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Federal Vacancies Reform Act

All articles tagged with #federal vacancies reform act

SCOTUS Ruling Risks Hamstringing the Next President’s Agenda
politics8 days ago

SCOTUS Ruling Risks Hamstringing the Next President’s Agenda

Slate argues that the Court’s ruling on removing heads of independent agencies could leave a future president with limited leverage to shape leadership in certain commissions, since the Federal Vacancies Reform Act doesn’t apply to multimember agencies. The result could be a split: a new president might inherit holdover members and risk a quorum loss, while an outgoing president could purge commissioners to lock in a policy agenda. The piece urges Congress to extend the Vacancies Act to multimember agencies or convert some to single-head bodies, though reform is unlikely while Trump remains in office and Sotomayor warns of chaos and legal uncertainty.

Acting officials abound in Trump’s presidency, prompting constitutional questions
politics1 month ago

Acting officials abound in Trump’s presidency, prompting constitutional questions

Trump increasingly relies on acting heads across agencies, appoints Bill Pulte to temporarily oversee the intelligence community, and uses a patchwork of roles that skirts Senate confirmations. The piece argues this tests the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and constitutional advice-and-consent, highlights hundreds of unfilled Senate-approved positions, and warns that the reliance on acting officials risks waste, conflicts of interest, and weaker governance.

Judge voids Kari Lake’s VOA actions over improper appointment
politics4 months ago

Judge voids Kari Lake’s VOA actions over improper appointment

A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake’s tenure as acting CEO of the Voice of America violated federal law, voiding a broad set of staff cuts and shutdowns she oversaw; the court found she was not lawfully serving and thus unable to exercise CEO authority under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Appointments Clause, with the actions taken between July 31 and November 19, 2025, being void and a court-ordered pause on layoffs remaining in place as the case proceeds with Lake appealing.

Archivist role shifts as Rubio exits acting post at National Archives
politics5 months ago

Archivist role shifts as Rubio exits acting post at National Archives

Sen. Marco Rubio is no longer serving as the acting head of the National Archives after hitting the Federal Vacancies Reform Act limit; with no deputy archivist in place, James Byron had been performing the duties of archivist, and the agency is in a leadership transition amid ongoing questions about records management and Rubio's other roles.

Christopher Wray's Resignation: A Turning Point in Trump's Political Battles
politics1 year ago

Christopher Wray's Resignation: A Turning Point in Trump's Political Battles

FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House, allowing Trump to potentially install a loyalist as acting director. This move, seen as a preemptive surrender, opens pathways for Trump to bypass Senate approval and place a MAGA loyalist in charge of the FBI, raising concerns about the agency's independence and integrity. Wray's decision is criticized as prioritizing personal pride over national interest, potentially facilitating Trump's influence over the FBI.

"House Committee Approves Bill to Restrict Length of Acting DOL Secretaries' Tenure"
politics2 years ago

"House Committee Approves Bill to Restrict Length of Acting DOL Secretaries' Tenure"

The House Education and Workforce Committee has approved a bill that would prevent Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su from leading the Department of Labor without Senate confirmation. The bill, introduced by Rep. Kevin Kiley, would limit the acting secretary capacity to 210 days, aligning with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. Su's nomination for the top job is facing opposition, and she would need all remaining Democratic senators' support and Vice President Kamala Harris's tiebreaking vote to be confirmed. The bill will now move to the full House for consideration.