Granting Reciprocity on Excepted Service and Federal Contractor Employee Fitness and Reinvestigating Individuals in Positions of Public Trust

2009-01-22Executive Order 13488
Signed by: George W. Bush
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Headline: Agencies Must Accept Prior Fitness Findings for New Hires

What it does: Agencies must recognize prior favorable fitness or suitability determinations and report investigation results to the Office of Personnel Management.

Real World Impact:
  • Eases hiring for contractor employees and excepted service hires with prior checks.
  • Requires agencies to report background investigations and fitness findings to the Office of Personnel Management.
  • Subjects public-trust positions to regular reinvestigation standards set by the Office of Personnel Management.
Topics: government hiring, background checks, contractor employees, personnel security

Summary

This order directs federal agencies to recognize prior favorable fitness or suitability determinations when hiring excepted service employees or contractor workers, with specific exceptions. It also requires agencies to report background investigation results to the Office of Personnel Management.

The Office of Personnel Management will set reinvestigation standards for positions of public trust and is given authority to issue guidance. The order aims to simplify hiring, make background checks more consistent, and ensure continued suitability for sensitive jobs; it applies to new hires beginning 90 days after issuance.

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