Personnel Practices: The Department of Energy's Use of Schedule C Appointment Authority
GGD-90-61
Published: Mar 08, 1990. Publicly Released: Mar 30, 1990.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information about the number of Schedule C employees at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs and Office of Public Affairs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should discontinue the practice of hiring Schedule C appointees and assigning them immediately to the White House. |
Closed – Implemented
Legislation was enacted prohibiting agencies from obligating or expending federal funds to pay the salaries or expenses or any employee appointed to a Schedule C position without a certification to OPM by the agency head that the position had not been created solely or primarily to detail the employee to the White House.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should report the three details to OPM and not renew them at their conclusion. |
Closed – Implemented
Legislation was enacted prohibiting agencies from obligating or expending federal funds to pay the salaries or expenses of any employee appointed to a Schedule C position without a certification to OPM by the head of the agency that the Schedule C position was not created solely or primarily to detail the employee to the White House.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should prepare reports on details for fiscal year 1989 and implement procedures to ensure that they continue to be prepared in the future. |
Closed – Implemented
Energy admitted it was not aware of reporting requirements and is now preparing the reports.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should implement, without delay, the procedures that were recently prepared to ensure that agencies are promptly billed for such details. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE has been reimbursed and has established new procedures for the future.
|
| Office of Personnel Management | The Director, OPM, should require agencies to certify in their applications that Schedule C positions are not being established solely or primarily for details. |
Closed – Implemented
OPM has implemented requirements of new law on agency certifications, as of May 10, 1991.
|
| Office of Personnel Management | The Director, OPM, should disapprove applications that do not contain the certification that Schedule C positions are not being established solely or primarily for details. |
Closed – Not Implemented
OPM believes that existing procedures are adequate. Legislation was enacted prohibiting agencies from obligating or expending federal funds to pay the salaries or expenses of any employee appointed to a Schedule C position without a certification to OPM by the agency head that the position had not been created to detail the employee to the White House.
|
| Office of Personnel Management | The Director, OPM, should reemphasize to agencies that Schedule C employees can only occupy positions in the agency that OPM approves. It should make clear that any changes to those assignments must be approved by OPM and it should also encourage agencies to submit annual reports as required by Public Law 100-202. |
Closed – Implemented
OPM has notified agency personnel directors of these requirements.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Civil service jobsEmployee transfersFederal employeesGovernment job appointmentsHiring policiesInteragency relationsJob classificationPersonnel managementPresidential appointmentsReporting requirements