§725 Annual performance plan for political appointees

Summary

The Secretary must run a yearly performance review for every political appointee in the Department, like the reviews used for career Senior Executive Service employees. Each review must check four things: whether the appointee helps find and keep qualified staff; whether they keep employees engaged and motivated; whether they train and prepare staff for future leadership; and whether they hold managers responsible for their workers’ performance, especially their direct reports. A “political appointee” means either someone in an excepted position because it is confidential or policy-related, or a Senior Executive Service noncareer appointee (as defined in section 3132(a) of title 5).