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Personnel Practices: Retroactive Appointments and Pay Adjustments in the Executive Office of the President

GGD-93-148 Published: Sep 09, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 09, 1993.
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Highlights

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.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
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.
Closed – Not Implemented
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.

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Topics

BackpayExecutive compensationFederal personnel lawFinancial disclosurePersonnel managementPresidential appointmentsQuestionable paymentsReporting requirementsRetroactive promotionsSalary increasesPay period