Personnel Practices: Circumstances Surrounding U.S. Customs Service's Use of Schedule A Appointment Authority
Abstract
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approved a request of the Department of the Treasury on August 21, 1998, to amend U.S. Customs Service's existing Schedule A appointment authority for 300 criminal investigator positions, to include 10 additional special law enforcement positions. While the majority of candidates for federal employment must compete for jobs under the merit system by applying through the competitive civil-service examination process, Schedule A appointees do not. Schedule A authority allows an agency to noncompetitively appoint individuals to positions in the excepted service for which it is not practicable to apply the qualification standards and requirements established for the competitive service. The use of Schedule A appointments is an important tool for agencies to use as they try to recruit and retain the best employees. While GAO has encouraged agencies to use such tools and other flexibilities in managing their human capital, as with any tool, agencies need to avoid situations and appearances that could compromise the credibility and integrity of the merit system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA395203
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office