Environmental group: Top jobs at agencies being run like a ‘temp service’
- By FederalSoup Staff
- Feb 14, 2018
An environmental group has filed a complaint with the Interior Department Office of Inspector General alleging that three bureaus at the agency are illegally filling top vacancies.
The Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility—a Silver Spring, Md.-based alliance of federal and state government workers— on Feb. 12 filed an official complaint with the OIG that the current leadership at National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management are in violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.
“The law prevents a president from installing acting directors for long periods and completely bypassing Senate confirmation,” PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, said in a news release.
President Trump has not nominated or announced his intent to nominate individuals to the NPS, BLM, or FWS.
“Federal agencies are not supposed to be run like a temp service,” Ruch added. The positions are intended to be filled through presidential appointment subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, the organization notes.
“The way the Trump administration has filled agency leadership slots with temporary or acting directors violates a law enacted to prevent a president from circumventing the U.S. Senate’s constitutional advice and consent power,” Ruch said.
The organization is calling for a review of the temporary appointments and enforcement of the act, as well making all findings of the review public.