Title 5 › Part III— EMPLOYEES › Subpart B— Employment and Retention › Chapter 33— EXAMINATION, SELECTION, AND PLACEMENT › Subchapter VIII— APPOINTMENT, REASSIGNMENT, TRANSFER, AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE › § 3395
Career Senior Executive Service (SES) employees can be moved to any SES job in their agency they are qualified for. They can move to an SES job in another agency if the new agency agrees. Usually they must get written notice at least 15 days before the move. If the move is outside their normal commuting area, the agency must talk with them first, give written reasons, and give at least 60 days’ written notice. The employee can sign a written waiver to skip the 60‑day notice. Temporary SES appointees have limits. A limited emergency appointee can be moved within the agency for urgent needs but may not serve more than 18 months under such appointments. A limited term appointee can be moved to jobs that end in 3 years or less but may not serve more than 3 years under such appointments. Neither type may be in those temporary appointments more than 36 months total during any 48‑month period. Noncareer appointees may be moved to any general job in their agency they are qualified for, and they may transfer to another agency with that agency’s approval. A career SES employee cannot be forced to move within 120 days after a new agency head starts or within 120 days after a new immediate supervisor (if that supervisor is a noncareer appointee who gives initial performance reviews), except for certain allowed reassignments or discipline that began before the new appointment. Up to 60 days of temporary detail away from the regular job do not count toward the 120 days.
Full Legal Text
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 3395
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60