Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed various matters relating to new personnel at the Executive Office of the President (EOP), focusing on: (1) the propriety of retroactive personnel appointments and salary adjustments; and (2) EOP employees' compliance with public financial disclosure reporting requirements.

GAO found that: (1) the individuals that received retroactive appointments were entitled to receive pay for their work; (2) 12 of the 20 retroactive pay increases were proper under the President's authority; (3) the remaining retroactive pay increases were questionable and inconsistent with generally applicable federal personnel rules; and (4) 14 of 147 new EOP employees did not file required financial disclosure reports in a timely manner.

Status Legend:

Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.

Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.

Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.

• Review Pending
• Open
• Closed - implemented
• Closed - not implemented

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter: Because retroactive salary adjustments are usually not permitted without specific statutory authority and the breadth of the President's authority as described by the White House and the Justice Department leaves room for possible abuse, Congress may wish to consider amending title 3 to provide greater specificity as to the intended scope of the President's authority.

Status: Closed - Not Implemented

Comments: No action on the matter for consideration is likely. As discussed in the Congressional Record of September 29, 1993 (H. 7242), hearings were scheduled to address the issues raised in GAO's report. After the hearings were held, there did not appear to be an interest in amending title 3 to clarify the President's authority.