GAO: Seven Biden Admin Officials Are In Office Illegally

Seven different officials in President Joe Biden’s administration are in office illegally due to time limits, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The GAO announced Wednesday that seven presidential appointees were serving in “acting” The time limit for a position in one of their offices has expired. GAO has issued five reports on this topic.

The president must appoint many positions in the executive branch, which the U.S. Senate must confirm. These positions are known as PAS roles. Presidents often select individuals to fill these PAS roles temporarily while they seek Senate confirmations to continue filling the positions on a longer-term basis.

Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 98 regulates the time and manner in which a president may choose. “acting” Officers can temporarily fill these PAS posts. The law states that the maximum time an appointee can serve in an interim position is approximately 210 calendar days beginning from the date that the vacancy occurs.

The law says that the president can withdraw a nomination or reject a first nomination for a permanent PAS position. “acting” An acting officer can fill the vacant position for up 210 additional days. The president can submit a second nomination to the Senate. In the event of rejection, an acting officer could fill the position for an additional 210 days. These time limits are not applicable to the PAS position. The head of the agency is allowed to perform the functions and duties of this position.

GAO determined that seven officials exceeded the time limits set forth in the law.

Shirley A. Jones, the GAO’s Managing Associate General Counsel, stated that each of the alleged violations had been committed by her. “began in 2021 or 2022 and involves a long-vacant position for which previous Presidents submitted nominations.”

These alleged violations were discovered by GAO after a review of vacant positions in the wake of a June decision.

According to the GAO letters, Dye’s service with the FLRA has continued on in alleged violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act since Nov. 16, 2021.

Randall’s service with the DOJ has continued on in alleged violation of federal law since May 26, 2022.

Harrison’s OMB service has continued on in alleged violation of the law since Aug. 2, 2o22.

Johnson’s ICE service ran afoul of the law starting on Nov. 16, 2021, but Jones said Johnson ended her time in the acting position on Monday, Feb. 6.

Jones said GAO had found Freeman’s service in an acting USAID role exceeded the federal limits on Nov. 16, 2021. Hart replaced Freeman and Yastishock took the vacant position on August 8, 2022.

NTD News reached out to the DOJ and ICE for comments on these GAO letters. They did not respond when this article was published.

Past Violations

Not uncommon are violations of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

GAO was established in April 2022. Found that an official overstayed the time limit in the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

GAO Recorded Numerous Examples of individuals staying beyond the vacancy time limits during President Donald Trump’s administration.

From NTD News.

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