White House Fellows Program Authorization Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14]
Introduced
Summary
Establishes a permanent, statutory framework for the White House Fellows Program to provide early-career Americans with senior federal experience and leadership training.
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It would create a President's Commission, set eligibility and cohort sizes, and authorize appropriations to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for fiscal years 2027–2031.
- Applicants and Fellows: U.S. citizens with a bachelor's degree who show unusual ability and leadership would be eligible. Each year the Commission would recommend 11–19 Fellows for a standard 12-month fellowship that can be extended up to 3 months.
- Governance and oversight: A President's Commission on White House Fellowships would run recruitment, screening, selection, and an educational program of seminars and study travel. The Commission would have up to 30 unpaid, presidentially appointed members and must report to Congress annually.
- Agencies and administration: Fellows would serve as full-time federal employees at host offices and receive pay and benefits set under the General Schedule. The Office of Personnel Management would provide administrative, budgetary, and staffing support and agencies may detail personnel to assist.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Fellow Pay, Term, and Placements
If enacted, a fellowship would normally last 12 months and the Commission could extend it up to 3 more months. Fellows would be assigned to senior officials in the White House, executive departments, or other senior Federal offices and would serve as full‑time employees of the agency that hosts them. Fellows would receive pay and benefits consistent with General Schedule rates as set by the Office of Personnel Management.
New White House Fellows Program
If enacted, the bill would create a permanent White House Fellows Program in the Executive Office of the President to give outstanding U.S. citizens first‑hand experience at senior federal levels. The President's Commission on White House Fellowships would run the program, set recruitment and education activities, and report to Congress. The President could issue executive orders that do not conflict with the Act, and the Act would control over any inconsistent parts of Executive Order 11183.
Support from Office of Personnel Management
If enacted, the bill would authorize the Office of Personnel Management to receive such sums as may be necessary to run the program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with specific amounts set later by Congress. The Director of OPM would provide administrative, budgetary, and personnel support and could hire staff under title 5. OPM could also ask other federal agencies to detail employees to help without reimbursement, with the agency's consent.
Who Can Be a Fellow
If enacted, the Commission would recommend between 11 and 19 people each program year, subject to available funding. To apply you would need U.S. citizenship, a completed undergraduate degree, and to be early in your chosen career with strong ability, character, motivation, and leadership promise. Selection would be without discrimination by race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or political views. Federal officers and employees who hold a Federal job when they apply would not be eligible, but active‑duty military could apply and would remain subject to military rules and any service obligations.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14]
GA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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