The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) carries out many important responsibilities for the President and the American people but none is more important than our statutory responsibility to ensure the best qualified candidates are selected for Federal jobs after fair and open competition.  In light of the historical origins of the civil service system, OPM’s role as guardian of the merit system is especially important when a Federal agency selects a political appointee for a position in the civil service.  While political appointees may not be excluded from consideration for Federal jobs because of their political affiliation, they must not be given preference or special advantages. 

Pursuant to our oversight authority under 5 U.S.C. Section 1104(b)(2) and 5 CFR Section 5.2, OPM requires Federal agencies to seek our approval before selecting a political appointee for a competitive service position during a Presidential election year.  OPM’s oversight in this area safeguards merit system principles and assures fair and open competition free from political influence.  However, if the proposed civil service job is below the Senior Executive Service (SES) level, OPM’s review has been limited only to competitive service appointments and only those appointments that take place during a Presidential election year.  In contrast, OPM conducts merit staffing reviews of proposed SES appointments whenever they occur.

I believe we must hold ourselves and the government to a higher standard, one that honors and supports the President’s strong commitment to a Government that is transparent and open.   OPM’s responsibility to uphold the merit system is not limited to Presidential election years nor to competitive service appointments.  That is why I am instituting a change in OPM policy with respect to hiring political appointees for civil service jobs.

Beginning January 1, 2010, agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level under the provisions of title 5, United States Code.  OPM will review these proposed appointments to ensure they comply with merit system principles and applicable civil service laws.  I have delegated decisionmaking authority over these matters to career Senior Executives at OPM to avoid any hint of political influence. 

In no case may an agency make an appointment of the type described below without written authorization from OPM:

1. The appointment of a current political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee or a former political Schedule A or Schedule C Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under title 5 of the U.S. Code.

1. The appointment of a current Non-career SES Executive Branch employee or a former Non-career SES Executive Branch employee who held the position within the last five years to a competitive or non-political excepted service position under title 5 of the  U.S. Code.

OPM will continue to conduct merit staffing reviews for all proposed career SES selections involving a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES political appointee before the SES selections are presented to OPM’s Qualifications Review Board (QRB) for certification of executive qualifications.  Agencies should carefully review all proposed SES selections to ensure they meet merit system principles before such cases are forwarded to the QRB.   

Any request to appoint a current or former political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position should be sent to the following address via e-mail or FAX with the information requested in the attached Pre-Appointment Checklists:

Marlene Lightburn
Office of Personnel Management
Dallas Oversight and Accountability Group
Plaza of the Americas, 700 North Pearl Street
North Tower, Suite 525
Dallas, Texas 75201
Marlene.lightburn@opm.gov

Phone (214) 880-4980
FAX (214) 880-4999

If you have any questions or need further information about the requirements established by this memorandum, please contact Jeffrey Sumberg, Deputy Associate Director, Center for Merit System Accountability, at 202-606-2786 or at jeffrey.sumberg@opm.gov.

Attachment

cc:        Chief Human Capital Officers
            Human Resources Directors