Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart C— - Employee Performance › Chapter CHAPTER 45— - INCENTIVE AWARDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - AWARDS FOR SUPERIOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS › § 4507
Agencies must send the Office each year a list of career officials they think should get the rank of Meritorious Executive or Distinguished Executive. The Office reviews those lists and tells the President which people it recommends. The President can give those ranks during any fiscal year to people the Office recommends. Only up to 5% of the Senior Executive Service can get Meritorious rank in a year, and only up to 1% can get Distinguished rank. A Meritorious award gives a one-time payment equal to 20% of annual basic pay. A Distinguished award gives a one-time payment equal to 35% of annual basic pay. Payments are added on top of regular pay and other awards. Definitions: agency = a federal department or agency; senior executive = a top-level government manager; career appointee = a permanent senior official.
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Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 4507
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73