Ethics office to study presidential appointments process

The Office of Government Ethics has launched a study on improving the financial disclosure process for presidential nominees. Described by current and former appointees as long, tortuous, drawn out and stressful, the presidential appointee confirmation process has drawn many critics over the years. The process involves a maze of requirements, including financial background reports, FBI checks and congressional scrutiny. More than half of appointees confirmed between 1984 and 1999 had to wait five or more months before taking office. By comparison, only one-sixth of appointees confirmed between 1964 and 1984 had to wait that long. The Presidential Transition Act of 2000, which was passed in November, requires that the transition process be streamlined. Under the new law, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is required to develop a report with proposals for easing the burden of financial disclosure on executive branch nominees. OGE's study will focus on reducing the paperwork required of appointees by using legislative proposals, and using more coordination between legislative branches and law enforcement offices, to standardize, coordinate and streamline the financial disclosure process. On April 12, 2001, OGE officials will turn over their findings to members of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and House Committee on Government Reform. As part of the study, OGE is accepting comments from federal agencies and the public on how to improve the appointments process. Comments should be sent to the Office of Government Ethics, Suite 500, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-3917, Attention: Jane Ley. Comments must be received by Jan. 29.