Merit Systems Protection Board, Office of Government Ethics, and Office of Special Counsel Reauthorization

PURPOSE:

• To begin the legislative process of reauthorizing Office of Government Ethics (OGE), Office of Special Counsel (OSC), and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
• To examine potential legislative changes to these agencies.

BACKGROUND:

• OGE is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the executive branch ethics program designed to prevent and resolve conflicts of interest. OGE’s authorization expired at the end of FY 2007, but it continues to receive annual appropriations of approximately $15 million.
• OSC is an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency that safeguards the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices. OSC’s authorization expired in FY 2007, but it continues to receive annual appropriations of approximately $23 million.
• MSPB is an independent, quasi-judicial agency which oversees the federal merit system and protects the federal workforce from prohibited personnel practices. MSPB’s authorization expired in FY 2007, but it continues to receive annual appropriations of approximately $42 million.