Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Reduce Bureaucracy Act This bill prohibits certain political appointees from serving in career positions in federal agencies. Specifically, the bill prohibits current and former presidential appointees, cabinet officials, and other senior officials from serving in career-appointment (i.e., permanent) positions in executive agencies without the approval of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Agencies must certify that the appointment is necessary in order for the agency to meet its mission and the OPM must determine that the appointment process was fair, open, and free from political influence in order to approve a request. OPM must also transmit approved requests to specified congressional committees before issuing final approval to agencies. The bill also prohibits political appointees from serving in career positions for two years after their departure, and directs the OPM and the Office of Management and Budget to take any actions necessary so as to limit the number of political appointees to 2,000.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Government Operations and Politics
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
Reduce Bureaucracy Act
USA117th CongressS-1619| Senate
| Updated: 5/13/2021
Reduce Bureaucracy Act This bill prohibits certain political appointees from serving in career positions in federal agencies. Specifically, the bill prohibits current and former presidential appointees, cabinet officials, and other senior officials from serving in career-appointment (i.e., permanent) positions in executive agencies without the approval of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Agencies must certify that the appointment is necessary in order for the agency to meet its mission and the OPM must determine that the appointment process was fair, open, and free from political influence in order to approve a request. OPM must also transmit approved requests to specified congressional committees before issuing final approval to agencies. The bill also prohibits political appointees from serving in career positions for two years after their departure, and directs the OPM and the Office of Management and Budget to take any actions necessary so as to limit the number of political appointees to 2,000.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Government Operations and Politics
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCongressional oversightFederal officialsGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment ethics and transparency, public corruptionOffice of Personnel Management (OPM)Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents