Tag: Presidentially Appointed Positions

One of the most significant tasks for any president is staffing their administration. A president is responsible for about 4,000 political appointments, 1,200 of which require senate confirmation. This document provides a breakdown of the number of positions in key agencies, and the number of Senate confirmed appointments and nominations for each of the previous three presidents during their first years. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Data based on 2016 Plum Book Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation (PAS) • About 1,200 positions across the federal government. • In the first 100 days in office, the Senate confirmed 67 of President Obama’s appointees. At the same point, the Senate had confirmed 28 of President Trump’s nominees and 34 of President George W. Bush’s. • By the end of Bush’s first year, approximately 520 nominees were confirmed, compared with approximately 320 for Trump and 460 for Obama. Presidential Appointment without Senate Confirmation (PA) • Approximately 450 positions. • About two-thirds of all PA positions exist within commissions, councils, committees, boards or foundations. (Requirements for PAs in these agencies are stricter). • Slightly less than one-third are in the Executive Office of the President (EOP). • The remaining PA are located within other federal departments or agencies. Non-Career Members of the Senior Executive Service (Non-Career SES) • About 750 positions. • Non-career appointments are approved by OPM and cannot exceed 25% of the agency’s Senior Executive Service position allocation. Governmentwide, only 10% of SES positions may be filled by non-career appointees. Senior Executive Service positions include most managerial, supervisory, and policy positions. • In the first 100 days of their administrations, Obama placed 112 non-Career SES appointees in 19 key agencies while Trump appointed 76 non-Career SES officials in 19 key agencies. • By the end of Obama’s first year in office, 359 appointees were in place. At the same point, Trump appointed 321 Non-Career SES officials. Schedule C • About 1,550 positions are excepted from the competitive service because of their confidential or policy-determining character. • In the first 100 days of their administrations, Obama placed 516 Schedule C appointees in 19 key agencies. Trump appointed 545 Schedule C officials in 19 key agencies. • By the end of Obama’s first year in office, 1258 Schedule C appointees were in place. At the same point, Trump appointed 1075 Schedule C officials.