Political Appointees

Biden’s FLRA nominees move closer to Senate confirmation

Senators appeared poised Wednesday to advance the nominations of aspiring leaders in labor-relations.

  • Erich Wagner

OPM Director will leave the Biden administration

Kiran Ahuja oversaw efforts to transform the federal government’s HR agency into a government-wide leader on human capital policy, issuing new policies governing interns, telework and civil service protections.

  • Erich Wagner

The Biden administration has far less turnover than Trump. Does that impact agency performance?

The stability of Biden's cabinet and sub-cabinet is a marked departure from his predecessor.

  • Eric Katz

Key federal workforce agencies get confirmed leaders

Biden finally has confirmed heads at the primary civil service enforcement agencies.

  • Eric Katz

OPM offers data guidance to help inform new federal executives website

The recent guidance details how agencies are to collect and report data to the HR agency’s new public-facing website detailing the names, roles and pay levels of thousands of federal executives.

  • Carten Cordell

Biden taps former cabinet secretary for USPS board

The appointment would assure the president's influence on the mailing agency's governing body.

  • Eric Katz

The Senate has too many appointees to confirm, and it's hurting agencies

There are too many layers of political officials requiring congressional approval, report finds.

  • Eric Katz

EPA has a new plan to protect career scientists, but some are questioning its efficacy

Solutions to concerns over accountability and reporting mechanisms are coming soon, EPA official says.

  • Eric Katz

Senate panel advances watchdog, labor nominees

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee favorably reported four nominees for adjudicative agencies recently hamstrung by vacancy-related case backlogs to the Senate floor for final consideration.

  • Erich Wagner

Biden nominates OSC deputy to join FLRA

Biden’s previous choice to fill the last spot on the Federal Labor Relations Authority quietly withdrew from consideration last fall.

  • Erich Wagner

You can now easily search through every executive in federal government

A modernized 'Plum Book' will provide more updated, accurate information on top agency officials.

  • Eric Katz

Acting Social Security chief highlights recent successes ahead of exit

Despite a series of challenges throughout her tenure, Acting Social Security Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi sought to tout advances made under her watch ahead of the installation of former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley following his confirmation Monday.

  • Erich Wagner

Martin O’Malley confirmed as Social Security commissioner

The Senate voted 50-11 Monday to confirm the former Maryland governor, officially ending a multi-year period where the agency struggled under acting leadership.

  • Erich Wagner
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State Dept. employees praise Biden administration for encouraging dissent

The administration has faced some criticism for censoring employee speech related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, but staff say internal channels are open for disagreement.

  • Eric Katz

O’Malley’s bid to lead Social Security moves forward

The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday to advance O’Malley’s nomination to lead the Social Security Administration to the Senate floor for final consideration.

  • Erich Wagner

House punts effort to impeach Biden cabinet secretary

Some Republicans joined Democrats to postpone the exceedingly rare effort.

  • Eric Katz

O’Malley vows to listen to frontline Social Security workers

President Biden’s pick to lead the embattled Social Security Administration said many of the agency’s challenges can be alleviated by a change in culture.

  • Erich Wagner

The 3 duties of public servants

COMMENTARY | With all that’s going on in Washington these days, public officials have three fundamental duties that they cannot shirk.

  • Ronald Sanders

Social Security Advisory Board urges quick action on SSA nominee, end to 6-year terms

Since the Social Security Administration was made independent from the Health and Human Services Department in the 1990s, only two of the agency’s commissioners have served the full six-year term.

  • Erich Wagner

First revamped science policy falls short of fulfilling Biden’s promise to protect scientists, watchdogs say

As written, groups suggest the updated scientific integrity policy can be "weaponized by bad-faith actors.” 

  • Eric Katz

Coalition of unions endorses O’Malley to lead Social Security

The Federal Workers Alliance urged senators to move quickly to confirm President Biden’s nominee to run the Social Security Administration, noting that the embattled agency has been without a permanent commissioner for eight of the last 10 years.

  • Erich Wagner