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Walberg Bill to Increase Accountability for Senior Officials Clears Oversight Committee

January 12, 2016
Washington, D.C. – Today the Oversight and Government Reform Committee marked up H.R. 4358, the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, legislation Congressman Tim Walberg (MI-07) authored to provide greater transparency and accountability within the Senior Executive Service (SES). The Senior Executive Service is comprised of senior level employees in managerial, supervisory, and policy positions in the Executive Branch of the federal government.

Among its many reforms, the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act streamlines the process for removing members of the SES for misconduct, replicating the bipartisan reforms achieved in the Veterans Affairs Choice Act (P.L. 113-146) which were signed into law by President Obama in 2014. It also subjects SES employees to many of the same rules as the employees they supervise, extends the probationary period for individuals appointed to the SES from one year to two years, and establishes that members of the SES receive performance requirements in writing before the start of an appraisal period.

"Thanks to scandals at agencies like the IRS and VA, the American people increasingly view the federal government as untrustworthy and encroaching on their personal liberties. When senior government officials blatantly abuse their position and the public trust, they must be held accountable. Increasing accountability measures when misconduct occurs will go a long way towards restoring public trust and demonstrating greater stewardship of taxpayer dollars," said Walberg.

Congressman Walberg serves on the House Education and the Workforce Committee as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee. In addition, he serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. For more information on Walberg's work in Congress visit walberg.house.gov.