Summary: Conversions of political appointees from noncareer to career status present a dilemma. On the one hand, it is reasonable to allow people who join the government as political appointees to compete for career status if they choose to continue their federal careers. On the other hand, the political nature of career appointments raises the specter of favoritism and improper advantage, even the appearance of which can compromise the integrity of the merit system. The Office of Personnel Management's review process and procedures have successfully identified and stopped some improper conversions, and GAO notes opportunities for further improvement. Even with these improvements, however, inherent difficulties remain in overseeing conversions to ensure adherence to merit system principles. Ultimately, selection decisions are subjective, and an agency official could follow procedures, conceal a prohibited motive, and plausibly defend his or her actions as a legitimate exercise of managerial discretion. If Congress believes that additional safeguards are needed, GAO suggests a control procedure that would provide greater assurance that conversions are consistent with merit system principles.
