38:
487:
initial decisions, the MSPB affirmed the employing agency's decision 9,348 times (nearly 98% of the time), modified the employing agency's decision or mitigated the penalty imposed 21 times, and reversed the employing Agency's decision 169 times. The
Presidentially-appointed Board members granted review of 170 initial decisions, remanding the case for further review in 112 cases, reversing the initial decisions of MSPB administrative judges and administrative law judges in 30 cases, affirming the initial decision in 18 cases, and taking another action in 10 cases.
142:
491:
president. Effectively, this meant that no new substantive decisions are being issued and the backlog of cases awaiting a final disposition is increasing. As of March 2019, the last member's term had expired and the Senate had not acted on
President Trump's nominations. With a vacant board, its general counsel becomes the acting executive and administrative officer, and administrative judges still hear cases and issue initial decisions.
470:
also perceived either threats or acts of reprisal, or both. To qualify for protection under the
Whistleblower Protection Act, the individual must be disclosing a violation of a law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; a gross waste of funds; an abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. Only certain official personnel actions are prohibited; other forms of retaliation remain permissible.
478:
There are complaints that the MSPB has gone far beyond protecting civil servants from unjustified disciplinary action. Rather, critics allege, the MSPB now makes it nearly impossible to fire poor performers or problematic employees, even when they have committed egregious violations that would result
169:
When an employee of most
Executive Branch agencies is separated from his or her position, or suspended for more than 14 days, the employee can request that an employee of MSPB conduct a hearing into the matter by submitting an appeal, generally within 30 days. In that hearing, the agency will have to
469:
In 1992, 53 percent of respondents who made a disclosure reported that they were identified as the source. In 2010, 43 percent reported that they were identified. In both 1992 and 2010, approximately one-third of the individuals who felt they had been identified as a source of a report of wrongdoing
465:
The Merit
Systems Protection Board surveyed federal employees in 1992 and 2010. The response rate was 64 and 58 percent, netting approximately 13,000 and 42,000 responses in the 1992 and 2010 surveys, respectively. One question asked, "During the last 12 months, did you personally observe or obtain
490:
From
January 7, 2017 to March 3, 2022, the MSPB lacked a quorum consisting of two members. It is the longest the agency has been without a quorum in its history. Without a quorum, the "Board will be unable to issue decisions that require a majority vote" until more members are appointed by the
486:
However, statistics gathered by the MSPB state that in 2014, a total of 15,925 appeals were filed with the MSPB. Of those, 5,283 were dismissed, 1,093 were settled, and 9,549 were adjudicated by way of initial decisions made by MSPB administrative judges and administrative law judges. In those
644:
290:
301:), "not more than 2 shall be adherents of the same political party". The chair of the board requires two separate Senate confirmations, one as a member of the board and one as chair. The President can designate a vice chair without Senate confirmation.
677:
1013:
757:
265:
Adjudicating requests to review regulations of the Office of
Personnel Management that are alleged to require or result in the commission of a prohibited personnel practice-or reviewing such regulations on the Board's own
483:, "There is no question that taxpayers are losing hundreds of millions of dollars, in a conservative estimate. They are losing more than that because they are losing the ability to get the very best out of government."
636:
959:
170:
prove that the action was warranted and the employee will have the opportunity to present evidence that it was not. A decision of MSPB is binding unless set aside on appeal to federal court. Along with the
667:
273:
874:
466:
direct evidence of one or more illegal or wasteful activities involving your agency?" In 1992, 17.7 percent of respondents answered yes. In 2010, only 11.1 percent of respondents answered yes.
249:
1021:
990:
956:
245:
805:
494:
On March 4, 2022, President Biden's nominees Vice Chair
Raymond Limon and Member Tristan Leavitt were sworn in to the MSPB, leading to the restoration of a quorum.
907:
209:
162:
established in 1979 to protect federal merit systems against partisan political and other prohibited personnel practices and to ensure adequate protection for
615:
1140:
870:
457:
about the consequences of Park Police staff shortages. The Board also found her entitled to retroactive pay dating back to July 2004 and legal costs.
1150:
1145:
429:
1057:
354:
227:
Adjudicating employee appeals of personnel actions over which the Board has jurisdiction, such as removals, suspensions, furloughs, and demotions
111:
324:
105:
17:
982:
418:
171:
782:
541:
255:
235:
82:
179:
700:"U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board: Frequently Asked Questions about the Lack of Board Quorum and Lack of Board Members"
802:
417:. The Board approved the settlement on June 5, 2013. Whitmore was fired after giving Congressional testimony that the
904:
715:
581:
294:
175:
932:
607:
1083:
525:
510:
231:
480:
286:
551:
241:
37:
1115:
163:
230:
Adjudicating appeals of administrative decisions affecting an individual's rights or benefits under the
893:
422:
1049:
699:
421:'s workplace injury and illness program was deliberately ineffective. Whitmore had worked for the
217:
889:"CBS: Govt Inability to Fire Bad Employees Like EPA's Porn-Watcher Costing Taxpayers Millions"
779:
159:
437:
190:
8:
637:"This grievance board for federal workers has one person left โ and he's about to leave"
141:
502:
It was established as an independent agency by
Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978 (43
259:
1119:
518:
503:
92:
957:
A member-less MSPB more likely as Senate committee fails to clear pending nominees
1124:
963:
911:
814:
809:
786:
762:
719:
672:
546:
453:
448:
433:
298:
197:
413:
The largest settlement since the inception of MSPB in 1979 was for $ 820,000 in
196:
Board quorum resumed on March 4, 2022 upon the swearing in of
Raymond Limon and
444:
272:
Conducting studies of the Federal civil service and other merit systems in the
213:
887:
1134:
479:
in immediate termination in the private sector. According to the CEO of the
506:
384:
117:
572:
521:
924:
758:"Court indicates Labor went after employee for whistleblowing activities"
732:
529:
524:), December 28, 1978, and the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (92
514:
905:
United States Merit Systems Protection Board Annual Report for FY 2014
276:
to determine whether they are free from prohibited personnel practices
1085:
Blowing The Whistle: Barriers to Federal Employees Making Disclosures
668:"Federal employees will wait longer for their grievances to be heard"
258:(OSC), principally complaints of prohibited personnel practices and
428:
The largest settlement before Whitmore was for $ 755,000 to former
1125:
MSPB Case Statistics FY 2007-2010 and Annual Reports FY 1979-2010
186:
1050:"Records of the Merit Systems Protection Board [MSPB]"
517:), effective January 1, 1979, in accordance with EO 12107 (44
914:, May 29, 2015. United States Merit Systems Protection Board.
269:
Ordering compliance with final Board orders where appropriate
193:, with the last member retiring at the end of February 2019.
803:"Fired Park Police chief Teresa Chambers ordered reinstated"
983:"Frequently Asked Questions about the Lack of Board Quorum"
847:
845:
835:
833:
571:
Shimabukuro, Jon O.; Staman, Jennifer A. (March 25, 2019).
440:
in 2005. The SEC settled Aguirre's claim on June 29, 2009.
1014:"Board that handles federal worker disputes is now vacant"
400:
395:
374:
369:
344:
339:
285:
The Board is composed of three members, nominated by the
246:
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
1108:
871:"Red tape keeps some bad gov't workers from being fired"
842:
830:
132:
574:
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB): A Legal Overview
451:, who had been fired in July 2004 for speaking to the
210:
United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
733:"U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board - Board Members"
925:"U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board: Board Members"
580:. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.
570:
240:Adjudicating employee complaints filed under the
1132:
351:
223:The Board carries out its statutory mission by:
966:. Federal News Network. Retrieved Jan 19, 2019.
381:
321:
419:Occupational Safety and Health Administration
1141:United States Merit Systems Protection Board
1116:United States Merit Systems Protection Board
1042:
818:(January 11, 2011). Retrieved March 11, 2011
766:(June 12, 2013). Retrieved October 14, 2021
951:
949:
608:"Completing and Submitting an MSPB Appeal"
542:Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations
460:
140:
1081:
1011:
634:
415:Robert W. Whitmore v. Department of Labor
293:, for a term of seven years. By statute (
1151:Courts and tribunals established in 1979
1146:1979 establishments in the United States
792:(June 29, 2010). Retrieved March 1, 2011
212:. However, appeals involving claims of
178:, the MSPB is a successor agency of the
1082:Grundmann, Susan Tsui (November 2011),
946:
443:In January 2011, the Board ordered the
256:United States Office of Special Counsel
83:Federal government of the United States
14:
1133:
993:from the original on February 11, 2017
680:from the original on February 17, 2019
647:from the original on February 13, 2019
408:
180:United States Civil Service Commission
71:United States Civil Service Commission
1088:, U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board
605:
250:Veterans Employment Opportunities Act
166:against abuses by agency management.
774:
772:
665:
236:Federal Employees' Retirement System
208:Generally, appeals are heard by the
1012:Linderman, Juliet (March 1, 2019).
24:
1020:. Associated Press. Archived from
877:from the original on 3 March 2015.
780:"SEC Settles With a Former Lawyer"
606:Berry, John V. (August 12, 2013),
587:from the original on 29 March 2019
430:Securities and Exchange Commission
254:Adjudicating cases brought by the
25:
1162:
1100:
769:
176:Federal Labor Relations Authority
27:Independent quasi-judicial agency
666:Rein, Lisa (February 15, 2019).
291:advice and consent of the Senate
280:
36:
1060:from the original on 2017-11-07
1036:
1005:
975:
969:
935:from the original on 2017-06-07
917:
898:
881:
863:
854:
821:
795:
635:Lisa Rein (February 12, 2019).
618:from the original on 2015-05-18
447:to reinstate its former chief,
232:Civil Service Retirement System
750:
725:
709:
692:
659:
628:
599:
564:
481:Partnership for Public Service
287:President of the United States
172:Office of Personnel Management
152:Merit Systems Protection Board
31:Merit Systems Protection Board
18:Merit Systems Protection Board
13:
1:
1075:
185:The board had gone without a
955:Ogrysko, N. (2018, Nov 28).
552:Whistleblower Protection Act
473:
242:Whistleblower Protection Act
7:
535:
203:
10:
1167:
873:. CBS News. 2 March 2015.
860:Grundmann (2011, p. 13/54)
851:Grundmann (2011, p. 23/54)
839:Grundmann (2011, p. 18/54)
497:
423:Bureau of Labor Statistics
1127:(privately owned website)
380:
350:
320:
315:
312:
309:
306:
127:
98:
88:
78:
64:
53:January 1, 1979
49:
44:
35:
557:
461:Merit Principles survey
218:federal district court
532:), October 13, 1978.
160:quasi-judicial agency
989:. January 25, 2017.
778:Gretchen Morgenson,
438:wrongful termination
191:Trump administration
158:) is an independent
1018:The Washington Post
409:Significant appeals
32:
962:2019-01-21 at the
910:2019-02-18 at the
808:2012-10-09 at the
790:The New York Times
785:2018-04-12 at the
641:WashingtonPost.com
30:
1054:National Archives
406:
405:
164:federal employees
148:
147:
99:Agency executives
16:(Redirected from
1158:
1120:Federal Register
1112:
1111:
1109:Official website
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1095:
1093:
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1024:on March 7, 2019
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274:Executive Branch
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93:Washington, D.C.
65:Preceding agency
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40:
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29:
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815:Washington Post
810:Wayback Machine
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763:Washington Post
756:Davidson, Joe.
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454:Washington Post
449:Teresa Chambers
434:Gary J. Aguirre
411:
383:
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361:
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331:
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322:
283:
206:
198:Tristan Leavitt
189:for the entire
131:
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118:Henry J. Kerner
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45:Agency overview
28:
23:
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12:
11:
5:
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1101:External links
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1056:. 2016-08-15.
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355:Raymond Limon
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316:Term expires
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295:5 U.S.C.
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52:
48:
43:
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19:
1090:, retrieved
1084:
1062:. Retrieved
1053:
1044:
1038:
1026:. Retrieved
1022:the original
1017:
1007:
995:. Retrieved
987:www.mspb.gov
986:
977:
971:
937:. Retrieved
929:www.mspb.gov
928:
919:
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797:
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761:
752:
740:. Retrieved
737:www.mspb.gov
736:
727:
711:
694:
684:February 17,
682:. Retrieved
671:
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651:February 14,
649:. Retrieved
640:
630:
620:, retrieved
611:
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589:. Retrieved
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566:
501:
493:
489:
485:
477:
468:
464:
452:
442:
427:
414:
412:
396:June 3, 2024
385:Henry Kerner
362:(Vice Chair)
340:June 1, 2022
325:Cathy Harris
284:
222:
207:
195:
184:
168:
155:
151:
149:
114:, Vice Chair
106:Cathy Harris
89:Headquarters
79:Jurisdiction
720:ยง 7703
392:Republican
366:Democratic
336:Democratic
299:ยง 1201
289:, with the
262:violations;
1135:Categories
1092:August 24,
1076:References
1064:2017-11-02
939:2017-08-06
622:2015-08-02
509:, 92
436:, for his
248:, and the
57:1979-01-01
997:August 6,
474:Criticism
313:Sworn in
260:Hatch Act
1058:Archived
1028:March 6,
991:Archived
960:Archived
933:Archived
908:Archived
875:Archived
806:Archived
783:Archived
678:Archived
645:Archived
616:archived
591:29 March
582:Archived
536:See also
204:Function
174:and the
120:, Member
1118:in the
894:YouTube
742:26 June
498:History
432:lawyer
332:(Chair)
234:or the
128:Website
108:, Chair
55: (
722:(b)(2)
718:
528:
513:
310:Party
297:
266:motion
244:, the
187:quorum
50:Formed
703:(PDF)
585:(PDF)
578:(PDF)
558:Notes
526:Stat.
511:Stat.
507:36037
307:Name
135:.mspb
1094:2013
1030:2019
999:2017
744:2021
686:2019
653:2019
593:2019
530:1111
522:1055
515:3783
156:MSPB
150:The
137:.gov
892:on
133:www
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519:FR
504:FR
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1001:.
942:.
746:.
705:.
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655:.
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154:(
59:)
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