days after Oct. 21, 1998, and applicable to any office that becomes vacant after such effective date, with certain exceptions, see section 151(d) of
§3349e. Presidential explanation of failure to nominate an inspector general
If the President fails to make a formal nomination for a vacant inspector general position that requires a formal nomination by the President to be filled within the period beginning on the later of the date on which the vacancy occurred or on which a nomination is rejected, withdrawn, or returned, and ending on the day that is 210 days after that date, the President shall communicate, within 30 days after the end of such period and not later than June 1 of each year thereafter, to the appropriate congressional committees, as defined in section 12 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.) 1—
(1) the reasons why the President has not yet made a formal nomination; and
(2) a target date for making a formal nomination.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 12 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, referred to in text, is section 12 of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
"(1) on the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022] with respect to any vacancy first occurring on or after that date; and
"(2) on the day that is 210 days after the date of enactment of this Act with respect to any vacancy that occurred before the date of enactment of this Act."
1 See References in Text note below.
SUBCHAPTER IV—TRANSFERS
§3351. Preference eligibles; transfer; physical qualifications; waiver
In determining qualifications of a preference eligible for transfer to another position in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia, the Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency shall waive—
(1) requirements as to age, height, and weight, unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position; and
(2) physical requirements if, in the opinion of the Office or other examining agency, after considering the recommendation of an accredited physician, the preference eligible is physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.
This section does not apply to an appointment required by Congress to be confirmed by, or made with the advice and consent of, the Senate.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §5 (1st 2 sentences, so much as relates to transfer), |
The section is restated to conform to section 3312.
The words "in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia" are added on authority of former sections 851, 858, and 869, which are carried into this title. The last sentence is added on authority of former section 869.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
1975—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3352. Preference in transfers for employees making certain disclosures
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsections (d) and (e), in filling a position within any Executive agency, the head of such agency may give preference to any employee of such agency, or any other Executive agency, to transfer to a position of the same status and tenure as the position of such employee on the date of applying for a transfer under subsection (b) if—
(1) such employee is otherwise qualified for such position;
(2) such employee is eligible for appointment to such position; and
(3) the Merit Systems Protection Board makes a determination under the provisions of
(b) An employee who meets the conditions described under subsection (a)(1), (2), and (3) may voluntarily apply for a transfer to a position, as described in subsection (a), within the Executive agency employing such employee or any other Executive agency.
(c) If an employee applies for a transfer under the provisions of subsection (b) and the selecting official rejects such application, the selecting official shall provide the employee with a written notification of the reasons for the rejection within 30 days after receiving such application.
(d) An employee whose application for transfer is rejected under the provisions of subsection (c) may request the head of such agency to review the rejection. Such request for review shall be submitted to the head of the agency within 30 days after the employee receives notification under subsection (c). Within 30 days after receiving a request for review, the head of the agency shall complete the review and provide a written statement of findings to the employee and the Merit Systems Protection Board.
(e) The provisions of subsection (a) shall apply with regard to any employee—
(1) for no more than 1 transfer;
(2) for a transfer from or within the agency such employee is employed at the time of a determination by the Merit Systems Protection Board that a prohibited personnel action as described under section 2302(b)(8) was taken against such employee; and
(3) no later than 18 months after such a determination is made by the Merit Systems Protection Board.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), no preference may be given to any employee applying for a transfer under subsection (b), with respect to a preference eligible (as defined under section 2108(3)) applying for the same position.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days following Apr. 10, 1989, see section 11 of
SUBCHAPTER V—PROMOTION
§3361. Promotion; competitive service; examination
(a)
(b)
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 16, 1883, ch. 27, §7 (as applicable to promotion), |
The words "That after the expiration of six months from the passage of this act" are omitted as executed. The words "in the competitive service" are substituted for "in either of the said classes now existing, or that may be arranged hereunder pursuant to said rules" because of the definition of "competitive service" in section 2102. In the second sentence, the words "the provisions of this title governing the competitive service" are substituted for "this act".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—
§3362. Promotion; effect of incentive award
An agency, in qualifying and selecting an employee for promotion, shall give due weight to an incentive award under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, §304(f), |
The word "incentive" is added for clarification. The second sentence is added on authority of former section 2122, which is carried into section 4501.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3363. Preference eligibles; promotion; physical qualifications; waiver
In determining qualifications of a preference eligible for promotion to another position in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia, the Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency shall waive—
(1) requirements as to age, height, and weight, unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position; and
(2) physical requirements if, in the opinion of the Office or other examining agency, after considering the recommendation of an accredited physician, the preference eligible is physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.
This section does not apply to an appointment required by Congress to be confirmed by, or made with the advice and consent of, the Senate.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §5 (1st 2 sentences, so much as relates to promotion), |
The section is restated to conform to section 3312.
The words "in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia" are added on authority of former sections 851, 858, and 869, which are carried into this title. The last sentence is added on authority of former section 869.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
1975—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
[§3364. Repealed. Pub. L. 94–183, §2(6), Dec. 31, 1975, 89 Stat. 1057 ]
Section,
SUBCHAPTER VI—ASSIGNMENTS TO AND FROM STATES
§3371. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "State" means—
(A) a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and a territory or possession of the United States; and
(B) an instrumentality or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (1) and a Federal-State authority or instrumentality;
(2) "local government" means—
(A) any political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority of a State or States as defined in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1);
(B) any general or special purpose agency of such a political subdivision, instrumentality, or authority; and
(C) any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (
(3) "Federal agency" means an Executive agency, military department, a court of the United States, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, the Library of Congress, the Botanic Garden, the Government Publishing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of Technology Assessment, and such other similar agencies of the legislative and judicial branches as determined appropriate by the Office of Personnel Management; and
(4) "other organization" means—
(A) a national, regional, State-wide, area-wide, or metropolitan organization representing member State or local governments;
(B) an association of State or local public officials;
(C) a nonprofit organization which has as one of its principal functions the offering of professional advisory, research, educational, or development services, or related services, to governments or universities concerned with public management; or
(D) a federally funded research and development center.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (2)(C), is
Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in par. (2)(C), is classified to
Amendments
2006—Par. (3).
1994—Par. (4)(D).
1990—Par. (2)(C).
1988—Par. (2)(C).
1978—Par. (1)(A).
Pars. (3), (4).
1975—Par. (2)(C).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (3) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Employee Exchange Program Between Federal Employees and Employees of State and Local Governments
"(a)
"(1) the term 'employing agency' means the Federal, State, or local government agency with which the participating employee was employed before an assignment under the Program;
"(2) the term 'participating employee' means an employee who is participating in the Program; and
"(3) the term 'Program' means the employee exchange program established under subsection (b).
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1) has been employed by that employing agency for a period of more than 3 years;
"(2) has had appropriate training or experience to perform the work required by the assignment;
"(3) has had an overall rating of satisfactory or higher on performance appraisals from the employing agency during the 3-year period before being assigned to another agency under this section; and
"(4) agrees to return to the employing agency after completing the assignment for a period not less than the length of the assignment.
"(e)
Declaration of Purpose
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding
§3372. General provisions
(a) On request from or with the concurrence of a State or local government, and with the consent of the employee concerned, the head of a Federal agency may arrange for the assignment of—
(1) an employee of his agency, other than a noncareer appointee, limited term appointee, or limited emergency appointee (as such terms are defined in
(2) an employee of a State or local government to his agency;
for work of mutual concern to his agency and the State or local government that he determines will be beneficial to both. The period of an assignment under this subchapter may not exceed two years. However, the head of a Federal agency may extend the period of assignment for not more than two additional years. In the case of assignments made to Indian tribes or tribal organizations as defined in section 3371(2)(C) of this subchapter, the head of an executive agency may extend the period of assignment for any period of time where it is determined that this will continue to benefit both the executive agency and the Indian tribe or tribal organization. If the assigned employee fails to complete the period of assignment and there is another employee willing and available to do so, the Secretary may assign the employee to complete the period of assignment and may execute an agreement with the tribal organization with respect to the replacement employee. That agreement may provide for a different period of assignment as may be agreed to by the Secretary and the tribal organization.
(b) This subchapter is authority for and applies to the assignment of—
(1) an employee of a Federal agency to an institution of higher education;
(2) an employee of an institution of higher education to a Federal agency;
(3) an employee of a Federal agency to any other organization; and
(4) an employee of an other organization to a Federal agency.
(c)(1) An employee of a Federal agency may be assigned under this subchapter only if the employee agrees, as a condition of accepting an assignment under this subchapter, to serve in the civil service upon the completion of the assignment for a period equal to the length of the assignment.
(2) Each agreement required under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall provide that in the event the employee fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason, as determined by the head of the Federal agency from which assigned) the employee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses (excluding salary) of the assignment. The amount shall be treated as a debt due the United States.
(d) Where the employee is assigned to a tribal organization, the employee shall be eligible for promotions, periodic step-increases, and additional step-increases, as defined in
(e) Under regulations prescribed pursuant to
(1) an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to an other organization or an institution of higher education, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a Federal agency to a State or local government, except that the rate of pay of an employee assigned to a federally funded research and development center may not exceed the rate of pay that such employee would be paid for continued service in the position in the Federal agency from which assigned; and
(2) an assignment of an employee of an other organization or an institution of higher education to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, shall be treated in the same way as an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency, and an employee so assigned, is treated under the provisions of this subchapter governing an assignment of an employee of a State or local government to a Federal agency.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (e).
1993—Subsec. (d).
1988—Subsecs. (a), (d).
1983—Subsec. (a).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
1975—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3373. Assignment of employees to State or local governments
(a) An employee of a Federal agency assigned to a State or local government under this subchapter is deemed, during the assignment, to be either—
(1) on detail to a regular work assignment in his agency; or
(2) on leave without pay from his position in the agency.
An employee assigned either on detail or on leave without pay remains an employee of his agency. The Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal tort liability statute apply to an employee so assigned. The supervision of the duties of an employee on detail may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned.
(b) The assignment of an employee of a Federal agency either on detail or on leave without pay to a State or local government under this subchapter may be made with or without reimbursement by the State or local government for the travel and transportation expenses to or from the place of assignment and for the pay, or supplemental pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during assignment. Any reimbursements shall be credited to the appropriation of the Federal agency used for paying the travel and transportation expenses or pay.
(c) For any employee so assigned and on leave without pay—
(1) if the rate of pay for his employment by the State or local government is less than the rate of pay he would have received had he continued in his regular assignment in the agency, he is entitled to receive supplemental pay from the agency in an amount equal to the difference between the State or local government rate and the agency rate;
(2) he is entitled to annual and sick leave to the same extent as if he had continued in his regular assignment in the agency; and
(3) he is entitled, notwithstanding other statutes—
(A) to continuation of his insurance under
(B) to credit the period of his assignment under this subchapter toward periodic step-increases, retention, and leave accrual purposes, and, on payment into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund or other applicable retirement system of the percentage of his State or local government pay, and of his supplemental pay, if any, that would have been deducted from a like agency pay for the period of the assignment and payment by the Federal agency into the fund or system of the amount that would have been payable by the agency during the period of the assignment with respect to a like agency pay, to treat his service during that period as service of the type performed in the agency immediately before his assignment; and
(C) for the purpose of subchapter I of
However, an employee or his beneficiary may not receive benefits referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3), based on service during an assignment under this subchapter for which the employee or, if he dies without making such an election, his beneficiary elects to receive benefits, under any State or local government retirement or insurance law or program, which the Office of Personnel Management determines to be similar. The Federal agency shall deposit currently in the Employee's Life Insurance Fund, the Employee's Health Benefits Fund or other applicable health benefits system, respectively, the amount of the Government's contributions on account of service with respect to which employee contributions are collected as provided in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph (3).
(d)(1) An employee so assigned and on leave without pay who dies or suffers disability as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during an assignment under this subchapter shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of
(2) An employee who elects to receive benefits from a State or local government may not receive an annuity under subchapter III of
(A) bar the right of a claimant to the greater benefit conferred by either the State or local government or subchapter III of
(B) deny to an employee an annuity accruing to him under subchapter III of
(C) deny any concurrent benefit to him from the State or local government on account of the death of another individual.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Amendments
1992—
1978—Subsecs. (a), (b).
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3374. Assignments of employees from State or local governments
(a) An employee of a State or local government who is assigned to a Federal agency under an arrangement under this subchapter may—
(1) be appointed in the Federal agency without regard to the provisions of this title governing appointment in the competitive service for the agreed period of the assignment; or
(2) be deemed on detail to the Federal agency.
(b) An employee given an appointment is entitled to pay in accordance with
(1) subchapter III of
(2)
(3)
The above exceptions shall not apply to non-Federal employees who are covered by chapters 83, 87, and 89 of this title by virtue of their non-Federal employment immediately before assignment and appointment under this section.
(c) During the period of assignment, a State or local government employee on detail to a Federal agency—
(1) is not entitled to pay from the agency, except to the extent that the pay received from the State or local government is less than the appropriate rate of pay which the duties would warrant under the applicable pay provisions of this title or other applicable authority;
(2) is deemed an employee of the agency for the purpose of
(3) is subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.
The supervision of the duties of such an employee may be governed by agreement between the Federal agency and the State or local government concerned. A detail of a State or local government employee to a Federal agency may be made with or without reimbursement by the Federal agency for the pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during the period of assignment, or for the contribution of the State or local government, or a part thereof, to employee benefit systems.
(d) A State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency for the period of the assignment or who is on detail to a Federal agency and who suffers disability or dies as a result of personal injury sustained while in the performance of his duty during the assignment shall be treated, for the purpose of subchapter I of
(e) If a State or local government fails to continue the employer's contribution to State or local government retirement, life insurance, and health benefit plans for a State or local government employee who is given an appointment in a Federal agency, the employer's contributions covering the State or local government employee's period of assignment, or any part thereof, may be made from the appropriations of the Federal agency concerned.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (c)(2).
2011—Subsec. (c)(2).
2001—Subsec. (c)(2).
1982—Subsec. (c)(2).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3375. Travel expenses
(a) Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay, or reimburse, a Federal or State or local government employee in accordance with—
(1) subchapter I of
(A) travel, including a per diem allowance, to and from the assignment location;
(B) a per diem allowance at the assignment location during the period of the assignment; and
(C) travel, including a per diem allowance, while traveling on official business away from his designated post of duty during the assignment when the head of the Federal agency considers the travel in the interest of the United States;
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(b) Expenses specified in subsection (a) of this section, other than those in paragraph (1)(C), may not be allowed in connection with the assignment of a Federal or State or local government employee under this subchapter, unless and until the employee agrees in writing to complete the entire period of his assignment or one year, whichever is shorter, unless separated or reassigned for reasons beyond his control that are acceptable to the Federal agency concerned. If the employee violates the agreement, the money spent by the United States for these expenses is recoverable from the employee as a debt due the United States. The head of the Federal agency concerned may waive in whole or in part a right of recovery under this subsection with respect to a State or local government employee on assignment with the agency.
(c) Appropriations of a Federal agency are available to pay expenses under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
§3376. Regulations
The President may prescribe regulations for the administration of this subchapter.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective sixty days after Jan. 5, 1971, see section 404 of
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 11589. Delegation of Functions to Office of Personnel Management
Ex. Ord. No. 11589, Apr. 1, 1971, 36 F.R. 6343, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
(a) The authority of the President under
(b) The authority of the President under section 205 (a)(4) of the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, as amended ([former]
SUBCHAPTER VII—AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS
§3381. Training
(a) An air traffic controller with 5 years of service as a controller who is to be removed as a controller because the Secretary has determined—
(1) he is medically disqualified for duties as a controller;
(2) he is unable to maintain technical proficiency as a controller; or
(3) such removal is necessary for the preservation of the physical or mental health of the controller;
is entitled to not more than the full-time equivalent of 2 years of training.
(b) During a period of training under this section, a controller shall be—
(1) retained at his last assigned grade and rate of basic pay as a controller;
(2) entitled to each increase in rate of basic pay provided under law; and
(3) excluded from staffing limitations otherwise applicable.
(c) Upon completion of training under this section, a controller may be—
(1) assigned to other duties in the Executive agency in which the controller is employed;
(2) released for transfer to another Executive agency; or
(3) involuntarily separated from the service.
The involuntary separation of a controller under this subsection is not a removal for cause on charges of misconduct, delinquency, or inefficiency for purposes of section 5595 or
(d) The Secretary, without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31, may pay, or reimburse a controller for, all or part of the necessary expenses of training provided under this section, including expenses authorized to be paid under
(e) Except as provided by subsection (d) of this section, the provisions of
(f) The provisions of this section shall not otherwise affect the authority of the Secretary to provide training under
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in subsec. (a), see
Subsecs. (a) and (b) of
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (e).
1982—Subsec. (d).
1980—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (c)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Report to Congress
1 See References in Text note below.
§3382. Involuntary separation for retirement
An air traffic controller who is eligible for immediate retirement under
(1) aviation safety;
(2) the efficient control of air traffic; or
(3) the preservation of the physical or mental health of the controller.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in text, see
Amendments
1980—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see section 10 of
§3383. Determinations; review procedures
(a) An air traffic controller subject to a determination by the Secretary under section 3381(a) or
(b) If the Secretary does not rescind his determination within 15 days after his receipt of the written request filed by the controller under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall immediately convene a board of review, consisting of—
(1) a person designated by the controller;
(2) a representative of the Executive agency in which the controller is employed designated by the Secretary; and
(3) a representative of the Merit Systems Protection Board, designated by the Chairman, who shall serve as chairman of the board of review.
(c) The board of review shall review evidence supporting and inconsistent with the determination of the Secretary and, within a period of 30 days after being convened, shall issue its findings and furnish copies thereof to the Secretary and the controller. The board may approve or rescind the determination of the Secretary. A decision by the board under this subsection is final. The Secretary shall take such action as may be necessary to carry out the decision of the board.
(d) Except as provided under
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in text, see
Amendments
1980—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (d).
1978—Subsec. (b)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see section 10 of
§3384. Regulations
The Secretary is authorized to issue regulations to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in text, see
Amendments
1980—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see section 10 of
§3385. Effect on other authority
This subchapter shall not limit the authority of the Secretary to reassign temporarily an air traffic controller to other duties with or without notice, in the interest of the safe or efficient separation and control of air traffic or the physical or mental health of a controller; or to reassign permanently or separate a controller under any other provision of law.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of Secretary, referred to in text, see
Amendments
1980—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective on 90th day after May 16, 1972, see section 10 of
SUBCHAPTER VIII—APPOINTMENT, REASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior subchapter VIII, added
§3391. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter, "agency", "Senior Executive Service position", "senior executive", "career appointee", "limited term appointee", "limited emergency appointee", "noncareer appointee", and "general position" have the meanings set forth in
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3391, added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3392. General appointment provisions
(a) Qualification standards shall be established by the head of each agency for each Senior Executive Service position in the agency—
(1) in accordance with requirements established by the Office of Personnel Management, with respect to standards for career reserved positions, and
(2) after consultation with the Office, with respect to standards for general positions.
(b) Not more than 30 percent of the Senior Executive Service positions authorized under
(c)(1) If a career appointee is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to a civilian position in the executive branch which is not in the Senior Executive Service, and the rate of basic pay payable for which is equal to or greater than the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule, the career appointee may elect (at such time and in such manner as the Office may prescribe) to continue to have the provisions of this title relating to basic pay, performance awards, awarding of ranks, severance pay, leave, and retirement apply as if the career appointee remained in the Senior Executive Service position from which he was appointed. Such provisions shall apply in lieu of the provisions which would otherwise apply—
(A) to the extent provided under regulations prescribed by the Office, and
(B) so long as the appointee continues to serve under such Presidential appointment.
(2) An election under paragraph (1) may also be made by any career appointee who is appointed to a civilian position in the executive branch—
(A) which is not in the Senior Executive Service; and
(B) which is covered by the Executive Schedule, or the rate of basic pay for which is fixed by statute at a rate equal to 1 of the levels of the Executive Schedule.
An election under this paragraph shall remain effective so long as the appointee continues to serve in the same position.
(d) Appointment or removal of a person to or from any Senior Executive Service position in an independent regulatory commission shall not be subject, directly or indirectly, to review or approval by any officer or entity within the Executive Office of the President.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Executive Schedule, referred to in subsec. (c), is set out as
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3392, added
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Election by Persons Previously Appointed; Retroactive Performance Awards
"(2)
"(A) on the date of enactment of this Act [July 17, 1990], is serving in a civilian position in the executive branch which—
"(i) is not in the Senior Executive Service; and
"(ii) satisfies section 3392(c)(2)(B) of such title 5 (as so amended);
"(B) was appointed to that position on or after November 1, 1986, and has served continuously in such position since then;
"(C) was a career appointee (within the meaning of section 3132(a)(4) of such title 5) immediately before having been so appointed; and
"(D) was not, based on such individual's appointment to the position described in subparagraph (A), eligible to make an election under section 3392(c) of such title 5 (as then in effect).
An election under this paragraph shall be effective as of the date of appointment to the position described in subparagraph (A).
"(3)
[
§3393. Career appointments
(a) Each agency shall establish a recruitment program, in accordance with guidelines which shall be issued by the Office of Personnel Management, which provides for recruitment of career appointees from—
(1) all groups of qualified individuals within the civil service; or
(2) all groups of qualified individuals whether or not within the civil service.
(b) Each agency shall establish one or more executive resources boards, as appropriate, the members of which shall be appointed by the head of the agency from among employees of the agency or commissioned officers of the uniformed services serving on active duty in such agency. The boards shall, in accordance with merit staffing requirements established by the Office, conduct the merit staffing process for career appointees, including—
(1) reviewing the executive qualifications of each candidate for a position to be filled by a career appointee; and
(2) making written recommendations to the appropriate appointing authority concerning such candidates.
(c)(1) The Office shall establish one or more qualifications review boards, as appropriate. It is the function of the boards to certify the executive qualifications of candidates for initial appointment as career appointees in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office. Of the members of each board more than one-half shall be appointed from among career appointees. Appointments to such boards shall be made on a non-partisan basis, the sole selection criterion being the professional knowledge of public management and knowledge of the appropriate occupational fields of the intended appointee.
(2) The Office shall, in consultation with the various qualification review boards, prescribe criteria for establishing executive qualifications for appointment of career appointees. The criteria shall provide for—
(A) consideration of demonstrated executive experience;
(B) consideration of successful participation in a career executive development program which is approved by the Office; and
(C) sufficient flexibility to allow for the appointment of individuals who have special or unique qualities which indicate a likelihood of executive success and who would not otherwise be eligible for appointment.
(d) An individual's initial appointment as a career appointee shall become final only after the individual has served a 1-year probationary period as a career appointee.
(e) Each career appointee shall meet the executive qualifications of the position to which appointed, as determined in writing by the appointing authority.
(f) The title of each career reserved position shall be published in the Federal Register.
(g) A career appointee may not be removed from the Senior Executive Service or civil service except in accordance with the applicable provisions of sections 1215,,1 3592, 3595, 7532, or 7543 of this title.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3393, added
Amendments
2021—Subsec. (d).
2015—Subsec. (d).
2002—Subsec. (g).
1990—Subsec. (g).
1989—Subsec. (g).
1984—Subsec. (b).
1981—Subsec. (g).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2021 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1989 Amendments
Amendment by
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Temporary Inapplicability of Certification of Executive Qualifications by Qualification Review Boards of Office of Personnel Management
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1)
"(A) a description of the qualifications of the individuals appointed; and
"(B) data on the time required to appoint the individuals.
"(2)
"(A) The number and type of appointments made under this section during the one-year period ending on the date of the report.
"(B) Data on and an assessment whether appointments under the authority in this section reduced the time to hire when compared with the time to hire under the current review system of the Office of Personnel Management.
"(C) An assessment of the utility of the appointment authority and process under this section.
"(D) An assessment whether the appointments made under this section resulted in higher quality new executives for the Senior Executive Service of the Department when compared with the executives produced under the current review system of the Office of Personnel Management.
"(E) Any recommendation for the improvement of the selection and qualification process for the Senior Executive Service of the Department that the Secretary considers necessary in order to attract and hire highly qualified candidates for service in that Senior Executive Service.
"(3)
"(A) The number and type of appointments made under this section between August 13, 2018, and the date of the report.
"(B) Data on and an assessment of whether appointments under the authority in this section reduced the time to hire when compared with the time to hire under the review system of the Office of Personnel Management in use as of the date of the report.
"(C) An assessment of the utility of the appointment authority and process under this section.
"(D) An assessment of whether the appointments made under this section resulted in higher quality new executives for the Senior Executive Service of the Department when compared with the executives produced in the Department under the review system in use between August 13, 2013, and August 13, 2018.
"(E) Any recommendation for the improvement of the selection and qualification process for the Senior Executive Service of the Department that the Secretary considers necessary in order to attract and hire highly qualified candidates for service in that Senior Executive Service.
"(4)
"(A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
"(B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [now Committee on Oversight and Accountability] of the House of Representatives; and
"(C) the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
"(e)
[§3393a. Repealed. Pub. L. 107–296, title XIII, §1321(a)(1)(B), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2296 ]
Section, added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 4 of
§3394. Noncareer and limited appointments
(a) Each noncareer appointee, limited term appointee, and limited emergency appointee shall meet the qualifications of the position to which appointed, as determined in writing by the appointing authority.
(b) An individual may not be appointed as a limited term appointee or as a limited emergency appointee without the prior approval of the exercise of such appointing authority by the Office of Personnel Management.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3394, added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3395. Reassignment and transfer within the Senior Executive Service
(a)(1) A career appointee in an agency—
(A) may, subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, be reassigned to any Senior Executive Service position in the same agency for which the appointee is qualified; and
(B) may transfer to a Senior Executive Service position in another agency for which the appointee is qualified, with the approval of the agency to which the appointee transfers.
(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a career appointee may be reassigned to any Senior Executive Service position only if the career appointee receives written notice of the reassignment at least 15 days before the effective date of such reassignment.
(B)(i) A career appointee may not be reassigned to a Senior Executive Service position outside the career appointee's commuting area unless—
(I) before providing notice under subclause (II) of this clause (or seeking or obtaining the consent of the career appointee under clause (ii) of this subparagraph to waive such notice), the agency consults with the career appointee on the reasons for, and the appointee's preferences with respect to, the proposed reassignment; and
(II) the career appointee receives written notice of the reassignment, including a statement of the reasons for the reassignment, at least 60 days before the effective date of the reassignment.
(ii) Notice of reassignment under clause (i)(II) of this subparagraph may be waived with the written consent of the career appointee involved.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding
(2) Notwithstanding
(c) A limited term appointee or a limited emergency appointee may not be appointed to, or continue to hold, a position under such an appointment if, within the preceding 48 months, the individual has served more than 36 months, in the aggregate, under any combination of such types of appointment.
(d) A noncareer appointee in an agency—
(1) may be reassigned to any general position in the agency for which the appointee is qualified; and
(2) may transfer to a general position in another agency with the approval of the agency to which the appointee transfers.
(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a career appointee in an agency may not be involuntarily reassigned—
(A) within 120 days after an appointment of the head of the agency; or
(B) within 120 days after the appointment in the agency of the career appointee's most immediate supervisor who—
(i) is a noncareer appointee; and
(ii) has the authority to make an initial appraisal of the career appointee's performance under subchapter II of
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply with respect to—
(A) any reassignment under
(B) any disciplinary action initiated before an appointment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3) For the purpose of applying paragraph (1) to a career appointee, any days (not to exceed a total of 60) during which such career appointee is serving pursuant to a detail or other temporary assignment apart from such appointee's regular position shall not be counted in determining the number of days that have elapsed since an appointment referred to in subparagraph (A) or (B) of such paragraph.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3395, added
Amendments
1991—Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(ii).
Subsec. (e)(3).
1984—Subsec. (a)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3396. Development for and within the Senior Executive Service
(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall establish programs for the systematic development of candidates for the Senior Executive Service and for the continuing development of senior executives, or require agencies to establish such programs which meet criteria prescribed by the Office.
(b) The Office shall assist agencies in the establishment of programs required under subsection (a) of this section and shall monitor the implementation of the programs. If the Office finds that any agency's program under subsection (a) of this section is not in compliance with the criteria prescribed under such subsection, it shall require the agency to take such corrective action as may be necessary to bring the program into compliance with the criteria.
(c)(1) The head of an agency may grant a sabbatical to any career appointee for not to exceed 11 months in order to permit the appointee to engage in study or uncompensated work experience which will contribute to the appointee's development and effectiveness. A sabbatical shall not result in loss of, or reduction in, pay, leave to which the career appointee is otherwise entitled, credit for time or service, or performance or efficiency rating. The head of the agency may authorize in accordance with
(2) A sabbatical under this subsection may not be granted to any career appointee—
(A) more than once in any 10-year period;
(B) unless the appointee has completed 7 years of service—
(i) in one or more positions in the Senior Executive Service;
(ii) in one or more other positions in the civil service the level of duties and responsibilities of which are equivalent to the level of duties and responsibilities of positions in the Senior Executive Service; or
(iii) in any combination of such positions, except that not less than 2 years of such 7 years of service must be in the Senior Executive Service; and
(C) if the appointee is eligible for voluntary retirement with a right to an immediate annuity under
Any period of assignment under
(3)(A) Any career appointee in an agency may be granted a sabbatical under this subsection only if the appointee agrees, as a condition of accepting the sabbatical, to serve in the civil service upon the completion of the sabbatical for a period of 2 consecutive years.
(B) Each agreement required under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall provide that in the event the career appointee fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason as determined by the head of the agency who granted the sabbatical) the appointee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses (including salary) of the sabbatical. The amount shall be treated as a debt due the United States.
(d)(1) The Office shall encourage and assist individuals to improve their skills and increase their contribution by service in a variety of agencies as well as by accepting temporary placements in State or local governments or in the private sector.
(2) In order to promote the professional development of career appointees and to assist them in achieving their maximum levels of proficiency, the Office shall, in a manner consistent with the needs of the Government provide appropriate informational services and otherwise encourage career appointees to take advantage of any opportunities relating to—
(A) sabbaticals;
(B) training; or
(C) details or other temporary assignments in other agencies, State or local governments, or the private sector.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3396, added
Amendments
1991—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Federal Procurement Training
§3397. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3397, added
A prior section 3398, added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
CHAPTER 34 —PART-TIME CAREER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1995—
1978—
§3401. Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) a military department;
(C) an agency in the judicial branch;
(D) the Library of Congress;
(E) the Botanic Garden; and
(F) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol; but does not include—
(i) a Government controlled corporation;
(ii) the Tennessee Valley Authority;
(iii) the Virgin Islands Corporation;
(iv) the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
(v) the Central Intelligence Agency; and
(vi) the National Security Agency, Department of Defense; and
(2) "part-time career employment" means part-time employment of 16 to 32 hours a week (or 32 to 64 hours during a biweekly pay period in the case of a flexible or compressed work schedule under subchapter II of
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Par. (1).
1992—Par. (1)(iii).
1983—Par. (1)(iii) to (viii).
1982—Par. (2).
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1983 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Short Title of 1978 Amendment
Section 1 of
Congressional Findings and Purpose
"(a) The Congress finds that—
"(1) many individuals in our society possess great productive potential which goes unused because they cannot meet the requirements of a standard workweek; and
"(2) part-time permanent employment—
"(A) provides older individuals with a gradual transition into retirement;
"(B) provides employment opportunities to handicapped individuals or others who require a reduced workweek;
"(C) provides parents opportunities to balance family responsibilities with the need for additional income;
"(D) benefits students who must finance their own education or vocational training;
"(E) benefits the Government, as an employer, by increasing productivity and job satisfaction, while lowering turnover rates and absenteeism, offering management more flexibility in meeting work requirements, and filling shortages in various occupations; and
"(F) benefits society by offering a needed alternative for those individuals who require or prefer shorter hours (despite the reduced income), thus increasing jobs available to reduce unemployment while retaining the skills of individuals who have training and experience.
"(b) The purpose of this Act [enacting this chapter, amending
§3402. Establishment of part-time career employment programs
(a)(1) In order to promote part-time career employment opportunities in all grade levels, the head of each agency, by regulation, shall establish and maintain a program for part-time career employment within such agency. Such regulations shall provide for—
(A) the review of positions which, after such positions become vacant, may be filled on a part-time career employment basis (including the establishment of criteria to be used in identifying such positions);
(B) procedures and criteria to be used in connection with establishing or converting positions for part-time career employment, subject to the limitations of
(C) annual goals for establishing or converting positions for part-time career employment, and a timetable setting forth interim and final deadlines for achieving such goals;
(D) a continuing review and evaluation of the part-time career employment program established under such regulations; and
(E) procedures for notifying the public of vacant part-time positions in such agency, utilizing facilities and funds otherwise available to such agency for the dissemination of information.
(2) The head of each agency shall provide for communication between, and coordination of the activities of, the individuals within such agency whose responsibilities relate to the part-time career employment program established within that agency.
(3) Regulations established under paragraph (1) of this subsection may provide for such exceptions as may be necessary to carry out the mission of the agency.
(b)(1) The Office of Personnel Management, by regulation, shall establish and maintain a program under which it shall, on the request of an agency, advise and assist such agency in the establishment and maintenance of its part-time career employment program under this chapter.
(2) The Office shall conduct a research and demonstration program with respect to part-time career employment within the Federal Government. In particular, such program shall be directed to—
(A) determining the extent to which part-time career employment may be used in filling positions which have not traditionally been open for such employment on any extensive basis, such as supervisory, managerial, and professional positions;
(B) determining the extent to which job-sharing arrangements may be established for various occupations and positions; and
(C) evaluating attitudes, benefits, costs, efficiency, and productivity associated with part-time career employment, as well as its various sociological effects as a mode of employment.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3403. Limitations
(a) An agency shall not abolish any position occupied by an employee in order to make the duties of such position available to be performed on a part-time career employment basis.
(b) Any person who is employed on a full-time basis in an agency shall not be required to accept part-time employment as a condition of continued employment.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
§3404. Personnel ceilings
In administering any personnel ceiling applicable to an agency (or unit therein), an employee employed by such agency on a part-time career employment basis shall be counted as a fraction which is determined by dividing 40 hours into the average number of hours of such employee's regularly scheduled workweek. This section shall become effective on October 1, 1980.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
§3405. Nonapplicability
(a) If, on the date of enactment of this chapter, there is in effect with respect to positions within an agency a collective-bargaining agreement which establishes the number of hours of employment a week, then this chapter shall not apply to those positions.
(b) This chapter shall not require part-time career employment in positions the rate of basic pay for which is fixed at a rate equal to or greater than the minimum rate payable under section 5376.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), is the date of the enactment of
Amendments
1990—Subsec. (b).
1978—
Subsecs. (a), (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3406. Regulations
Before any regulation is prescribed under this chapter, a copy of the proposed regulation shall be published in the Federal Register and an opportunity provided to interested parties to present written comment and, where practicable, oral comment. Initial regulations shall be prescribed not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this chapter.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in text, is the date of the enactment of
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
[§3407. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–66, title III, §3001(a)(1), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 733 ]
Section, added
§3408. Employee organization representation
If an employee organization has been accorded exclusive recognition with respect to a unit within an agency, then the employee organization shall be entitled to represent all employees within that unit employed on a part-time career employment basis.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
CHAPTER 35 —RETENTION PREFERENCE, VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS, RESTORATION, AND REEMPLOYMENT
SUBCHAPTER I—RETENTION PREFERENCE
SUBCHAPTER II—VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS
SUBCHAPTER III—REINSTATEMENT OR RESTORATION AFTER SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
SUBCHAPTER IV—REEMPLOYMENT AFTER SERVICE WITH AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
SUBCHAPTER V—REMOVAL, REINSTATEMENT, AND GUARANTEED PLACEMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER VI—REEMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING LIMITED APPOINTMENT IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER VII—RETENTION OF RETIRED SPECIALIZED EMPLOYEES AT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—
2002—
1994—
1984—
1981—
1980—
1978—
1 So in original. Two sections "3598" have been enacted.
2 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.
SUBCHAPTER I—RETENTION PREFERENCE
§3501. Definitions; application
(a) For the purpose of this subchapter, except section 3504—
(1) "active service" has the meaning given it by
(2) "a retired member of a uniformed service" means a member or former member of a uniformed service who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of his service as such a member; and
(3) a preference eligible employee who is a retired member of a uniformed service is considered a preference eligible only if—
(A) his retirement was based on disability—
(i) resulting from injury or disease received in line of duty as a direct result of armed conflict; or
(ii) caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war as defined by
(B) his service does not include twenty or more years of full-time active service, regardless of when performed but not including periods of active duty for training; or
(C) on November 30, 1964, he was employed in a position to which this subchapter applies and thereafter he continued to be so employed without a break in service of more than 30 days.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection and
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a)(1), (2) | Aug. 19, 1964, |
|
| (a)(3) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §12(b); added Aug. 19, 1964, |
In subsection (a), the definitions of "uniformed services" and "armed forces" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the definitions in section 2101. The definition of "civilian office" is omitted as unnecessary as subsection (b) of this section states the application of this subchapter.
In subsection (a)(3), the words "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "preference eligible employee" are coextensive with and substituted for "employee * * * included under section 2 of this Act" in view of the definition of preference eligible in section 2108. In paragraph (3)(C), the words "on November 30, 1964, he was employed in a position to which this subchapter applies and thereafter he continued to be so employed" are substituted for "immediately prior to the effective date of this subsection, he was employed in a civilian office to which this Act applies and, on and after such date, he continues to be employed in any such office".
Subsection (b) is supplied on authority of sections 2, 12, and 20 of the Act of June 27, 1944, ch. 287,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preference to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii).
1988—Subsec. (b).
1978—Subsec. (b).
1975—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3502. Order of retention
(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations for the release of competing employees in a reduction in force which give due effect to—
(1) tenure of employment;
(2) military preference, subject to
(3) length of service; and
(4) efficiency or performance ratings.
In computing length of service, a competing employee—
(A) who is not a retired member of a uniformed service is entitled to credit for the total length of time in active service in the armed forces;
(B) who is a retired member of a uniformed service is entitled to credit for—
(i) the length of time in active service in the armed forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized; or
(ii) the total length of time in active service in the armed forces if he is included under
(C) is entitled to credit for—
(i) service rendered as an employee of a county committee established pursuant to section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Allotment Act or of a committee or association of producers described in section 10(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act; and
(ii) service rendered as an employee described in section 2105(c) if such employee moves or has moved, on or after January 1, 1966, without a break in service of more than 3 days, from a position in a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard to a position in the Department of Defense or the Coast Guard, respectively, that is not described in section 2105(c).
(b) A preference eligible described in
(c) An employee who is entitled to retention preference and whose performance has not been rated unacceptable under a performance appraisal system implemented under
(d)(1) Except as provided under subsection (e), an employee may not be released, due to a reduction in force, unless—
(A) such employee and such employee's exclusive representative for collective-bargaining purposes (if any) are given written notice, in conformance with the requirements of paragraph (2), at least 60 days before such employee is so released; and
(B) if the reduction in force would involve the separation of a significant number of employees, the requirements of paragraph (3) are met at least 60 days before any employee is so released.
(2) Any notice under paragraph (1)(A) shall include—
(A) the personnel action to be taken with respect to the employee involved;
(B) the effective date of the action;
(C) a description of the procedures applicable in identifying employees for release;
(D) the employee's ranking relative to other competing employees, and how that ranking was determined; and
(E) a description of any appeal or other rights which may be available.
(3) Notice under paragraph (1)(B)—
(A) shall be given to—
(i) the State or entity designated by the State to carry out rapid response activities under section 134(a)(2)(A) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; 1 and
(ii) the chief elected official of such unit or each of such units of local government as may be appropriate; and
(B) shall consist of written notification as to—
(i) the number of employees to be separated from service due to the reduction in force (broken down by geographic area or on such other basis as may be required under paragraph (4));
(ii) when those separations will occur; and
(iii) any other matter which might facilitate the delivery of rapid response assistance or other services under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.1
(4) The Office shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subsection. The Office shall consult with the Secretary of Labor on matters relating to title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.1
(e)(1) Subject to paragraph (3), upon request submitted under paragraph (2), the President may, in writing, shorten the period of advance notice required under subsection (d)(1)(A) and (B), with respect to a particular reduction in force, if necessary because of circumstances not reasonably foreseeable.
(2) A request to shorten notice periods shall be submitted to the President by the head of the agency involved, and shall indicate the reduction in force to which the request pertains, the number of days by which the agency head requests that the periods be shortened, and the reasons why the request is necessary.
(3) No notice period may be shortened to less than 30 days under this subsection.
(f)(1) The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department may—
(A) separate from service any employee who volunteers to be separated under this subparagraph even though the employee is not otherwise subject to separation due to a reduction in force; and
(B) for each employee voluntarily separated under subparagraph (A), retain an employee in a similar position who would otherwise be separated due to a reduction in force.
(2) The separation of an employee under paragraph (1)(A) shall be treated as an involuntary separation due to a reduction in force.
(3) An employee with critical knowledge and skills (as defined by the Secretary concerned) may not participate in a voluntary separation under paragraph (1)(A) if the Secretary concerned determines that such participation would impair the performance of the mission of the Department of Defense or the military department concerned.
(4) The regulations prescribed under this section shall incorporate the authority provided in this subsection.
(5) No authority under paragraph (1) may be exercised after September 30, 2018.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §12 (less 2d and 3d provisos), Aug. 19, 1964, |
|
| (b) | June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §12 (2d proviso), |
In subsection (a), the words "reduction in force" are substituted for "reduction in personnel". The words "in any civilian service of any Federal agency" are omitted as unnecessary because of the application stated in section 3501. In the second sentence, the word "total" in the phrase "length of service" is omitted for consistency with paragraph (3), and the words "subject to subsection (c) of this section" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the supplied distinction between a competing employee who is not a retired member of a uniformed service and such an employee who is a retired member of a uniformed service. In paragraph (A), the words "total length of time in active service" are substituted for "length of time spent in active service" for consistency with paragraph (B)(ii).
In subsections (a) and (b), the references to "performance" ratings and ratings of "satisfactory" are added on authority of former section 2005, which is carried into section 4304.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Allotment Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(C)(i), probably means section 8(b) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, which is classified to
Section 10(b) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(C)(i), is classified to
The Workforce Investment Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), (4), is
Amendments
2013—Subsec. (f)(5).
2008—Subsec. (f)(5).
2006—Subsec. (f)(5).
2000—Subsec. (f)(5).
1998—Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(i).
Subsec. (d)(3)(B)(iii).
Subsec. (d)(4).
1996—Subsec. (a)(C)(ii).
Subsec. (f).
"(f)(1) The Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department may—
"(A) release in a reduction in force an employee who volunteers for the release even though the employee is not otherwise subject to release in the reduction in force under the criteria applicable under the other provisions of this section; and
"(B) for each employee voluntarily released in the reduction in force under subparagraph (A), retain an employee in a similar position who would otherwise be released in the reduction in force under such criteria.
"(2) A voluntary release of an employee in a reduction in force pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be treated as an involuntary release in the reduction in force.
"(3) An employee with critical knowledge and skills (as defined by the Secretary concerned) may not participate in a voluntary release under paragraph (1) if the Secretary concerned determines that such participation would impair the performance of the mission of the Department of Defense or the military department concerned.
"(4) The regulations prescribed under this section shall incorporate the authority provided in this subsection.
"(5) The authority under paragraph (1) may not be exercised after September 30, 1996."
1992—Subsecs. (d), (e).
1990—Subsec. (a)(C).
1986—Subsec. (a)(C).
1978—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
1968—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(C).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
"(1)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
"(A) take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Feb. 10, 1996]; and
"(B) apply with respect to any reduction in force carried out on or after such date."
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1968 Amendment
Amendment by
Regulations
For provisions relating to promulgation of regulations necessary to carry out amendment by section 1043(d)(1) of
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see
Interagency Placement Program for Federal Employees Affected by Reductions in Force
"(a)
"(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), an interagency placement program is a program that provides a system to require the offering of a position in an agency to an employee of another agency affected by a reduction in force if—
"(A) the position cannot be filled through a placement program of the agency in which the position is located;
"(B) the employee to whom the offer is made is qualified for the offered position; and
"(C) the geographic location of the offered position is within the commuting area of—
"(i) the residence of the employee; or
"(ii) the employee's present or last-held position.
"(3) The Director shall carry out this subsection in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
"(4) The Director shall seek comments from the heads of all appropriate Federal agencies in conducting the study required by paragraph (1).
"(5) Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 1994], the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study required by paragraph (1) and on any action taken by the Director under subsection (b).
"(b)
"(2) If the Director establishes a program pursuant to paragraph (1), the report required by subsection (a)(5) shall identify each agency that does not agree to participate in the program and the reasons of the head of that agency for not agreeing to participate.
"(c)
"(1) The term 'agency' means an Executive agency as defined in
"(2) The term 'Federal employees affected by reductions in force' means Federal employees who are separated, or are scheduled to be separated, from service under a reduction in force pursuant to—
"(A) regulations prescribed under
"(B) procedures established under section 3595 of such title."
Special Rule on Application of Subsections (d) and (e)
"(1) The provisions of section 3502(d) and (e) of
"(2) The employees described in this paragraph are those employees of the Department of Defense who are to be separated, due to a reduction in force described in paragraph (1), effective on or after the last day of the 90-day period referred to in subsection (a)(2) [see Effective Date of 1992 Amendment note above] and before February 1, 2000.
"(3) Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the application of the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] with respect to an employee if—
"(A) the preceding paragraphs of this subsection do not apply with respect to such employee; and
"(B) the amendment made by subsection (a) would otherwise apply with respect to such employee.
"(4) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out this subsection."
Indian Preference Laws Applicable to Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service Positions
Applicability of Indian preference laws to Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service positions for purposes of reduction-in-force procedures under subsec. (a) of this section, see
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 12828. Delegation of Certain Personnel Management Authorities
Ex. Ord. No. 12828, Jan. 5, 1993, 58 F.R. 2965, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13415, §2(b), Dec. 1, 2006, 71 F.R. 70641, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
(1) The authority of the President under
(2) The authority of the President under
1 See References in Text note below.
§3503. Transfer of functions
(a) When a function is transferred from one agency to another, each competing employee in the function shall be transferred to the receiving agency for employment in a position for which he is qualified before the receiving agency may make an appointment from another source to that position.
(b) When one agency is replaced by another, each competing employee in the agency to be replaced shall be transferred to the replacing agency for employment in a position for which he is qualified before the replacing agency may make an appointment from another source to that position.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §12 (3d proviso), |
In subsection (a), the words "a function" are substituted for "any or all of the functions". The word "receiving" is substituted for "replacing" in the phrase "receiving agency" to avoid confusion with subsection (b).
In subsections (a) and (b), the word "first" in the phrase "shall first be transferred" is omitted as redundant in view of the subsequent limitation imposed by the words following "before". The words "make an appointment from another source to that position" are substituted for "appoint additional employees from any other source for such position".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsecs. (a), (b).
1978—Subsecs. (a), (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§3504. Preference eligibles; retention; physical qualifications; waiver
(a) In determining qualifications of a preference eligible for retention in a position in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia, the Office of Personnel Management or other examining agency shall waive—
(1) requirements as to age, height, and weight, unless the requirement is essential to the performance of the duties of the position; and
(2) physical requirements if, in the opinion of the Office or other examining agency, after considering the recommendation of an accredited physician, the preference eligible is physically able to perform efficiently the duties of the position.
(b) If an examining agency determines that, on the basis of evidence before it, a preference eligible described in
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §5 (1st 2 sentences, so much as relates to retention), |
The words "in the competitive service, an Executive agency, or the government of the District of Columbia" are added on authority of former sections 851, 858, and 869 which are carried into this title. The words "preference eligible" are substituted for "veteran".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
SUBCHAPTER II—VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PAYMENTS
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior subchapter II of this chapter consisting of section 3551, related to restoration of positions of Federal and District of Columbia employees upon release from duty in Reserves or National Guard, prior to repeal by
§3521. Definitions
In this subchapter, the term—
(1) "agency" means an Executive agency as defined under section 105 (other than the Government Accountability Office); and
(2) "employee"—
(A) means an employee as defined under section 2105 employed by an agency and an individual employed by a county committee established under section 8(b)(5) of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (
(i) is serving under an appointment without time limitation; and
(ii) has been currently employed for a continuous period of at least 3 years; and
(B) shall not include—
(i) a reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of
(ii) an employee having a disability on the basis of which such employee is or would be eligible for disability retirement under subchapter III of
(iii) an employee who is in receipt of a decision notice of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable performance;
(iv) an employee who has previously received any voluntary separation incentive payment from the Federal Government under this subchapter or any other authority;
(v) an employee covered by statutory reemployment rights who is on transfer employment with another organization; or
(vi) any employee who—
(I) during the 36-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a student loan repayment benefit was or is to be paid under section 5379;
(II) during the 24-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a recruitment or relocation bonus was or is to be paid under section 5753; or
(III) during the 12-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a retention bonus was or is to be paid under section 5754.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—Par. (1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Smithsonian Institution Employees
Judicial Branch Employees
Continuation of Other Authority
Sense of Congress
§3522. Agency plans; approval
(a) Before obligating any resources for voluntary separation incentive payments, the head of each agency shall submit to the Office of Personnel Management a plan outlining the intended use of such incentive payments and a proposed organizational chart for the agency once such incentive payments have been completed.
(b) The plan of an agency under subsection (a) shall include—
(1) the specific positions and functions to be reduced or eliminated;
(2) a description of which categories of employees will be offered incentives;
(3) the time period during which incentives may be paid;
(4) the number and amounts of voluntary separation incentive payments to be offered; and
(5) a description of how the agency will operate without the eliminated positions and functions.
(c) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall review each agency's plan an 1 may make any appropriate modifications in the plan, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. A plan under this section may not be implemented without the approval of the Directive 2 of the Office of Personnel Management.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 1313(a)(4) of
1 So in original. Probably should be "and".
2 So in original. Probably should be "Director".
§3523. Authority to provide voluntary separation incentive payments
(a) A voluntary separation incentive payment under this subchapter may be paid to an employee only as provided in the plan of an agency established under section 3522.
(b) A voluntary incentive payment—
(1) shall be offered to agency employees on the basis of—
(A) 1 or more organizational units;
(B) 1 or more occupational series or levels;
(C) 1 or more geographical locations;
(D) skills, knowledge, or other factors related to a position;
(E) specific periods of time during which eligible employees may elect a voluntary incentive payment; or
(F) any appropriate combination of such factors;
(2) shall be paid in a lump sum after the employee's separation;
(3) shall be equal to the lesser of—
(A) an amount equal to the amount the employee would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c) if the employee were entitled to payment under such section (without adjustment for any previous payment made); or
(B) an amount determined by the agency head, not to exceed $25,000;
(4) may be made only in the case of an employee who voluntarily separates (whether by retirement or resignation) under this subchapter;
(5) shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be included in the computation, of any other type of Government benefit;
(6) shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any severance pay to which the employee may be entitled under section 5595, based on another other 1 separation; and
(7) shall be paid from appropriations or funds available for the payment of the basic pay of the employee.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 1313(a)(4) of
§3524. Effect of subsequent employment with the Government
(a) The term "employment"—
(1) in subsection (b) includes employment under a personal services contract (or other direct contract) with the United States Government (other than an entity in the legislative branch); and
(2) in subsection (c) does not include employment under such a contract.
(b) An individual who has received a voluntary separation incentive payment under this subchapter and accepts any employment for compensation with the Government of the United States with 1 5 years after the date of the separation on which the payment is based shall be required to pay, before the individual's first day of employment, the entire amount of the incentive payment to the agency that paid the incentive payment.
(c)(1) If the employment under this section is with an agency, other than the Government Accountability Office, the United States Postal Service, or the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may, at the request of the head of the agency, may 2 waive the repayment if—
(A) the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position; or
(B) in case of an emergency involving a direct threat to life or property, the individual—
(i) has skills directly related to resolving the emergency; and
(ii) will serve on a temporary basis only so long as that individual's services are made necessary by the emergency.
(2) If the employment under this section is with an entity in the legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.
(3) If the employment under this section is with the judicial branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may waive the repayment if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2006—Subsec. (c)(1).
2004—Subsec. (c)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 1313(a)(4) of
1 So in original. Probably should be "within".
§3525. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations to carry out this subchapter.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3551,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Nov. 25, 2002, see section 1313(a)(4) of
SUBCHAPTER III—REINSTATEMENT OR RESTORATION AFTER SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
§3571. Reinstatement or restoration; individuals suspended or removed for national security
An individual suspended or removed under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 26, 1950, ch. 803, §1 (1st 31 words of 3d proviso), |
The words "suspended or removed under
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
SUBCHAPTER IV—REEMPLOYMENT AFTER SERVICE WITH AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION
§3581. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) a military department; and
(C) an employing authority in the legislative branch;
(2) "employee" means an employee in or under an agency;
(3) "international organization" means a public international organization or international-organization preparatory commission in which the Government of the United States participates;
(4) "transfer" means the change of position by an employee from an agency to an international organization; and
(5) "reemployment" means—
(A) the reemployment of an employee under
(B) the reemployment of a Congressional employee within 90 days from his separation from an international organization;
following a term of employment not extending beyond the period named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer or, in the absence of a named period, not extending beyond the first 5 consecutive years, or any extension thereof, after entering the employ of the international organization.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 1958, |
In paragraphs (1)(A) and (B), the terms "Executive agency" and "military department" are coextensive with and substituted for "any department or agency in the executive branch of the United States Government including independent establishments and Government owned or controlled corporations" in view of the definitions in sections 105 and 102.
In paragraph (2), the word "employee" is substituted for "any civilian appointive officer or employee" in view of the definition of "employee" in section 2105. The words "in or under an agency" are substituted for "in or under the executive or the legislative branch of the United States Government".
The definition of "Congressional employee" in former section 2331(4) is omitted as unnecessary because the term "Congressional employee", defined for the purpose of this title in section 2107, is coextensive with the definition in former section 2331(4).
The definition of "Detail" in former section 2331(6) is omitted from this section as inappropriate but is carried into section 3343.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1975—Subsec. (5)(A).
1969—Par. (5).
Executive Documents
Delegation of Authority
Authority of President to extend a transfer of an employee under this section delegated to Secretary of State, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 11552, Aug. 24, 1970, 35 F.R. 13569, set out as a note under
§3582. Rights of transferring employees
(a) An employee serving under an appointment not limited to 1 year or less who transfers to an international organization with the consent of the head of his agency is entitled—
(1) to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under any system established by law for the retirement of employees, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the international organization are currently deposited in the system's fund or depository; and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed creditable service under the system, except that such service shall not be considered creditable service for the purpose of any retirement system for transferring personnel, if such service forms the basis, in whole or in part, for an annuity or pension under the retirement system of the international organization;
(2) to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under chapters 87 and 89 of this title, if necessary employee deductions and agency contributions in payment for the coverage, rights, and benefits for the period of employment with the international organization are currently deposited in the Employees' Life Insurance Fund and the Employees' Health Benefits Fund, as applicable, and the period during which coverage, rights, and benefits are retained under this paragraph is deemed service as an employee under chapters 87 and 89 of this title;
(3) to retain coverage, rights, and benefits under subchapter I of
(4) to elect to retain to his credit all accumulated and current accrued annual leave to which entitled at the time of transfer which would otherwise be liquidated by a lump-sum payment. On his request at any time before reemployment, he shall be paid for the annual leave retained. If he receives a lump-sum payment and is reemployed within 6 months after transfer, he shall refund to the agency the amount of the lump-sum payment. This paragraph does not operate to cause a forfeiture of retained annual leave following reemployment or to deprive an employee of a lump-sum payment to which he would otherwise be entitled.
(b) An employee entitled to the benefits of subsection (a) of this section is entitled to be reemployed within 30 days of his application for reemployment in his former position or a position of like seniority, status, and pay in the agency from which he transferred, if—
(1) he is separated from the international organization within 5 years, or any extension thereof, after entering on duty with the international organization or within such shorter period as may be named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer; and
(2) he applies for reemployment not later than 90 days after the separation.
On reemployment, an employee entitled to the benefits of subsection (a) is entitled to the rate of basic pay to which the employee would have been entitled had the employee remained in the civil service. On reemployment, the agency shall restore the sick leave account of the employee, by credit or charge, to its status at the time of transfer. The period of separation caused by the employment of the employee with the international organization and the period necessary to effect reemployment are deemed creditable service for all appropriate civil service employment purposes. This subsection does not apply to a congressional employee.
(c) This section applies only with respect to so much of a period of employment with an international organization as does not exceed 5 years, or any extension thereof, or such shorter period named by the head of the agency at the time of consent to transfer, except that for retirement and insurance purposes this section continues to apply during the period after separation from the international organization in which—
(1) an employee, except a Congressional employee, is properly exercising or could exercise the reemployment right established by subsection (b) of this section; or
(2) a Congressional employee is effecting or could effect a reemployment.
During that reemployment period, the employee is deemed on leave without pay for retirement and insurance purposes.
(d) During the employee's period of service with the international organization, the agency from which the employee is transferred shall make contributions for retirement and insurance purposes from the appropriations or funds of that agency so long as contributions are made by the employee.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the words "Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, Executive order, or regulation" are omitted as unnecessary. In paragraph (2), the words "an employee under
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1998—Subsec. (b).
1975—Subsec. (b).
1969—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Executive Documents
Delegation of Authority
Authority of President under subsec. (b) of this section delegated to Office of Personnel Management, and authority to define and specify pay, allowances, etc., to be paid by the agency, delegated to Secretary of State, see section 3 of Ex. Ord. No. 11552, Aug. 24, 1970, 35 F.R. 13569, set out as a note under
§3583. Computations
A computation under this subchapter before reemployment is made in the same manner as if the employee had received basic pay, or basic pay plus additional pay in the case of a Congressional employee, at the rate at which it would have been payable had the employee continued in the position in which he was serving at the time of transfer.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 1958, |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§3584. Regulations
The President may prescribe regulations necessary to carry out this subchapter and
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 1958, |
The words "civil service employment rights" are substituted for "Federal employment rights". The word "including" is substituted for "such as, but not limited to".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 10804
Ex. Ord. No. 10804, Feb. 12, 1959, 24 F.R. 1147, which delegated to the United States Civil Service Commission the authority vested in the President by section 5 of the Federal Employees International Organization Service Act (
Ex. Ord. No. 11552. Providing for Details and Transfers of Federal Employees to International Organizations
Ex. Ord. No. 11552, Aug. 24, 1970, 35 F.R. 13569, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
(1) Vacancies in international organizations shall be brought to the notice of well-qualified agency employees whose abilities and levels of responsibility in the Federal service are commensurate with those required to fill such vacancies.
(2) Subject to prior approval of his agency, no leave shall be charged an employee who is absent for a maximum of three days for interview for a proposed detail or transfer at the formal request of an international organization of a Federal official; an agency may approve official travel for necessary travel within the United States in connection with such an interview.
(3) An agency, upon request of an appropriate authority, shall provide international organizations with detailed assessments of the technical or professional qualifications of individual employees being formally considered for details and transfers to specific positions.
(4) Upon return of an employee to his agency, the agency shall give due consideration to the employee's overall qualifications, including those which may have been acquired during his service with the international organization, in determining the position and grade in which he is reemployed.
(b) The following are hereby delegated to the Secretary of State:
(1) The authority vested in the President by
(2) The authority vested in the President by
SUBCHAPTER V—REMOVAL, REINSTATEMENT, AND GUARANTEED PLACEMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
§3591. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter, "agency", "Senior Executive Service position", "senior executive", "career appointee", "limited term appointee", "limited emergency appointee", "noncareer appointee", and "general position" have the meanings set forth in
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3592. Removal from the Senior Executive Service
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a career appointee may be removed from the Senior Executive Service to a civil service position outside of the Senior Executive Service—
(1) during the 1-year period of probation under
(2) at any time for less than fully successful executive performance as determined under subchapter II of
except that in the case of a removal under paragraph (2) of this subsection the career appointee shall, at least 15 days before the removal, be entitled, upon request, to an informal hearing before an official designated by the Merit Systems Protection Board at which the career appointee may appear and present arguments, but such hearing shall not give the career appointee the right to initiate an action with the Board under
(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a career appointee in an agency may not be involuntarily removed—
(A) within 120 days after an appointment of the head of the agency; or
(B) within 120 days after the appointment in the agency of the career appointee's most immediate supervisor who—
(i) is a noncareer appointee; and
(ii) has the authority to remove the career appointee.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply with respect to—
(A) any removal under
(B) any disciplinary action initiated before an appointment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(c) A limited emergency appointee, limited term appointee, or noncareer appointee may be removed from the service at any time.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(3).
1989—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
Savings Provision
"(1) shall not abate by reason of the enactment of the amendments made by subsection (a)(2)(A); and
"(2) shall continue as if such amendments had not been enacted."
§3593. Reinstatement in the Senior Executive Service
(a) A former career appointee may be reinstated, without regard to section 3393(b) and (c) of this title, to any Senior Executive Service position for which the appointee is qualified if—
(1) the appointee has successfully completed the probationary period established under
(2) the appointee left the Senior Executive Service for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, malfeasance, or less than fully successful executive performance as determined under subchapter II of
(b) A career appointee who is appointed by the President to any civil service position outside the Senior Executive Service and who leaves the position for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, or malfeasance shall be entitled to be placed in the Senior Executive Service if the appointee applies to the Office of Personnel Management within 90 days after separation from the Presidential appointment.
(c)(1) A former career appointee shall be reinstated, without regard to section 3393(b) and (c) of this title, to any vacant Senior Executive Service position in an agency for which the appointee is qualified if—
(A) the individual was a career appointee on May 31, 1981;
(B) the appointee was removed from the Senior Executive Service under
(C) before the removal occurred, the appointee successfully completed the probationary period established under
(D) the appointee applies for that vacant position within one year after the Office receives certification regarding that appointee pursuant to
(2) A career appointee is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (a)(2).
1989—Subsec. (a)(2).
1984—Subsec. (c)(1)(B).
1981—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3594. Guaranteed placement in other personnel systems
(a) A career appointee who was appointed from a civil service position held under a career or career-conditional appointment (or an appointment of equivalent tenure, as determined by the Office of Personnel Management) and who, for reasons other than misconduct, neglect of duty, or malfeasance, is removed from the Senior Executive Service during the probationary period under
(b) A career appointee who has completed the probationary period under
(1) is removed from the Senior Executive Service for less than fully successful executive performance as determined under subchapter II of
(2) is removed from the Senior Executive Service under paragraph (4) or (5) of
shall be entitled to be placed in a civil service position (other than a Senior Executive Service position) in any agency.
(c)(1) For purposes of subsections (a) and (b) of this section—
(A) the position in which any career appointee is placed under such subsections shall be a continuing position at GS–15 of the General Schedule or classified above GS–15 pursuant to section 5108, or an equivalent position, and, in the case of a career appointee referred to in subsection (a) of this section, the career appointee shall be entitled to an appointment of a tenure equivalent to the tenure of the appointment held in the position from which the career appointee was appointed;
(B) any career appointee placed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be entitled to receive basic pay at the highest of—
(i) the rate of basic pay in effect for the position in which placed;
(ii) the rate of basic pay in effect at the time of the placement for the position the career appointee held in the civil service immediately before being appointed to the Senior Executive Service; or
(iii) the rate of basic pay in effect for the career appointee immediately before being placed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section; and
(C) the placement of any career appointee under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may not be made to a position which would cause the separation or reduction in grade of any other employee.
(2) An employee who is receiving basic pay under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) or (iii) of this subsection is entitled to have the basic pay rate of the employee increased by 50 percent of the amount of each increase in the maximum rate of basic pay for the grade of the position in which the employee is placed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section until the rate is equal to the rate in effect under paragraph (1)(B)(i) of this subsection for the position in which the employee is placed.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
GS–15 of the General Schedule, referred to in subsec. (c)(1)(A), is set out under
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
1992—Subsec. (c)(1)(A).
1990—Subsec. (c)(1)(A).
1989—Subsec. (b)(3).
1984—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§3595. Reduction in force in the Senior Executive Service
(a) An agency shall establish competitive procedures for determining who shall be removed from the Senior Executive Service in any reduction in force of career appointees within that agency. The competitive procedures shall be designed to assure that such determinations are primarily on the basis of performance, as determined under subchapter II of
(b)(1) This subsection applies to any career appointee who has successfully completed the probationary period prescribed under
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5), a career appointee may not be removed from the Senior Executive Service due to a reduction in force within an agency.
(3) A career appointee who, but for this subsection, would be removed from the Senior Executive Service due to a reduction in force within an agency—
(A) is entitled to be assigned by the head of that agency to a vacant Senior Executive Service position for which the career appointee is qualified; or
(B) if the agency head certifies, in writing, to the Office of Personnel Management that no such position is available in the agency, shall be placed by the Office in any agency in any vacant Senior Executive Service position unless the head of that agency determines that the career appointee is not qualified for that position.
The Office of Personnel Management shall take all reasonable steps to place a career appointee under subparagraph (B) and may require any agency to take any action which the Office considers necessary to carry out any such placement.
(4) A career appointee who is not assigned under paragraph (3)(A) may be removed from the Senior Executive Service due to a reduction in force if the career appointee declines a reasonable offer for placement in a Senior Executive Service position under paragraph (3)(B).
(5) A career appointee who is not assigned under paragraph (3)(A) may be removed from the Senior Executive Service due to a reduction in force if the career appointee is not placed in another Senior Executive Service position under paragraph (3)(B) within 45 days after the Office receives certification regarding that appointee under paragraph (3)(B).
(c) A career appointee is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under
(d) For purposes of this section, "reduction in force" includes the elimination or modification of a position due to a reorganization, due to a lack of funds or curtailment of work, or due to any other factor.
(e) The Office shall prescribe regulations under which the rights accorded to a career appointee in the event of a transfer of function are comparable to the rights accorded to a competing employee under
(Added
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 3595, added
Amendments
1984—Subsec. (b)(3)(B).
Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (b)(5).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (e).
1982—Subsec. (b)(3)(B).
Subsec. (c)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by section 303(c), (d) of
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
"(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 15, 1982].
"(2) The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to an individual who is a career appointee on or after September 30, 1982, except that any individual who is a career appointee on September 30, 1982, and who is described in
Effective Date
"(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this section [enacting this section, redesignating former section 3595 as
"(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amendments made by this section shall apply to any career appointee removed from the civil service after May 31, 1981, and before the date of the enactment of this section [Aug. 13, 1981] if, not later than 14 days after such date of enactment, application therefor is made to the Office of Personnel Management and to the head of the Agency in which the appointee was employed.
"(B) The provisions of section 3595(a), as added by subsection (a)(1), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 13, 1981].
"(3) The effectiveness of the amendments made by this section shall be subject to section 415(b) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 [
§3595a. Furlough in the Senior Executive Service
(a) For the purposes of this section, "furlough" means the placement of a senior executive in a temporary status in which the senior executive has no duties and is not paid when the placement in such status is by reason of insufficient work or funds or for other nondisciplinary reasons.
(b) An agency may furlough a career appointee only in accordance with regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management.
(c) A career appointee who is furloughed is entitled to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board under
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective following expiration of 90-day period beginning on Nov. 8, 1984, see section 307 of
§3596. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1981—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
SUBCHAPTER VI—REEMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING LIMITED APPOINTMENT IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
§3597. Reemployment following limited appointment in the Foreign Service
An employee of any agency who accepts, with the consent of the head of that agency, a limited appointment in the Foreign Service under section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 is entitled, upon the expiration of that appointment, to be reemployed in that employee's former position or in a corresponding or higher position in that agency. Upon reemployment under this section, an employee shall be entitled to any within-grade increases in pay which the employee would have received if the employee had remained in the former position in the agency.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 309 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, referred to in text, is classified to
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Feb. 15, 1981, except as otherwise provided, see section 2403 of
SUBCHAPTER VII—RETENTION OF RETIRED SPECIALIZED EMPLOYEES AT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
Editorial Notes
Codification
§3598.1 Federal Bureau of Investigation Reserve Service
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(Added
1 Another section 3598 is set out after this section.
§3598.1 Federal Bureau of Investigation Reserve Service
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(Added
1 Another section 3598 is set out preceding this section.
CHAPTER 37 —INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE PROGRAM
§3701. Definitions
For purposes of this chapter—
(1) the term "agency" means an Executive agency, but does not include the Government Accountability Office; and
(2) the term "detail" means—
(A) the assignment or loan of an employee of an agency to a private sector organization without a change of position from the agency that employs the individual, or
(B) the assignment or loan of an employee of a private sector organization to an agency without a change of position from the private sector organization that employs the individual,
whichever is appropriate in the context in which such term is used.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Par. (1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
§3702. General provisions
(a)
(1) works in the field of information technology management;
(2) is considered an exceptional performer by the individual's current employer; and
(3) is expected to assume increased information technology management responsibilities in the future.
An employee of an agency shall be eligible to participate in this program only if the employee is employed at the GS–11 level or above (or equivalent) and is serving under a career or career-conditional appointment or an appointment of equivalent tenure in the excepted service, and applicable requirements of section 209(b) of the E-Government Act of 2002 are met with respect to the proposed assignment of such employee.
(b)
(1) require the employee to serve in the civil service, upon completion of the assignment, for a period equal to the length of the assignment; and
(2) provide that, in the event the employee fails to carry out the agreement (except for good and sufficient reason, as determined by the head of the agency from which assigned) the employee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses of the assignment.
An amount under paragraph (2) shall be treated as a debt due the United States.
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(1) the need to ensure that small business concerns are appropriately represented with respect to the assignments described in sections 3703 and 3704, respectively; and
(2) how assignments described in section 3703 might best be used to help meet the needs of the agency for the training of employees in information technology management.
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
GS–11, referred to in subsec. (a), is contained in the General Schedule which is set out under
Section 209(b) of the E-Government Act of 2002, referred to in subsec. (a), is section 209(b) of
The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
Pilot Program for the Temporary Assignment of Cyber and Information Technology Personnel to Private Sector Organizations
"(a)
"(1) the employee—
"(A) works in the field of cyber operations or information technology management or performs financial management and budgeting tasks for a private sector organization that primarily develops software or provides software services;
"(B) is considered by the Secretary of Defense to be an exceptional employee;
"(C) is expected to assume increased cyber operations or information technology management responsibilities in the future; and
"(D) is compensated at not less than the GS–11 level (or the equivalent); and
"(2) the proposed assignment meets applicable requirements of section 209(b) of the E-Government Act of 2002 [
"(b)
"(1) shall require that employees of the Department of Defense, upon completion of the assignment, will serve in the civil service for a period equal to the length of the assignment; and
"(2) shall provide that if the employee of the Department of Defense or of the private sector organization (as the case may be) fails to carry out the agreement, such employee shall be liable to the United States for payment of all expenses of the assignment, unless that failure was for good and sufficient reason, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.
An amount for which an employee is liable under paragraph (2) shall be treated as a debt due the United States.
"(c)
"(d)
"(e)
"(1) may continue to receive pay and benefits from the private sector organization from which such employee is assigned;
"(2) is deemed to be an employee of the Department of Defense for the purposes of—
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
"(D) the Federal Tort Claims Act [see Short Title note under
"(E)
"(F) section 1043 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [
"(G) section 27 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act [now
"(3) may not have access to any trade secrets or to any other nonpublic information which is of commercial value to the private sector organization from which such employee is assigned.
"(f)
"(g)
"(1) shall ensure that, of the assignments made under this section each year, at least 20 percent are to or from small business concerns (as defined by
"(2) shall take into consideration the question of how assignments under this section might best be used to help meet the needs of the Department of Defense with respect to the training of employees in cyber operations or information technology management.
"(h)
"(i)
"(1) nothing in this subsection shall, in the case of any assignment commencing under such section 1109 on or before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 2009], affect—
"(A) the duration of such assignment or the authority to extend such assignment in accordance with subsection (d) of such section 1109, as last in effect; or
"(B) the terms or conditions of the agreement governing such assignment, including with respect to any service obligation under subsection (b) thereof; and
"(2) any employee whose assignment is allowed to continue by virtue of paragraph (1) shall be taken into account for purposes of the numerical limitation under subsection (h)."
§3703. Assignment of employees to private sector organizations
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(1)
(2)
(A) the term "small business concern" means a business concern that satisfies the definitions and standards specified by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration under section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act (as from time to time amended by the Administrator);
(B) the term "year" refers to the 12-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this chapter, and each succeeding 12-month period in which any assignments under this chapter may be made; and
(C) the assignments "made" in a year are those commencing in such year.
(3)
(A) the total number of assignments made under this chapter from such agency to private sector organizations in the year;
(B) of that total number, the number (and percentage) made to small business concerns; and
(C) the reasons for the agency's noncompliance with paragraph (1).
(4)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (d), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Section 3(a)(2) of the Small Business Act, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(A), is classified to
The date of the enactment of this chapter, referred to in subsec. (e)(2)(B), is the date of enactment of
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Committee on Small Business of Senate changed to Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of Senate. See Senate Resolution No. 123, One Hundred Seventh Congress, June 29, 2001.
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
§3704. Assignment of employees from private sector organizations
(a)
(b)
(1) may continue to receive pay and benefits from the private sector organization from which he is assigned;
(2) is deemed, notwithstanding subsection (a), to be an employee of the agency for the purposes of—
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D) the Federal Tort Claims Act and any other Federal tort liability statute;
(E)
(F) section 1043 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; and
(G)
(3) may not have access to any trade secrets or to any other nonpublic information which is of commercial value to the private sector organization from which he is assigned; and
(4) is subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe.
The supervision of an employee of a private sector organization assigned to an agency under this chapter may be governed by agreement between the agency and the private sector organization concerned. Such an assignment may be made with or without reimbursement by the agency for the pay, or a part thereof, of the employee during the period of assignment, or for any contribution of the private sector organization to employee benefit systems.
(c)
(d)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Tort Claims Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(D), is title IV of act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753,
Section 1043 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (b)(2)(F), is classified to
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (b)(2)(E).
2011—Subsec. (b)(2)(G).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
§3705. Application to Office of the Chief Technology Officer of the District of Columbia
(a)
(b)
(c)
(Added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, referred to in subsec. (b), is an act of the District of Columbia and is not classified to the Code.
The District of Columbia Campaign Finance Reform and Conflict of Interest Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer Establishment Act of 1998, referred to in subsec. (c), is an act of the District of Columbia and is not classified to the Code.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
§3706. Reporting requirement
(a)
(b)
(1) the total number of individuals assigned to, and the total number of individuals assigned from, each agency during such period;
(2) a brief description of each assignment included under paragraph (1), including—
(A) the name of the assigned individual, as well as the private sector organization and the agency (including the specific bureau or other agency component) to or from which such individual was assigned;
(B) the respective positions to and from which the individual was assigned, including the duties and responsibilities and the pay grade or level associated with each; and
(C) the duration and objectives of the individual's assignment; and
(3) such other information as the Office considers appropriate.
(c)
(1) shall be published in the Federal Register; and
(2) shall be made publicly available on the Internet.
(d)
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Committee on Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2019. Committee on Oversight and Reform of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Oversight and Accountability of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, Jan. 9, 2023.
Committee on Governmental Affairs of Senate changed to Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of Senate, effective Jan. 4, 2005, by Senate Resolution No. 445, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Oct. 9, 2004.
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
§3707. Regulations
The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this chapter.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 120 days after Dec. 17, 2002, see section 402(a) of
Subpart C—Employee Performance
CHAPTER 41 —TRAINING
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—
2003—
2002—
1995—
1994—
1982—
§4101. Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter—
(1) "agency", subject to
(A) an Executive department;
(B) an independent establishment;
(C) a Government corporation subject to
(D) the Library of Congress;
(E) the Government Publishing Office; and
(F) the government of the District of Columbia;
(2) "employee", subject to
(A) an individual employed in or under an agency; and
(B) a commissioned officer of the Environmental Science Services Administration;
(3) "Government" means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia;
(4) "training" means the process of providing for and making available to an employee, and placing or enrolling the employee in, a planned, prepared, and coordinated program, course, curriculum, subject, system, or routine of instruction or education, in scientific, professional, technical, mechanical, trade, clerical, fiscal, administrative, or other fields which will improve individual and organizational performance and assist in achieving the agency's mission and performance goals;
(5) "Government facility" means property owned or substantially controlled by the Government and the services of any civilian and military personnel of the Government; and
(6) "non-Government facility" means—
(A) the government of a State or of a territory or possession of the United States including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and an interstate governmental organization, or a unit, subdivision, or instrumentality of any of the foregoing;
(B) a foreign government or international organization, or instrumentality of either, which is designated by the President as eligible to provide training under this chapter;
(C) a medical, scientific, technical, educational, research, or professional institution, foundation, or organization;
(D) a business, commercial, or industrial firm, corporation, partnership, proprietorship, or other organization;
(E) individuals other than civilian or military personnel of the Government; and
(F) the services and property of any of the foregoing furnishing the training.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In paragraph (1), the word "agency" is substituted for "department". Reference to the "General Accounting Office" is omitted as included in "independent establishment" because of the definition in section 104.
In paragraph (2)(B), the words "in the Department of Commerce" are omitted as unnecessary.
In paragraph (6)(C), the word "agency" is omitted as unnecessary and to avoid confusion with the word "agency" defined by paragraph (1).
In paragraph (6)(E), the words "individuals other than civilian or military personnel of the Government" are substituted for "an individual not a civilian or military officer or employee of the Government of the United States or of the municipal government of the District of Columbia" to conform to paragraph (5).
The definition of "Commission" in former section 2302(4) is omitted as unnecessary as the title "Civil Service Commission" is fully set out the first time it is used in each section of this chapter.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Par. (4).
1982—Par. (1)(C).
1967—Par. (2)(B).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (1)(E) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 1967 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of Environmental Science Services Administration to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, see Transfer of Functions note set out under
Delegation of Functions
Functions of President under subsec. (6)(B) of this section delegated to head of each agency concerned, see section 402 of Ex. Ord. No. 11348, Apr. 20, 1967, 32 F.R. 6335, set out as a note under
§4102. Exceptions; Presidential authority
(a)(1) This chapter does not apply to—
(A) a corporation supervised by the Farm Credit Administration if private interests elect or appoint a member of the board of directors;
(B) the Tennessee Valley Authority; or
(C) an individual (except a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) who is a member of a uniformed service during a period in which he is entitled to pay under
(2) This chapter (except sections 4110 and 4111) does not apply to—
(A) the Foreign Service of the United States; or
(B) an individual appointed by the President, unless the individual is specifically designated by the President for training under this chapter.
(b) The President, at any time in the public interest, may—
(1) except an agency or part thereof, or an employee or group or class of employees therein, from this chapter or a provision thereof (except this section); and
(2) withdraw an exception made under this subsection.
However, the President may not except the Office of Personnel Management from a provision of this chapter which vests in or imposes on the Office a function, duty, or responsibility concerning any matter except the establishment, operation, and maintenance, in the same capacity as other agencies, of training programs and plans for its employees.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, May 26, 1959, Aug. 2, 1962, |
In subsection (a)(1), the exception for the President and Vice President is omitted as surplusage as these elected officers are not employed in or under an agency and thus are not included in the definition of "employee" in section 4101(2).
In subsection (a)(1)(C), the words "as defined by
In subsection (a)(2)(B), the words "by the President" are coextensive with and substituted for "by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate or by the President alone".
In subsection (b)(1), reference to "section 21, and section 22" is omitted as unnecessary since the sections are not carried into this title, but are scheduled for repeal, see Table II.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
Subsec. (b).
1978—Subsec. (b).
1975—Subsec. (a)(2)(B).
1967—Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendments by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions
Functions of President under subsec. (b)(1) of this section delegated to Office of Personnel Management, see section 401(a) of Ex. Ord. No. 11348, Apr. 20, 1967, 32 F.R. 6335, set out as a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 10805. Central Intelligence Agency
Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, provided:
(a) Section 2(4), 6, 9(b)(1), 11, 12, 15, 16, and 18 [sections 4117, 4118, 4105(b)(1), 4108, 4106, 4114, 4115, and 1308(a)(4)(A)–(C), (b) and 4113(b) respectively of this title].
(b) The last sentence of section 5 [
(c) That part of section 7 [
(d) That part of section 10 [
Executive Order No. 11531
Ex. Ord. No. 11531, May 26, 1970, 35 F.R. 8337, which related to the delegation of Presidential authority to designate United States Marshals and United States Attorneys for training, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11895, Jan. 6, 1976, 41 F.R. 1465, set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 11895. Delegation of Presidential Authority To Designate Individuals Appointed by the President To Receive Training
Ex. Ord. No. 11895, Jan. 6, 1976, 41 F.R. 1465, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
§4103. Establishment of training programs
(a) In order to assist in achieving an agency's mission and performance goals by improving employee and organizational performance, the head of each agency, in conformity with this chapter, shall establish, operate, maintain, and evaluate a program or programs, and a plan or plans thereunder, for the training of employees in or under the agency by, in, and through Government facilities and non-Government facilities. Each program, and plan thereunder, shall—
(1) conform to the principles, standards, and related requirements contained in the regulations prescribed under
(2) provide for adequate administrative control by appropriate authority;
(3) provide that information concerning the selection and assignment of employees for training and the applicable training limitations and restrictions be made available to employees of the agency; and
(4) provide for the encouragement of self-training by employees by means of appropriate recognition of resultant increases in proficiency, skill, and capacity.
Two or more agencies jointly may operate under a training program.
(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an agency may train any employee of the agency to prepare the employee for placement in another agency if the head of the agency determines that such training would be in the interests of the Government.
(2) In selecting an employee for training under this subsection, the head of the agency shall consider—
(A) the extent to which the current skills, knowledge, and abilities of the employee may be utilized in the new position;
(B) the employee's capability to learn skills and acquire knowledge and abilities needed in the new position; and
(C) the benefits to the Government which would result from such training.
(c) The head of each agency shall, on a regular basis—
(1) evaluate each program or plan established, operated, or maintained under subsection (a) with respect to accomplishing specific performance plans and strategic goals in performing the agency mission; and
(2) modify such program or plan as needed to accomplish such plans and goals.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
The words "Within two hundred and seventy days after the date of enactment of this Act [July 7, 1958]" are omitted as obsolete.
In paragraph (1), reference to the effective date of the regulations is omitted as obsolete.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2004—Subsec. (c).
1994—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(3), (4).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (b)(3).
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Ensuring Anti-Trafficking-In-Persons Trainings and Provisions Into Codes of Conduct of All Federal Departments and Executive Agencies
"(a)
"(1) Human trafficking is inimical to every Federal agency's core values and inherently harmful and dehumanizing.
"(2) Through the adoption of a Code of Conduct, Federal agencies hold their personnel to similar standards that are required of contractors and subcontractors of the agency under Federal law.
"(3) Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and against Federal law.
"(4) The United States Government seeks to deter activities that would facilitate or support trafficking in persons.
"(b)
"(1) beginning not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 2023], the head of every Federal agency should incorporate a module on human trafficking into its staff training requirements and menu of topics to be covered in the annual ethics training of such agency;
"(2) such staff trainings should teach employees how to prevent, identify, and report trafficking in persons;
"(3) Federal agencies that already provide counter trafficking-in-persons training for staff should share their curricula with agencies that do not have such curricula;
"(4) the head of each agency should inform all candidates for employment about the anti-trafficking provisions in the Code of Conduct of the agency;
"(5) employees of each Federal agency should sign acknowledgment of the agency's Code of Conduct, which should be kept in the file of the employee; and
"(6) a violation of the Code of Conduct should lead to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
"(c)
"(1) a prohibition from engaging in human trafficking while employed by the Government in a full-time or part-time capacity;
"(2) a requirement that all Federal personnel, without regard to whether the person is stationed abroad, be sensitized to human trafficking and the ethical conduct requirements that prohibit the procurement of trafficking in persons;
"(3) a requirement that all such personnel be equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to prevent, recognize, report, and address human trafficking offenses through a training for new personnel and through regular refresher courses offered every 2 years; and
"(4) a requirement that all such personnel report to the applicable inspector general and agency trafficking in persons point of contact any suspected cases of misconduct, waste, fraud, or abuse relating to trafficking in persons.
"(d)
"(1) shall be established or integrated into all applicable employee codes of conduct not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 5, 2023];
"(2) may not replace any preexisting code of conduct that contains more robust requirements than the requirements described in subsection (c); and
"(3) shall be signed by all personnel described in subsection (c) not later than 2 years after such date of enactment.
"(e)
"(1) the number of suspected violations reported;
"(2) the number of investigations;
"(3) the status and outcomes of such investigations; and
"(4) any recommended actions to improve the programs and operations of such agency."
Optional Participation of Federal Employees in AIDS Training Programs
"(a)
"(b)
Experimental Program Relating to Acceptance of Voluntary Services From Participants in Executive Exchange Program
Executive Documents
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from provisions of subsec. (a)(1) of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from certain provisions of subsec. (a)(1) of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 11348. Further Training of Government Employees
Ex. Ord. No. 11348, Apr. 20, 1967, 32 F.R. 6335, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by
Part I—General
(b) "Interagency training" means training provided by one agency for other agencies or shared by two or more agencies.
Part II—Office of Personnel Management Responsibilities
(a) Advise the President on means for furthering and strengthening programs of training;
(b) Counsel heads of agencies and other agency officials on the improvement of training;
(c) Assist agencies to develop sound programs and financial plans for training and provide advice, information, and assistance to agencies on planning, programming, budgeting, operating, and evaluating training programs;
(d) Identify functional areas in which new or expanded interagency training activity is needed and either conduct such training or arrange for agencies having the substantive competence to do so;
(e) Coordinate interagency training conducted by and for agencies (including agencies and portions of agencies excepted by
(f) Encourage agencies to make appropriate use of non-Government training resources;
(g) Develop, install, and maintain a system to provide the training data needed to carry out its own functions and to provide staff assistance to the President; and
(h) Provide for identification and dissemination of findings of research into training technology and undertake or assign to other agencies, such research projects as may be needed.
Part III—Agency Responsibilities and Operations
(a) Foster employee self-development by creating a work environment in which self-development is encouraged, by assuring that opportunities for training and self-study materials are reasonably available, where the employee is stationed, and by recognizing self-initiated improvement in performance;
(b) Provide training for employees without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, or other factors unrelated to the need for training;
(c) Establish and make full use of agency facilities for training employees;
(d) Extend agency training programs to employees of other agencies (including agencies and portions of agencies excepted by
(e) Establish interagency training facilities in areas of substantive competence as arranged by the Office of Personnel Management; and
(f) Use non-Government training resources as appropriate.
(a) Review periodically, but not less often than annually, the agency's program to identify training needed to bring about more effective performance at the least possible cost;
(b) Conduct periodic reviews of individual employee's training needs as related to program objectives;
(c) Conduct research related to training objectives and required for program improvement and effectiveness;
(d) Plan, program, and evaluate training for both short and longrange program needs by occupations, organizations, or other appropriate groups;
(e) Establish priorities for needed training, and provide for the use of funds and manhours in accordance with these priorities;
(f) Utilize the flexibility of work assignments to provide work experience which promotes growth leading to higher quality and greater quantity of work done;
(g) Establish training facilities and services as needed;
(h) Monitor the effectiveness with which self-development is encouraged and on-the-job training is provided at all levels; and
(i) Establish criteria for the selection of employees for training; and
(j) Approve the acceptance of any contributions, awards, or payments to employees authorized by section 401(b) of this order and regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management.
Part IV—Delegations
(a) The authority under
(b) The authority under
Part V—Revocation of Prior Order
[For revocation of provisions of Ex. Ord. 11348, set out above, relating to establishing or requiring the existence of the Federal Executive Institute, see section 2(b) of Ex. Ord. No. 14207, set out below.]
Executive Order No. 11451
Ex. Ord. No. 11451, Jan. 19, 1969, 34 F.R. 921, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12107, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1055, which established the President's Commission on Personnel Interchange, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12136, May 15, 1979, 44 F.R. 28771, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 12136
Ex. Ord. No. 12136, May 15, 1979, 44 F.R. 28771, which continued the President's Commission on Personnel Interchange and renamed it the President's Commission on Executive Exchange, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12493, Dec. 5, 1984, 49 F.R. 47819, formerly set out below.
Executive Order No. 12493
Ex. Ord. No. 12493, Dec. 5, 1984, 49 F.R. 47819, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12516, May 21, 1985, 50 F.R. 21417; Ex. Ord. No. 12602, July 15, 1987, 52 F.R. 27187, which continued the President's Commission on Executive Exchange, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12760, §2, May 2, 1991, 56 F.R. 21062, set out below.
Ex. Ord. No. 12574. Establishing Experimental Program Within President's Commission on Executive Exchange
Ex. Ord. No. 12574, Nov. 20, 1986, 51 F.R. 42199, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, including the Executive Exchange Program Voluntary Services Act of 1986 (
Ronald Reagan.
Ex. Ord. No. 12760. President's Commission on Executive Exchange
Ex. Ord. No. 12760, May 2, 1991, 56 F.R. 21062, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
George Bush.
Ex. Ord. No. 13111. Using Technology To Improve Training Opportunities for Federal Government Employees
Ex. Ord. No. 13111, Jan. 12, 1999, 64 F.R. 2793, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13188, Jan. 12, 2001, 66 F.R. 5419; Ex. Ord. No. 13218, §3(a), June 20, 2001, 66 F.R. 33628; Ex. Ord. No. 13316, §3(a), Sept. 17, 2003, 68 F.R. 55255, provided:
Advances in technology and increased skills needs are changing the workplace at an ever increasing rate. These advances can make Federal employees more productive and provide improved service to our customers, the American taxpayers. We need to ensure that we continue to train Federal employees to take full advantage of these technological advances and to acquire the skills and learning needed to succeed in a changing workplace. A coordinated Federal effort is needed to provide flexible training opportunities to employees and to explore how Federal training programs, initiatives, and policies can better support lifelong learning through the use of learning technology.
To help us meet these goals, I am creating a task force on Federal training technology, directing Federal agencies to take certain steps to enhance employees' training opportunities through the use of training technology, and an advisory committee on the use of training technology, which also will explore options for financing the training and post-secondary education needed to upgrade skills and gain new knowledge.
Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended ([former] 5 U.S.C. App.) [see
(b) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the head of each agency or council shall designate a senior official to serve as a representative to the Task Force. The representative shall report directly to the agency head or the President's Management Council member on the agency's or council's activities under this order.
(c) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shall be the Chair and the representative from the Department of Labor shall be the Vice Chair of the Task Force.
(d) The Chair and Vice Chair shall appoint an Executive Director.
(e) The Task Force member agencies shall provide any required staffing and funding, as appropriate.
(1) develop strategies to improve the efficiency and availability of training opportunities for Federal Government employees;
(2) form partnerships among key Federal agencies, State and local governments, businesses, universities, and other appropriate entities to promote the development and use of high-quality training opportunities;
(3) analyze the use of technology in existing training programs and policies of the Task Force member agencies to determine what changes, modifications, and innovations may be necessary to advance training opportunities;
(4) in consultation with the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, recommend standards for training software and associated services purchased by Federal agencies and contractors. These standards should be consistent with voluntary industry consensus-based commercial standards. Agencies, where appropriate, should use these standards in procurements to promote reusable training component software and thereby reduce duplication in the development of courseware;
(5) evaluate and, where appropriate, coordinate and collaborate on, research and demonstration activities of Task Force member agencies related to Federal training technology;
(6) identify and support cross-agency training areas that would particularly benefit from new instructional technologies and facilitate multiagency procurement and use of training materials, where appropriate;
(7) in consultation with the General Services Administration, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy of the Office of Management and Budget (OFPP), promote existing and new procurement vehicles that allow agencies to provide innovative training opportunities for Federal employees;
(8) recommend changes that may be needed to existing procurement laws to further the objectives of this order and forward the recommendations to the Administrator of OFPP; and
(b) develop options and recommendations for establishing a Federal Individual Training Account for each Federal worker for training relevant to his or her Federal employment. To the extent permitted by law, such accounts may be established with the funds allocated to the agency for employee training. Approval for training would be within the discretion of the individual employee's manager. Options and recommendations shall be reported no later than 6 months from the date of this order.
(1) include as part of its annual budget process a set of goals to provide the highest quality and most efficient training opportunities possible to its employees, and a set of performance measures of the quality and availability of training opportunities possible to its employees. Such measures should be, where appropriate, based on outcomes related to performance rather than time allocation;
(2) identify the resources necessary to achieve the aforementioned goals and performance measures articulated in its annual performance plan;
(3) and, where practicable, use the standards recommended by the Task Force and published by the Office of Personnel Management for purchasing training software and associated services; and
(4) subject to the availability of appropriations, post training courses, information, and other learning opportunities on the Department of Labor's America's Learning Exchange (ALX), or other appropriate information dissemination vehicles as determined by the Task Force, to make information about Federal training courses, information, and other learning opportunities widely available to Federal employees.
(b) Each Federal agency, to the extent permitted by law, is encouraged to consider how savings achieved through the efficient use of training technology can be reinvested in improved training for their employees.
(1) in consultation with the Task Force, the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Labor, and other appropriate agencies as determined by OPM, publish the standards for training software and associated services recommended by the Task Force; and
(2) ensure that qualification standards for civil service positions, where appropriate, reflect standard industry certification practices.
(b) The Department of Labor or other appropriate agency as determined by the Task Force shall, subject to the availability of appropriations:
(1) establish a specialized database for Federal training within the framework of the Department of Labor's ALX, or other appropriate information dissemination vehicles determined by the Task Force, to make information about Federal training courses, information, and other learning opportunities widely available to Federal employees;
(2) establish and maintain a training technology website for agencies to post training needs and to foster communication among the agencies and between public and private sector organizations to identify and meet common needs; and
(3) establish a staffed help desk and technology resource center to support Federal agencies using training technology and to facilitate the development of online training courses.
(c) The Department of Defense or other appropriate agency as determined by the Task Force shall:
(1) in consultation with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, lead Federal participation in business and university organizations charged with developing consensus standards for training software and associated services and lead the Federal review of the standards; and
(2) provide guidance to Defense agencies and advise the civilian agencies, as appropriate, on how best to use these standards for large-scale development and implementation of efficient and effective distributed learning technologies.
(d) Each Executive department shall designate at least one subject area of training that it will use to demonstrate opportunities in technology-based training and assign an agency leader in the designated area. Leaders in these training technology experiments shall work closely with other agencies with similar training interests. Each Executive department shall develop a plan for measuring and evaluating the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and benefits to employees and the agency for each designated subject area.
[
(b) The term "technology," means any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the automatic acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information, including computers, ancillary equipment, software, firmware and similar procedures, services (including support services), and related resources. For purposes of the preceding sentence, equipment is used by an Executive agency if the equipment is used by the Executive agency directly or is used by a contractor under a contract with the Executive agency that requires the use of such equipment. The term "technology" does not include any equipment that is acquired by a Federal contractor incidental to a Federal contract.
Executive Order No. 13950
Ex. Ord. No. 13950, Sept. 22, 2020, 85 F.R. 60683, which prohibited certain workplace training relating to race and gender in the Federal workforce, Uniformed Services, and Federal contractors, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13985, §10(a), Jan. 20, 2021, 86 F.R. 7012, set out in a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 14207. Eliminating the Federal Executive Institute
Ex. Ord. No. 14207, Feb. 10, 2025, 90 F.R. 9583, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
In particular, the Federal Executive Institute, which was created by the Administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson more than 50 years ago, is a Government program purportedly designed to provide leadership training to bureaucrats. But bureaucratic leadership over the past half-century has led to Federal policies that enlarge and entrench the Washington, DC, managerial class, a development that has not benefited the American family. The Federal Executive Institute should therefore be eliminated to refocus Government on serving taxpayers, competence, and dedication to our Constitution, rather than serving the Federal bureaucracy.
(b) All prior Presidential or other executive branch documents establishing or requiring the existence of the Federal Executive Institute, including the Presidential Memorandum of May 9, 1968, regarding the Federal Executive Institute, and any applicable provisions of Executive Order 11348 of April 20, 1967 (Providing for the Further Training of Government Employees) [set out above], are hereby revoked.
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Donald J. Trump.
§4104. Government facilities; use of
An agency program for the training of employees by, in, and through Government facilities under this chapter shall—
(1) provide for training, insofar as practicable, by, in, and through Government facilities under the jurisdiction or control of the agency; and
(2) provide for the making by the agency, to the extent necessary and appropriate, of agreements with other agencies in any branch of the Government, on a reimbursable basis when requested by the other agencies, for—
(A) use of Government facilities under the jurisdiction or control of the other agencies in any branch of the Government; and
(B) extension to employees of the agency of training programs of other agencies.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In paragraph (2), the words "other agencies in any branch of the Government" and "the other agencies" are coextensive with and substituted for "other departments, and with other agencies in any branch of the Government" and "such other departments and agencies". This is so because "other agencies in any branch of the Government" is broader than "agency" as defined for the purpose of this chapter in section 4101(1).
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§4105. Non-Government facilities; use of
The head of an agency, without regard to section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41, may make agreements or other arrangements for the training of employees of the agency by, in, or through non-Government facilities under this chapter.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the word "appropriate" is omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (b)(1), the words "by, in, and through non-Government facilities" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the previous reference in the subsection.
In subsection (b)(2), the word "appropriate" is omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—
1994—
"(b) An agency program for the training of employees by, in, and through non-Government facilities under this chapter shall—
"(1) provide that information concerning the selection and assignment of employees for training and the applicable training limitations and restrictions be made available to employees of the agency; and
"(2) give consideration to the needs and requirements of the agency in recruiting and retaining scientific, professional, technical, and administrative employees.
"(c) In order to protect the Government concerning payment and reimbursement of training expenses, each agency shall prescribe such regulations as it considers necessary to implement the regulations prescribed under
[§4106. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–226, §2(a)(4), Mar. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 112 ]
Section,
§4107. Academic degree training
(a) Subject to subsection (b), an agency may select and assign an employee to academic degree training and may pay or reimburse the costs of academic degree training from appropriated or other available funds if such training—
(1) contributes significantly to—
(A) meeting an identified agency training need;
(B) resolving an identified agency staffing problem; or
(C) accomplishing goals in the strategic plan of the agency;
(2) is part of a planned, systemic, and coordinated agency employee development program linked to accomplishing the strategic goals of the agency; and
(3) is accredited and is provided by a college or university that is accredited by a nationally recognized body.
(b) In exercising authority under subsection (a), an agency shall—
(1) consistent with the merit system principles set forth in paragraphs (2) and (7) of section 2301(b), take into consideration the need to—
(A) maintain a balanced workforce in which women, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and persons with disabilities are appropriately represented in Government service; and
(B) provide employees effective education and training to improve organizational and individual performance;
(2) assure that the training is not for the sole purpose of providing an employee an opportunity to obtain an academic degree or qualify for appointment to a particular position for which the academic degree is a basic requirement;
(3) assure that no authority under this subsection is exercised on behalf of any employee occupying or seeking to qualify for—
(A) a noncareer appointment in the senior Executive Service; or
(B) appointment to any position that is excepted from the competitive service because of its confidential policy-determining, policy-making or policy-advocating character; and
(4) to the greatest extent practicable, facilitate the use of online degree training.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | July 7, 1958, |
|
| (b) | July 7, 1958, |
|
| (c) | July 7, 1958, |
The prohibitions are restated in positive form.
In subsection (a)(2), the words "Executive order" are substituted for "Executive orders of the President".
In subsection (c), the words "under authority of this chapter" and "by the Government" are omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—
2000—Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (c).
1994—
Subsec. (a).
"(1) by, in or through a non-Government facility which teaches or advocates the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force or violence; or
"(2) by or through an individual concerning whom determination has been made by a proper Government administrative or investigatory authority that, on the basis of information or evidence developed in investigations and procedures authorized by law or Executive order, there exists a reasonable doubt of his loyalty to the United States."
Subsec. (b).
"(1) carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation; or
"(2) participating or intervening, including publishing or distributing statements, in a political campaign on behalf of a candidate for public office."
Subsecs. (c), (d).
1990—Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
§4108. Employee agreements; service after training
(a) An employee selected for training for more than a minimum period prescribed by the head of the agency shall agree in writing with the Government before assignment to training that he will—
(1) continue in the service of his agency after the end of the training period for a period at least equal to three times the length of the training period unless he is involuntarily separated from the service of his agency; and
(2) pay to the Government the amount of the additional expenses incurred by the Government in connection with his training if he is voluntarily separated from the service of his agency before the end of the period for which he has agreed to continue in the service of his agency.
(b) The payment agreed to under subsection (a)(2) of this section may not be required of an employee who leaves the service of his agency to enter into the service of another agency in any branch of the Government unless the head of the agency that authorized the training notifies the employee before the effective date of his entrance into the service of the other agency that payment will be required under this section.
(c) If an employee, except an employee relieved of liability under subsection (b) of this section or
(1) setoff against accrued pay, compensation, amount of retirement credit, or other amount due the employee from the Government; and
(2) such other method as is provided by law for the recovery of amounts owing to the Government.
The head of the agency concerned, under the regulations prescribed under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the last sentence of former section 2310(a) is omitted as included in the first sentence of the revised subsection.
In subsection (b), the words, "another agency in any branch of the Government" are coextensive with and substituted for "another department or of any other agency in any branch of the Government". This is so because "agency in any branch of the Government" is broader than "agency" as defined for the purpose of this chapter in section 4101(1).
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Subsec. (d).
1994—Subsec. (a).
1984—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from provisions of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from provisions of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
§4109. Expenses of training
(a) The head of an agency, under the regulations prescribed under
(1) pay all or a part of the pay (except overtime, holiday, or night differential pay) of an employee of the agency selected and assigned for training under this chapter, for the period of training; and
(2) pay, or reimburse the employee for, all or a part of the necessary expenses of the training, without regard to section 3324(a) and (b) of title 31, including among the expenses the necessary costs of—
(A) travel and per diem instead of subsistence under subchapter I of
(B) transportation of immediate family, household goods and personal effects, packing, crating, temporarily storing, draying, and unpacking under
(C) tuition and matriculation fees;
(D) library and laboratory services;
(E) purchase or rental of books, materials, and supplies; and
(F) other services or facilities directly related to the training of the employee.
(b) The expenses of training do not include membership fees except to the extent that the fee is a necessary cost directly related to the training itself or that payment of the fee is a condition precedent to undergoing the training.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1) of this section, the Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, may pay an individual training to be an air traffic controller of such Administration, and the Secretary of Defense may pay an individual training to be an air traffic controller of the Department of Defense, during the period of such training, at the applicable rate of basic pay for the hours of training officially ordered or approved in excess of forty hours in an administrative workweek.
(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a firefighter who is subject to
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a)(1) and (2), the words "training under this chapter" and "the training" are substituted for "training by, in, or through Government facilities or non-Government facilities under authority of this chapter" and "such training", respectively.
In subsection (a)(2)(A), the words "and the Standardized Government Travel Regulations" are omitted as included by the reference to "subchapter I of
In subsection (a)(2)(A) and (B), the words "
In subsection (a)(2)(B), the words "under
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (a)(2)(A).
Subsec. (a)(2)(B).
2013—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B).
2011—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B).
1998—Subsec. (d).
1992—Subsec. (d).
1984—Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (d).
1982—Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (c).
1979—Subsec. (a)(2).
1967—Subsec. (a)(2).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2013 Amendment
Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from introductory provisions of subsec. (a) of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from certain introductory provisions of subsec. (a) of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
§4110. Expenses of attendance at meetings
Appropriations available to an agency for travel expenses are available for expenses of attendance at meetings which are concerned with the functions or activities for which the appropriation is made or which will contribute to improved conduct, supervision, or management of the functions or activities.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
§4111. Acceptance of contributions, awards, and other payments
(a) To the extent authorized by regulation of the President, contributions and awards incident to training in non-Government facilities, and payment of travel, subsistence, and other expenses incident to attendance at meetings, may be made to and accepted by an employee, without regard to
(b) When a contribution, award, or payment, in cash or in kind, is made to an employee for travel, subsistence, or other expenses under subsection (a) of this section, an appropriate reduction, under regulations of the President, shall be made from payment by the Government to the employee for travel, subsistence, or other expenses incident to training in a non-Government facility or to attendance at a meeting.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | July 7, 1958, |
|
| (b) | July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the words "
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (b).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Functions vested by law (including reorganization plan) in Bureau of the Budget or Director of Bureau of the Budget transferred to President by section 101 of 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 2, eff. July 1, 1970, 35 F.R. 7959,
Delegation of Functions
Functions of President under subsec. (a) of this section delegated to Office of Personnel Management, see section 401(b) of Ex. Ord. No. 11348, Apr. 20, 1967, 32 F.R. 6335, set out as a note under
Functions of President under subsec. (b) of this section delegated to Director of Office of Management and Budget, see Ex. Ord. No. 12152, Aug. 14, 1979, 44 F.R. 48143, set out as a note under
§4112. Absorption of costs within funds available
(a) The President, to the extent he considers practicable, shall provide by regulation for the absorption of the costs of the training programs and plans under this chapter by the respective agencies from applicable appropriations or funds available for each fiscal year.
(b) Subsection (a) of this section may not be held or considered to require—
(1) the separation of an individual from the service by reduction in force or other personnel action; or
(2) the placement of an individual in a leave-without-pay status.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the words "for each fiscal year" are substituted for "for the fiscal year in which this chapter is enacted and for each succeeding fiscal year".
In subsection (b), the prohibition is restated in positive form.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (a).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1979 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions
Functions of President under subsec. (a) of this section delegated to Director of Office of Management and Budget, see Ex. Ord. No. 12152, Aug. 14, 1979, 44 F.R. 48143, set out as a note under
[§4113. Repealed. Pub. L. 104–66, title II, §2181(c)(1), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 732 ]
Section,
[§4114. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–226, §2(a)(8), Mar. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 112 ]
Section,
§4115. Collection of training information
The Office of Personnel Management, to the extent it considers appropriate in the public interest, may collect information concerning training programs, plans, and the methods inside and outside the Government. The Office, on request, may make the information available to an agency and to Congress.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In the first sentence, the words "from time to time" are omitted as unnecessary. In the second sentence, the word "appropriate" is omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from provisions of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from provisions of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
§4116. Training program assistance
The Office of Personnel Management, on request of an agency, shall advise and assist in the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the training programs and plans of the agency under this chapter, to the extent of its facilities and personnel available for that purpose.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§4117. Administration
The Office of Personnel Management has the responsibility and authority for effective promotion and coordination of the training programs under this chapter and training operations thereunder. The functions, duties, and responsibilities of the Office under this chapter are subject to supervision and control by the President and review by Congress.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
||
| July 7, 1958, |
Former sections 2301(4) and 2318(e) are combined and restated for clarity.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from provisions of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from certain provisions of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
§4118. Regulations
(a) The Office of Personnel Management, after considering the needs and requirements of each agency for training its employees and after consulting with the agencies principally concerned, shall prescribe regulations containing the principles, standards, and related requirements for the programs, and plans thereunder, for the training of employees under this chapter, including requirements for coordination of and reasonable uniformity in the agency training programs and plans. The regulations shall provide for the maintenance of necessary information concerning the general conduct of the training activities of each agency, and such other information as is necessary to enable the President and Congress to discharge effectively their respective duties and responsibilities for supervision, control, and review of these training programs. The regulations also shall cover—
(1) requirements concerning the determination and continuing review by each agency of its training needs and requirements;
(2) the scope and conduct of the agency training programs and plans;
(3) the selection and assignment of employees of each agency for training;
(4) the use in each agency of the services of employees who have undergone training;
(5) the evaluation of the results and effects of the training programs and plans;
(6) the interchange of training information among the agencies;
(7) the submission of reports by the agencies on results and effects of training programs and plans and economies resulting therefrom, including estimates of costs of training;
(8) requirements and limitations necessary with respect to payments and reimbursements in accordance with
(9) other matters considered appropriate or necessary by the Office to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(b) The Office, in accordance with this chapter, may revise, supplement, or abolish regulations prescribed under this section, and prescribe additional regulations.
(c) This section does not authorize the Office to prescribe the types and methods of intra-agency training or to regulate the details of intra-agency training programs.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| July 7, 1958, |
In subsection (a), the word "appropriate" is omitted as unnecessary. The words "with respect to training by, in, and through Government facilities and non-Government facilities" are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (b)(2) and (3), the words "by, in, or through a non-Government facility" are omitted as unnecessary in view of the previous reference in the subsection.
In subsection (c), the words "From time to time" are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (d), the prohibition is restated in positive form.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Subsec. (a)(7).
Subsecs. (b) to (d).
"(1) prescribe general policies governing the selection of a non-Government facility to provide training;
"(2) authorize training of employees only after the head of the agency concerned determines that adequate training for employees by, in, or through a Government facility is not reasonably available, and that consideration has been given to the existing or reasonably foreseeable availability and use of fully trained employees; and
"(3) prohibit training an employee for the purpose of filling a position by promotion if there is in the agency concerned another employee, of equal ability and suitability, fully qualified to fill the position and available at, or within a reasonable distance from, the place where the duties of the position are to be performed."
1978—Subsecs. (a), (c), (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Executive Documents
Department of Homeland Security
Exception from provisions of this section of those elements of the Department of Homeland Security that are supervised by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection through the Department's Assistant Secretary for Information Analysis, see Ex. Ord. No. 13286, §86, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10632, set out as a note under
Central Intelligence Agency
Exception of Central Intelligence Agency from provisions of this section, see Ex. Ord. No. 10805, Feb. 18, 1959, 24 F.R. 1301, set out as a note under
§4119. Training for employees under the Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Botanic Garden
(a) The Architect of the Capitol may, by regulation, make applicable such provisions of this chapter as the Architect determines necessary to provide for training of (1) individuals employed under the Office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Botanic Garden and (2) other congressional employees who are subject to the administrative control of the Architect. The regulations shall provide for training which, in the determination of the Architect, is consistent with the training provided by agencies under the preceding sections of this chapter.
(b) The Office of Personnel Management shall provide the Architect of the Capitol with such advice and assistance as the Architect may request in order to enable the Architect to carry out the purposes of this section.
(Added
§4120. Training for employees of the Capitol Police
(a) The Chief of the Capitol Police may, by regulation, make applicable such provisions of this chapter as the Chief determines necessary to provide for training of employees of the Capitol Police. The regulations shall provide for training which, in the determination of the Chief, is consistent with the training provided by agencies under the preceding sections of this chapter.
(b) The Office of Personnel Management shall provide the Chief of the Capitol Police with such advice and assistance as the Chief may request in order to enable the Chief to carry out the purposes of this section.
(c) An employee of the Capitol Police may receive training under this section outside of the United States only with the prior approval of the Capitol Police Board. In this subsection, the term "United States" means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the territories and possessions of the United States.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2025 Amendment
§4121. Specific training programs
In consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, the head of each agency shall establish—
(1) a comprehensive management succession program to provide training to employees to develop managers for the agency; and
(2) a program to provide training to managers on actions, options, and strategies a manager may use in—
(A) relating to employees with unacceptable performance;
(B) mentoring employees and improving employee performance and productivity; and
(C) conducting employee performance appraisals.
(Added
CHAPTER 43 —PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBCHAPTER II—PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—
1984—
1978—
1 So in original. Does not conform to section catchline.
SUBCHAPTER I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1979—
§4301. Definitions
Except as otherwise expressly provided, for the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency; and
(B) the Government Publishing Office;
but does not include—
(i) a Government corporation;
(ii) the Central Intelligence Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, or any Executive agency or unit thereof which is designated by the President and the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities; or
(iii) the Government Accountability Office;
(2) "employee" means an individual employed in or under an agency, but does not include—
(A) an employee outside the United States who is paid in accordance with local native prevailing wage rates for the area in which employed;
(B) an individual in the Foreign Service of the United States;
(C) a physician, dentist, nurse, or other employee in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs whose pay is fixed under
(D) an administrative law judge appointed under
(E) an individual in the Senior Executive Service or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service;
(F) an individual appointed by the President;
(G) an individual occupying a position not in the competitive service excluded from coverage of this subchapter by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management; or
(H) an individual who (i) is serving in a position under a temporary appointment for less than one year, (ii) agrees to serve without a performance evaluation, and (iii) will not be considered for a reappointment or for an increase in pay based in whole or in part on performance; and
(3) "unacceptable performance" means performance of an employee which fails to meet established performance standards in one or more critical elements of such employee's position.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, §2, |
||
| Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, §601(a), |
||
| June 17, 1957, |
||
| July 11, 1957, |
||
| Sept. 2, 1958, |
||
| Mar. 26, 1964, |
In paragraph (1), the term "Executive agency" is substituted for the reference to "executive departments, the independent establishments and agencies in the executive branch, including corporations wholly owned by the United States" and "the General Accounting Office". The exception of "a Government controlled corporation" is added in subparagraph (vii) to preserve the application of this chapter to "corporations wholly owned by the United States". The exceptions for Production credit corporations and Federal intermediate credit banks in former section 2001(b)(5), (6) are omitted as they are no longer "corporations wholly owned by the United States". Under the Farm Credit Act of 1956,
Paragraph (2) is supplied because the definition of "employee" in section 2105 does not encompass individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia. The definition in paragraph (2) does not encompass members of the uniformed services as they are not "employed" in or under an agency.
Paragraph (2)(E) is based on the third and fifth sentences, respectively, of former sections 1010 and 1011, which are carried into sections 5362 and 559, respectively, and section 1106(a) of the Act of Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782,
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—
2008—Par. (1)(ii)
2004—Par. (1)(iii).
1996—Par. (1)(ii).
1994—Par. (1)(ii).
1991—Par. (2)(C).
1990—Par. (1).
Par. (2)(H).
1988—Par. (2)(E).
1978—
Par. (2)(E).
1970—Par. (1)(ii).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (1)(B) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1970 Amendment
Amendment by
§4302. Establishment of performance appraisal systems
(a) Each agency shall develop one or more performance appraisal systems which—
(1) provide for periodic appraisals of job performance of employees;
(2) encourage employee participation in establishing performance standards; and
(3) use the results of performance appraisals as a basis for training, rewarding, reassigning, promoting, reducing in grade, retaining, and removing employees.
(b)(1) The head of each agency, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management and the Special Counsel, shall develop criteria that—
(A) the head of the agency shall use as a critical element for establishing the job requirements of a supervisory employee; and
(B) promote the protection of whistleblowers.
(2) The criteria required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) principles for the protection of whistleblowers, such as the degree to which supervisory employees—
(i) respond constructively when employees of the agency make disclosures described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 2302(b)(8);
(ii) take responsible actions to resolve the disclosures described in clause (i); and
(iii) foster an environment in which employees of the agency feel comfortable making disclosures described in clause (i) to supervisory employees or other appropriate authorities; and
(B) for each supervisory employee—
(i) whether the agency entered into an agreement with an individual who alleged that the supervisory employee committed a prohibited personnel practice; and
(ii) if the agency entered into an agreement described in clause (i), the number of instances in which the agency entered into such an agreement with respect to the supervisory employee.
(3) In this subsection—
(A) the term "agency" means any entity the employees of which are covered under paragraphs (8) and (9) of section 2302(b), without regard to whether any other provision of this section is applicable to the entity;
(B) the term "prohibited personnel practice" has the meaning given the term in section 2302(a)(1);
(C) the term "supervisory employee" means an employee who would be a supervisor, as defined in section 7103(a), if the agency employing the employee was an agency for purposes of
(D) the term "whistleblower" means an employee who makes a disclosure described in section 2302(b)(8).
(c) Under regulations which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe, each performance appraisal system shall provide for—
(1) establishing performance standards which will, to the maximum extent feasible, permit the accurate evaluation of job performance on the basis of objective criteria (which may include the extent of courtesy demonstrated to the public) related to the job in question for each employee or position under the system;
(2) as soon as practicable, but not later than October 1, 1981, with respect to initial appraisal periods, and thereafter at the beginning of each following appraisal period, communicating to each employee the performance standards and the critical elements of the employee's position;
(3) evaluating each employee during the appraisal period on such standards;
(4) recognizing and rewarding employees whose performance so warrants;
(5) assisting employees in improving unacceptable performance; and
(6) reassigning, reducing in grade, or removing employees who continue to have unacceptable performance but only after an opportunity to demonstrate acceptable performance.
(d) In accordance with regulations which the Office shall prescribe, the head of an agency may administer and maintain a performance appraisal system electronically.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, §3, |
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsecs. (b) to (d).
2000—Subsec. (c).
1992—Subsec. (a)(3).
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
Annual Report to Congress on Unacceptable Performance in Whistleblower Protection
"(A)
"(B)
"(i) the number of performance appraisals, for the year covered by the report, that determined that an employee of the agency failed to meet the standards for protecting whistleblowers that were established under
"(ii) the reasons for the determinations described in clause (i); and
"(iii) each performance-based or corrective action taken by the agency in response to a determination under clause (i)."
[§4302a. Repealed. Pub. L. 103–89, §3(b)(1)(B)(i), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 981 ]
Section, added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of Repeal
Repeal effective Nov. 1, 1993, see section 3(c) of
§4303. Actions based on unacceptable performance
(a) Subject to the provisions of this section, an agency may reduce in grade or remove an employee for unacceptable performance.
(b)(1) An employee whose reduction in grade or removal is proposed under this section is entitled to—
(A) 30 days' advance written notice of the proposed action which identifies—
(i) specific instances of unacceptable performance by the employee on which the proposed action is based; and
(ii) the critical elements of the employee's position involved in each instance of unacceptable performance;
(B) be represented by an attorney or other representative;
(C) a reasonable time to answer orally and in writing; and
(D) a written decision which—
(i) in the case of a reduction in grade or removal under this section, specifies the instances of unacceptable performance by the employee on which the reduction in grade or removal is based, and
(ii) unless proposed by the head of the agency, has been concurred in by an employee who is in a higher position than the employee who proposed the action.
(2) An agency may, under regulations prescribed by the head of such agency, extend the notice period under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section for not more than 30 days. An agency may extend the notice period for more than 30 days only in accordance with regulations issued by the Office of Personnel Management.
(c) The decision to retain, reduce in grade, or remove an employee—
(1) shall be made within 30 days after the date of expiration of the notice period, and
(2) in the case of a reduction in grade or removal, may be based only on those instances of unacceptable performance by the employee—
(A) which occurred during the 1-year period ending on the date of the notice under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section in connection with the decision; and
(B) for which the notice and other requirements of this section are complied with.
(d) If, because of performance improvement by the employee during the notice period, the employee is not reduced in grade or removed, and the employee's performance continues to be acceptable for 1 year from the date of the advance written notice provided under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section, any entry or other notation of the unacceptable performance for which the action was proposed under this section shall be removed from any agency record relating to the employee.
(e) Any employee who is—
(1) a preference eligible;
(2) in the competitive service; or
(3) in the excepted service and covered by subchapter II of
and who has been reduced in grade or removed under this section is entitled to appeal the action to the Merit Systems Protection Board under section 7701.
(f) This section does not apply to—
(1) the reduction to the grade previously held of a supervisor or manager who has not completed the probationary period under
(2) the reduction in grade or removal of an employee in the competitive service who is serving a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment or who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment under other than a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less,
(3) the reduction in grade or removal of an employee in the excepted service who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar positions, or
(4) any removal or demotion under
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, §5, |
The words "required by this chapter" are omitted as unnecessary.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (f)(4).
1990—Subsec. (e).
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§4304. Responsibilities of the Office of Personnel Management
(a) The Office of Personnel Management shall make technical assistance available to agencies in the development of performance appraisal systems.
(b)(1) The Office shall review each performance appraisal system developed by any agency under this section and determine whether the performance appraisal system meets the requirements of this subchapter.
(2) The Comptroller General shall from time to time review on a selected basis performance appraisal systems established under this subchapter to determine the extent to which any such system meets the requirements of this subchapter and shall periodically report its findings to the Office and to the Congress.
(3) If the Office determines that a system does not meet the requirements of this subchapter (including regulations prescribed under section 4305), the Office shall direct the agency to implement an appropriate system or to correct operations under the system, and any such agency shall take any action so required.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, §6, |
In subsection (a)(1), the words "corresponding to an efficiency rating of 'good' under the Veterans' Preference Act of 1944, as amended, and under laws superseded by this chapter" in clause (1) of former section 2005 are omitted, but are carried into section 3502.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
§4305. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management may prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 30, 1950, ch. 1123, §7, |
In subsection (c), the words "as a matter of right" are omitted as unnecessary.
In subsection (d), the words "are entitled" are substituted for "shall be afforded an opportunity". The word "considers" is substituted for "deems to be".
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1978—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Amendment by
[§§4306 to 4308. Omitted]
Editorial Notes
Codification
Sections 4306 to 4308,
Section 4306 related to inspection of performance-rating plans.
Section 4307 related to prohibition of other rating procedures.
Section 4308 related to regulations for administration of the chapter, and is covered by revised section 4305.
SUBCHAPTER II—PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE
§4311. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter, "agency", "senior executive", and "career appointee" have the meanings set forth in
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§4312. Senior Executive Service performance appraisal systems
(a) Each agency shall, in accordance with standards established by the Office of Personnel Management, develop one or more performance appraisal systems designed to—
(1) permit the accurate evaluation of performance in any position on the basis of criteria which are related to the position and which specify the critical elements of the position;
(2) provide for systematic appraisals of performance of senior executives;
(3) encourage excellence in performance by senior executives; and
(4) provide a basis for making eligibility determinations for retention in the Senior Executive Service and for Senior Executive Service performance awards.
(b) Each performance appraisal system established by an agency under subsection (a) of this section shall provide—
(1) that, on or before the beginning of each rating period, performance requirements for each senior executive in the agency are established in consultation with the senior executive and communicated to the senior executive;
(2) that written appraisals of performance are based on the individual and organizational performance requirements established for the rating period involved; and
(3) that each senior executive in the agency is provided a copy of the appraisal and rating under
(c)(1) The Office shall review each agency's performance appraisal system under this section, and determine whether the agency performance appraisal system meets the requirements of this subchapter.
(2) The Comptroller General shall from time to time review performance appraisal systems under this section to determine the extent to which any such system meets the requirements under this subchapter and shall periodically report its findings to the Office and to each House of the Congress.
(3) If the Office determines that an agency performance appraisal system does not meet the requirements under this subchapter (including regulations prescribed under section 4315), the agency shall take such corrective action as may be required by the Office.
(d) A senior executive may not appeal any appraisal and rating under any performance appraisal system under this section.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1984—Subsec. (b)(3).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§4313. Criteria for performance appraisals
Appraisals of performance in the Senior Executive Service shall be based on both individual and organizational performance, taking into account such factors as—
(1) improvements in efficiency, productivity, and quality of work or service, including any significant reduction in paperwork;
(2) cost efficiency;
(3) timeliness of performance;
(4) other indications of the effectiveness, productivity, and performance quality of the employees for whom the senior executive is responsible;
(5) meeting affirmative action goals, achievement of equal employment opportunity requirements, and compliance with the merit systems principles set forth under
(6) protecting whistleblowers, as described in section 4302(b)(2).
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Par. (6).
1994—Par. (5).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§4314. Ratings for performance appraisals
(a) Each performance appraisal system shall provide for annual summary ratings of levels of performance as follows:
(1) one or more fully successful levels,
(2) a minimally satisfactory level, and
(3) an unsatisfactory level.
(b) Each performance appraisal system shall provide that—
(1) any appraisal and any rating under such system—
(A) are made only after review and evaluation by a performance review board established under subsection (c) of this section;
(B) are conducted at least annually, subject to the limitation of subsection (c)(3) of this section;
(C) in the case of a career appointee, may not be made within 120 days after the beginning of a new Presidential administration; and
(D) are based on performance during a performance appraisal period the duration of which shall be determined under guidelines established by the Office of Personnel Management, but which may be terminated in any case in which the agency making an appraisal determines that an adequate basis exists on which to appraise and rate the senior executive's performance;
(2) any career appointee receiving a rating at any of the fully successful levels under subsection (a)(1) of this section may be given a performance award under
(3) any senior executive receiving an unsatisfactory rating under subsection (a)(3) of this section shall be reassigned or transferred within the Senior Executive Service, or removed from the Senior Executive Service, but any senior executive who receives 2 unsatisfactory ratings in any period of 5 consecutive years shall be removed from the Senior Executive Service; and
(4) any senior executive who twice in any period of 3 consecutive years receives less than fully successful ratings shall be removed from the Senior Executive Service.
(c)(1) Each agency shall establish, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Office, one or more performance review boards, as appropriate. It is the function of the boards to make recommendations to the appropriate appointing authority of the agency relating to the performance of senior executives in the agency.
(2) The supervising official of the senior executive shall provide to the performance review board, an initial appraisal of the senior executive's performance. Before making any recommendation with respect to the senior executive, the board shall review any response by the senior executive to the initial appraisal and conduct such further review as the board finds necessary.
(3) Performance appraisals under this subchapter with respect to any senior executive shall be made by the appointing authority only after considering the recommendations by the performance review board with respect to such senior executive under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(4) Members of performance review boards shall be appointed in such a manner as to assure consistency, stability, and objectivity in performance appraisal. Notice of the appointment of an individual to serve as a member shall be published in the Federal Register.
(5) In the case of an appraisal of a career appointee, more than one-half of the members of the performance review board shall consist of career appointees. The requirement of the preceding sentence shall not apply in any case in which the Office determines that there exists an insufficient number of career appointees available to comply with the requirement.
(Added
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1995—Subsec. (d).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
§4315. Regulations
The Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe regulations to carry out the purpose of this subchapter.
(Added
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of
CHAPTER 45 —INCENTIVE AWARDS
SUBCHAPTER I—AWARDS FOR SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
SUBCHAPTER II—AWARDS FOR COST SAVINGS DISCLOSURES
SUBCHAPTER III—AWARDS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE CAPABILITIES 2
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2001—
1994—
1992—
1990—
1988—
1985—
1981—
1978—
1 So in original. Probably should not be capitalized.
2 So in original. Does not conform to subchapter heading.
SUBCHAPTER I—AWARDS FOR SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1981—
§4501. Definitions
For the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) "agency" means—
(A) an Executive agency;
(B) the Library of Congress;
(C) the Office of the Architect of the Capitol;
(D) the Botanic Garden;
(E) the Government Publishing Office;
(F) the government of the District of Columbia; and
(G) the United States Sentencing Commission;
but does not include—
(i) the Tennessee Valley Authority; or
(ii) the Central Bank for Cooperatives;
(2) "employee" means—
(A) an employee as defined by section 2105; and
(B) an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia; and
(3) "Government" means the Government of the United States and the government of the District of Columbia.
(
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 1, 1954, ch. 1208, §303, Aug. 18, 1959, |
In paragraph (1), the term "Executive agency" is coextensive with and substituted for "executive department or independent agency in the executive branch of the Government including a Government-owned or controlled corporation" in view of the definition of "Executive agency" in section 105. Application to the General Accounting Office (included in the term "Executive agency") is based on former section 933a.
Paragraph (2) is supplied because the definition of "employee" in section 2105 does not encompass individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia.
Paragraph (3) is supplied for clarity and convenience.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Par. (2)(A).
1990—Par. (1).
1988—Par. (1)(H).
1984—Par. (2)(A).
1981—
1978—Par. (2)(A).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
"Government Publishing Office" substituted for "Government Printing Office" in par. (1)(E) on authority of section 1301(b) of
Effective Date of 1993 Amendment
Amendment by
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Section 205 of
Effective Date of 1981 Amendment
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Executive Documents
Ex. Ord. No. 12976. Compensation Practices of Government Corporations
Ex. Ord. No. 12976, Oct. 5, 1995, 60 F.R. 52829, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including
Government corporations subject to this order should not pay bonuses in excess of those authorized by
(b) The Director of OMB shall issue instructions to the corporations subject to this section specifying when information is to be submitted, and the content and form of such information.
(b) Information submitted shall include the following with respect to senior executives of each corporation subject to this section:
(1) the compensation plan, procedures, and structure of such corporation;
(2) base salary levels, annual bonuses, and other compensation; and
(3) information supporting the senior executive compensation plan and levels.
(c) The Director of OMB shall issue instructions to the corporations subject to this section specifying when information is to be submitted, and the content and form of such information.
(1) consistency with statutory requirements;
(2) consistency with corporate mission;
(3) standards of Federal management and efficiency; and
(4) equivalent private sector compensation practices.
William J. Clinton.
§4502. General provisions
(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, a cash award under this subchapter may not exceed $10,000.
(b) When the head of an agency certifies to the Office of Personnel Management that the suggestion, invention, superior accomplishment, or other meritorious effort for which the award is proposed is highly exceptional and unusually outstanding, a cash award in excess of $10,000 but not in excess of $25,000 may be granted with the approval of the Office.
(c) A cash award under this subchapter is in addition to the regular pay of the recipient. Acceptance of a cash award under this subchapter constitutes an agreement that the use by the Government of an idea, method, or device for which the award is made does not form the basis of a further claim of any nature against the Government by the employee, his heirs, or assigns.
(d) A cash award to, and expense for the honorary recognition of, an employee may be paid from the fund or appropriation available to the activity primarily benefiting or the various activities benefiting. The head of the agency concerned determines the amount to be paid by each activity for an agency award under
(e) The Office of Personnel Management may by regulation permit agencies to grant employees time off from duty, without loss of pay or charge to leave, as an award in recognition of superior accomplishment or other personal effort that contributes to the quality, efficiency, or economy of Government operations.
(f) The Secretary of Defense may grant a cash award under subsection (b) of this section without regard to the requirements for certification and approval provided in that subsection.
(