Federal Government Policy and Business

Balancing SES accountability and protections: An alternative approach

Federal Times: The Merit Systems Protection Board has recently reversed the Department of Veterans Affairs removal of another senior executive, the third under the law that was supposed to make it easier to do so. As a result, Congress just might propose additional measures that further erode SES protections – and who can blame them?

All Congress and VA sought to do was make senior executives more accountable, and as a 20-year member of the SES, I cannot argue with that goal. As those who are responsible for leading the day-to-day workings of our government, career executives should be held to the very highest standards, and when they fail to meet them, they should be held accountable. I don’t know any of my SES colleagues who would disagree.

Read article