Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 113th Congress

July 15, 2015 (R44107)

Contents

Tables

Appendixes

Summary

The President makes appointments to positions within the federal government, either using the authorities granted by law to the President alone, or with the advice and consent of the Senate. There are some 351 full-time leadership positions in the 15 executive departments for which the Senate provides advice and consent. This report identifies all nominations submitted to the Senate during the 113th Congress for full-time positions in these 15 executive departments.

Information for each department is presented in tables. The tables include full-time positions confirmed by the Senate, pay levels for these positions, and appointment action within each executive department. Additional summary information across all 15 executive departments appears in the Appendix.

During the 113th Congress, the President submitted 273 nominations to the Senate for full-time positions in executive departments. Of these 273 nominations, 162 were confirmed, 8 were withdrawn, and 103 were returned to him in accordance with Senate rules. For those nominations that were confirmed, a mean (average) of 119.2 days elapsed between nomination and confirmation. The median number of days elapsed was 92.0.

Information for this report was compiled using the Senate nominations database of the Legislative Information System (LIS) (http://www.lis.gov/nomis/), the Congressional Record (daily edition), the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, telephone discussions with agency officials, agency websites, the United States Code, and the 2012 Plum Book (United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions).

This report will not be updated.

Introduction


Presidential Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments During the 113th Congress

Introduction

The President is responsible for appointing individuals to positions throughout the federal government. In some instances, the President makes these appointments using authorities granted by law to the President alone. Other appointments are made with the advice and consent of the Senate via the nomination and confirmation of appointees. Presidential appointments with Senate confirmation are often referred to with the abbreviation PAS. This report identifies, for the 113th Congress, all nominations submitted to the Senate for executive-level full-time positions1 in the 15 executive departments for which the Senate provides advice and consent. It excludes appointments to regulatory boards and commissions as well as to independent and other agencies, which are covered in other CRS reports.

Information for this report was compiled using the Senate nominations database of the Legislative Information System (LIS) (http://www.lis.gov/nomis/), the Congressional Record (daily edition), the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, telephone discussions with agency officials, agency websites, the United States Code, and the 2012 Plum Book (United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions).

Related Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports regarding the presidential appointments process, nomination activity for other executive branch positions, recess appointments, and other appointments-related matters may be found at http://www.crs.gov.2

Appointments During the 113th Congress

Table 1 summarizes appointment activity, during the 113th Congress, related to full-time PAS positions in the 15 executive departments. President Barack H. Obama submitted 273 nominations to the Senate for full-time positions in executive departments. Of these 273 nominations, 162 were confirmed; 8 were withdrawn; and 103 were returned to the President under the provisions of Senate rules.3

Table 1. Appointment Action for 15 Departments During the 113th Congress

Positions in the 15 Departments (total)

 

351

Positions to which nominations were made

 

201

Individual nominees

 

202a

Nominations Submitted to the Senate (total)

 

273a

Disposition of nominations

 

 

 

Confirmed by the Senate

 

162

 

Withdrawn

 

8

 

Returned

 

103

Recess Appointments

 

0

Source: Table developed by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) using data presented in the appendices of this report.

a. The figures shown here reveal a distinction between the number of positions to which nominations were made (201), the number of individual nominees (202), and the total number of nominations submitted (273). The number of positions to which nominations were made differs from the number of individual nominees for two reasons. First, the President sometimes nominates more than one individual successively to an open position, usually following the return or withdrawal of the original nomination. Second, less frequently, the President nominates a single individual to more than one position over the course of the Congress. Again, this usually followed the return or withdrawal of the first nomination. The number of total nominations submitted is greater than both of these figures because it includes cases in which the President nominated an individual to the same position more than once. In the 113th Congress, this is largely a result of nearly all nominations being returned to the President under Senate rules at the end of the first session of the 113th Congress. In most cases, the President resubmitted a nomination for the same individual to the same position a second time. This led to a larger number of nominations submitted to the Senate being represented by a smaller number of individual nominees who were nominated multiple times.

Length of Time to Confirm a Nomination

The length of time a given nomination may be pending in the Senate has varied widely. Some nominations were confirmed within a few days, others were confirmed within several months, and some were never confirmed. This report provides, for each executive department nomination confirmed in the 113th Congress, the number of days between nomination and confirmation ("days to confirm"). For confirmed nominations, a mean of 119.2 days elapsed between nomination and confirmation. The median number of days elapsed was 92.0.

Under Senate Rules, nominations not acted on by the Senate at the end of a session of Congress (or before a recess of 30 days) are returned to the President.4 The Senate, by unanimous consent, often waives this rule—although not always.5 This report measures the "days to confirm" from the date of receipt of the resubmitted nomination, not the original.

Organization of this Report

Executive Department Profiles

Each of the 15 executive department profiles provided in this report is divided into two parts: (1) a table listing the organization's full-time PAS positions as of the end of the 113th Congress and (2) a table listing appointment action for vacant positions during the 113th Congress. Data for these tables were collected from several authoritative sources, as listed earlier. In each department profile, the first of these two tables identifies, as of the end of the 113th Congress,6 each full-time PAS position in that department7 and its pay level. For most presidentially appointed positions requiring Senate confirmation, pay levels fall under the Executive Schedule. As of the end of the 113th Congress, these pay levels ranged from level I ($201,700) for Cabinet-level offices to level V ($147,200) for lower-ranked positions.8

The second table, the appointment action table, provides, in chronological order, information concerning each nomination. It shows the name of the nominee, position involved, date of nomination or appointment, date of confirmation, and number of days between receipt of a nomination and confirmation. It also notes actions other than confirmation (e.g., nominations returned to or withdrawn by the President).

The appointment action tables with more than one nominee to a position also list statistics on the length of time between nomination and confirmation. Each appointment action table provides the average days to confirm in two ways: mean and median. Although the mean is a more familiar measure, it may be influenced by outliers in the data. The median, by contrast, does not tend to be influenced by outliers. In other words, a nomination that took an extraordinarily long time might cause a significant change in the mean, but the median would be unaffected. Examining both numbers offers more information with which to assess the central tendency of the data.

For a small number of positions within a department, the two tables may contain slightly different titles for the same position. This is because the title used in the nomination the White House submits to the Senate, the title of the position as established by statute, and the title of the position used by the department itself are not always identical. The first table listing incumbents at the end of the 113th Congress uses data provided by the department itself. The second table listing nomination action within each department relies primarily upon the Senate nominations database of the LIS.9 This information is based upon the nomination sent to the Senate by the White House. Any inconsistency in position titles between the two tables is noted in the notes following each appointment table.

Additional Appointment Information

Appendix A provides two tables. Table A-1 relists all appointment action identified in this report and is organized alphabetically by the appointee's last name. Table entries identify the agency to which each individual was appointed, position title, nomination date, date confirmed or other final action, and duration count for confirmed nominations. The table also includes the mean and median values for the "days to confirm" column.

Table A-2 provides summary data for each of the 15 executive departments identified in this report. The table summarizes the number of positions, nominations submitted, individual nominees, confirmations, nominations returned, and nominations withdrawn for each department. It also provides the mean and median values for the numbers of days taken to confirm nominations within each department.

A list of department abbreviations can be found in Appendix B.

Department of Agriculture

Table 2. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Agriculture

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary—Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

III

Under Secretary—Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services

III

Under Secretary—Food Safety

III

Under Secretary—Marketing and Regulatory Programs

III

Under Secretary—Natural Resources and Environment

III

Under Secretary—Research, Education, and Economics

III

Under Secretary—Rural Development

III

Assistant Secretary—Civil Rights

IV

Assistant Secretary—Congressional Relations

IV

Chief Financial Officerc

IV

General Counsel

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The chief financial officer (CFO) may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)). In previous Congresses, the CFO for the Department of Agriculture has been appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Table 3. Department of Agriculture Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Jon M. Holladay

Chief Financial Officer

5/20/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Robert Bonnie

Under Sec.—Natural Resources and Environment

6/27/2013

8/1/2013

35

Krysta L. Harden

Deputy Sec.

6/27/2013

8/1/2013

35

Jon M. Holladay

Chief Financial Officer

1/6/2014

11/19/2014

317

Todd A. Batta

Asst. Sec.—Congressional Relations

2/12/2014

6/12/2014

120

Lisa A. S. Mensah

Under Sec.—Rural Development

5/12/2014

11/20/2014

192

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

139.8

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

120

Source: CRS.

a. Department of Agriculture Appointment Action During the 113th Congress.

Department of Commerce

Table 4. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Commerce

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary—Economic Affairs

III

Under Secretary—Export Administrationc

III

Under Secretary—Intellectual Property/Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

III

Under Secretary—International Trade

III

Under Secretary—Oceans and Atmosphere/Administrator—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

III

Under Secretary—Standards and Technology/Director—National Institute of Standards and Technologyd

III

Assistant Secretary—Administration/Chief Financial Officere

IV

Assistant Secretary—Communications and Information

IV

Assistant Secretary—Economic Development

IV

Assistant Secretary—Export Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Export Enforcement

IV

Assistant Secretary—Import Administrationf

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Industry and Analysis

IV

Assistant Secretary—Market Access and Compliance

IV

Assistant Secretary—Environmental Observation and Prediction/Deputy Administrator, NOAA

IV

Assistant Secretary—Conservation and Management/Deputy Administrator, NOAA

IV

Assistant Secretary—Trade Promotion/Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

IV

Director—Bureau of the Censusg

IV

Director—National Institute of Standards and Technology

IV

General Counsel

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. Within the Department of Commerce, this position is also sometimes known as Under Secretary of Industry and Security.

d. New position as of January 4, 2011, P.L. 111-358. According to §403(a), "the individual serving as the Director of the Institute on the date of enactment of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2010 shall also serve as the Under Secretary until such time as a successor is appointed under subsection (b).''

e. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

f. Within the Department of Commerce, this position is also sometimes known as Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

g. P.L. 112-166 established a five-year term for the Director of the Bureau of the Census and required the nominee to have certain specified qualifications (13 U.S.C. §21).

Table 5. Department of Commerce Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Penny Pritzker

Secretary

5/9/2013

6/25/2013

47

Mark E. Schaefer

Asst. Sec.—Conservation and Management/Deputy Administrator, NOAA

5/23/2013

8/1/2013

70

John H. Thompson

Dir.—Bureau of the Census

5/23/2013

8/1/2013

70

Ellen C. Herbst

Asst. Sec.—Administration

6/27/2013

8/1/2013

35

Ellen C. Herbst

Chief Financial Officer

6/27/2013

8/1/2013

35

Margaret L. Cummisky

Asst. Sec.—Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

7/10/2013

8/1/2013

22

Kathryn D. Sullivan

Under Sec.—Oceans and Atmosphere

8/1/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Roy K. J. Williams

Asst. Sec.—Economic Development

9/11/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Kelly R. Welsh

General Counsel

10/7/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Arun M. Kumar

Asst. Sec.—Trade Promotion/Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

10/7/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Stefan M. Selig

Under Sec.—International Trade

11/12/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Arun M. Kumar

Asst. Sec.—Trade Promotion/Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

1/6/2014

3/13/2014

66

Kelly R. Welsh

General Counsel

1/6/2014

3/31/2014

84

Kathryn D. Sullivan

Under Sec.—Oceans and Atmosphere

1/6/2014

3/6/2014

59

Roy K. J. Williams

Asst. Sec.—Economic Development

1/6/2014

5/14/2014

128

Stefan M. Selig

Under Sec.—International Trade

1/6/2014

6/4/2014

149

Bruce H. Andrews

Deputy Sec.

5/22/2014

7/24/2014

63

Marcus D. Jadotte

Asst. Sec.—Industry and Analysis

5/22/2014

12/16/2014

208

Willie E. May

Under Sec.—Standards and Technology

7/28/2014

Returned 12/17/14a

 

Manson K. Brown

Asst. Sec.—Environmental Observation and Prediction

7/31/2014

Returned 12/17/14a

 

Michelle K. Lee

Under Sec.—Intellectual Property/Dir.—U.S. Patent and Trademark office

11/12/2014

Returned 12/17/14a

 

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

79.7

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

66

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Defense

Table 6. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Defense

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Under Secretary—Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary—Comptroller/Chief Financial Officerc

III

Under Secretary—Intelligence

III

Under Secretary—Personnel and Readiness

III

Under Secretary—Policy

III

Deputy Chief Management Officer

III

Principal Deputy Under Secretary—Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics

III

Principal Deputy Under Secretary—Comptroller

IV

Principal Deputy Under Secretary—Intelligenced

IV

Principal Deputy Under Secretary—Personnel and Readiness

IV

Principal Deputy Under Secretary—Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Acquisition

IV

Assistant Secretary—Asian and Pacific Security Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Global Strategic Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Health Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Homeland Defense and Global Security

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Security Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislative Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Logistics and Materiel Readiness

IV

Assistant Secretary—Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Operational Energy Plans and Programs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Readiness and Force Managemente

IV

Assistant Secretary—Research and Engineering

IV

Assistant Secretary—Reserve Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict

IV

Director—Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

IV

Director—Operational Test and Evaluationf

IV

General Counsel

IV

Department of the Air Force

 

Secretary

II

Under Secretary

III

Assistant Secretary—Acquisition

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Management/Comptroller

IV

Assistant Secretary—Manpower and Reserve Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Installations, Environment and Logistics

IV

General Counsel

IV

Department of the Army

 

Secretary

II

Under Secretary

III

Assistant Secretary—Civil Works

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Management/Comptroller

IV

Assistant Secretary—Acquisition, Logistics and Technology

IV

Assistant Secretary—Installations, Energy and Environment

IV

Assistant Secretary—Manpower and Reserve Affairs

IV

General Counsel

IV

Department of the Navy

 

Secretary

II

Under Secretary

III

Assistant Secretary—Financial Management/Comptroller

IV

Assistant Secretary—Energy, Installations and Environment

IV

Assistant Secretary—Manpower and Reserve Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Research, Development, and Acquisition

IV

General Counsel

IV

Joint Chiefs of Staffg

(Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are compensated under the military pay system rather than the executive schedule.)

Chairman

Vice Chairman

Chief of Staff (Air Force)

Chief of Staff (Army)

Chief of Naval Operations

Commandant of the Marine Corps

Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

d. The position of Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence was made a presidential appointment requiring the advice and consent of the Senate under the provisions of P.L. 111-84, Division A, Title IX, Subtitle A, §906(a) (123 Stat. 2428) and was filled by a confirmed nomination for the first time during the 113th Congress.

e. The position of Assistant Secretary for Readiness and Force Management was established by P.L. 111-383, Title IX, §901(b)(4)(A)(i) and was filled for the first time during the 113th Congress.

f. The President may remove the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation from office. The law provides that "The President shall communicate the reasons for any such removal to both Houses of Congress" (10 U.S.C. §139(a)(1)).

g. The chairman and vice chairman serve two-year terms; other members serve four-year terms. See 10 U.S.C. §152(a) and 10 U.S.C. §154(a)(3).

Table 7. Department of Defense Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Charles T. Hagel

Secretary

01/22/13

02/26/13

35

Frederick Vollrath

Asst. Sec.—Readiness and Force Management

01/22/13

04/18/13

86

Alan F. Estevez

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics

01/22/13

10/30/13

281

Eric K. Fanning

Under Sec.—Air Force

02/04/13

04/18/13

73

Stephen W. Preston

General Counsel

06/11/13

10/16/13

127

Martin E. Dempsey

Chairman—Joint Chiefs of Staff

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

James A. Winnefeld, Jr.

Vice Chairman—Joint Chiefs of Staff

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

Jon T. Rymer

Inspector General

06/24/13

09/17/13

85

Susan J. Rabern

Asst. Sec.—Navy—Financial Management/Comptroller

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Dennis V. McGinn

Asst. Sec.—Navy—Energy, Installations and Environment

07/09/13

08/01/13

23

Jessica G. Wright

Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Marcel J. Lettre II

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Intelligence

07/25/13

10/31/13

98

Deborah L. James

Secretary—Air Force

08/01/13

12/13/13

134

Jo Ann Rooney

Under Sec.—Navy

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Jamie M. Morin

Dir.—Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

0911/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Michael D. Lumpkin

Asst. Sec.—Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict

09/11/13

11/14/13

64

William A. LaPlante, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Acquisition

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Brad R. Carson

Under Sec.—Army

11/21/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Jessica G. Wright

Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

01/06/14

06/25/14

170

Jo Ann Rooney

Under Sec.—Navy

01/06/14

Withdrawn 11/12/14

Jamie M. Morin

Dir.—Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

01/06/14

06/25/14

170

William A. LaPlante, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Acquisition

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Brad R. Carson

Under Sec.—Army

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Eric Rosenbach

Asst. Sec.—Homeland Defense and Global Security

01/07/14

09/18/14

254

David B. Shear

Asst. Sec.—Asian and Pacific Security Affairs

01/07/14

07/17/14

191

Miranda A. A. Ballentine

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Installations, Environment, and Logistics

01/30/14

09/11/14

224

Michael J. McCord

Under Sec.—Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer

01/30/14

06/12/14

133

Brian P. McKeon

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Policy

01/30/14

07/28/14

179

Christine E. Wormuth

Under Sec.—Policy

01/30/14

06/19/14

140

Robert O. Work

Dep. Sec.

02/10/14

04/30/14

79

Lisa S. Disbrow

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Financial Management/Comptroller

02/27/14

07/24/14

147

Laura Junor

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

02/27/14

07/31/14

154

Gordon O. Tanner

General Counsel—Air Force

04/07/14

09/16/14

162

Robert M. Speer

Asst. Sec.—Army—Financial Management/Comptroller

04/10/14

11/20/14

224

Debra S. Wada

Asst. Sec.—Army—Manpower and Reserve Affairs

05/05/14

09/17/14

135

Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.

Commandant—Marine Corps

06/04/14

07/23/14

49

Alissa M. Starzak

General Counsel—Army

07/14/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Robert M. Scher

Asst. Sec.—Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

09/15/14

12/16/14

92

David J. Berteau

Asst. Sec.—Logistics and Materiel Readiness

11/12/14

12/16/14

34

Elissa Slotkin

Asst. Sec.—International Security Affairs

11/13/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

116.5

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

112.5

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Education

Table 8. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Education

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Director—Institute of Education Sciencesa

II

Inspector Generalb

III + 3%c

Under Secretary

III

Chief Financial Officerd

IV

Assistant Secretary—Civil Rights

IV

Assistant Secretary—Communications and Outreach

IV

Assistant Secretary—Elementary and Secondary Education

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislation and Congressional Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development

IV

Assistant Secretary—Postsecondary Education

IV

Assistant Secretary—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

IV

Assistant Secretary—Vocational and Adult Education

IV

General Counsel

IV

Commissioner—Rehabilitation Services Administration

V

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. This position has a six-year term and specified qualifications. See 20 U.S.C. §9514.

b. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

c. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

d. The chief financial officer (CFO) may be appointed by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)). In previous Congresses, the CFO for the Department of Education has been appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Table 9. Department of Education Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Janet L. LaBreck

Commissioner—Rehabilitation Services Administration

02/04/13

08/01/13

178

James Cole, Jr.

General Counsel

06/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Catherine E. Lhamon

Asst. Sec.—Civil Rights

06/11/13

08/01/13

51

Michael K. Yudin

Asst. Sec.—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

07/10/13

Returned 01/03/14a

James H. Shelton III

Dep. Sec.

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Theodore R. Mitchell

Under Sec.

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Massie Ritsch

Asst. Sec.—Communications and Outreach

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Ericka M. Miller

Asst. Sec.—Postsecondary Education

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Michael K. Yudin

Asst. Sec.—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

James H. Shelton III

Dep. Sec.

01/06/14

03/12/14

65

Massie Ritsch

Asst. Sec.—Communications and Outreach

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Theodore R. Mitchell

Under Sec.

01/06/14

05/08/14

122

Ericka M. Miller

Asst. Sec.—Postsecondary Education

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

James Cole, Jr.

General Counsel

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Robert M. Gordon

Asst. Sec.—Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development

05/05/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

152.0

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

122.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Energy

Table 10. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Energy

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary

III

Under Secretary—Nuclear Security/Administrator—National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

III

Under Secretary—Science

III

Director—Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

III

Principal Deputy Administrator—NNSA

IV

Deputy Administrator—Defense Programs, NNSA

IV

Deputy Administrator—Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, NNSA

IV

Administrator—Energy Information Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability

IV

Assistant Secretary—Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Environmental Management

IV

Assistant Secretary—Fossil Energy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Nuclear Energy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy and International Affairs

IV

Chief Financial Officer

IV

Director—Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Managementc

IV

Director—Office of Economic Impact and Diversityd

IV

Director—Office of Science

IV

General Counsel

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. According to a department spokesperson, the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management was abolished as of September 2010. However, the position is still listed in the U.S. Code (42 U.S.C. §10224).

d. This position is referred to as Director—Office of Minority Economic Impact in the Senate nominations database of the Legislative Information System. Within the Department of Energy, it is referred to as the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity.

Table 11. Department of Energy Appointment Action During 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Ernest J. Moniz

Secretary

03/07/13

05/16/13

70

Elizabeth M. Robinson

Under Sec.

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Frank G. Klotz

Under Sec.—Nuclear Security

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Steven Croley

General Counsel

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Christopher Smith

Asst. Sec.—Fossil Energy

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Bradley Crowell

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

09/11/13

10/16/13

35

Joseph S. Hezir

Chief Financial Officer

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Jonathan Elkind

Asst. Sec.—International Affairs

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Ellen D. Williams

Dir.—Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Madelyn R. Creedon

Prin. Dep. Admin.—National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Franklin M. Orr, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Marc A. Kastner

Dir.—Office of Science

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Frank G. Klotz

Under Sec.—Nuclear Security

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

Madelyn R. Creedon

Prin. Dep. Admin.—NNSA

01/06/14

07/23/14

198

Ellen D. Williams

Dir.—Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

01/06/14

12/08/14

336

Christopher Smith

Asst. Sec.—Fossil Energy

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Elizabeth M. Robinson

Under Sec.

01/06/14

Withdrawn 07/09/14

Franklin M. Orr, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science

01/06/14

12/04/14

332

Marc A. Kastner

Dir.—Office of Science

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Jonathan Elkind

Asst. Sec.—Policy and International Affairs

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Steven Croley

General Counsel

01/06/14

05/12/14

126

Joseph S. Hezir

Chief Financial Officer

01/06/14

12/04/14

332

Monica C. Regalbuto

Asst. Sec.—Environmental Management

03/10/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

Dep. Sec.

07/09/14

09/18/14

71

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

193.6

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

162.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules.

Department of Health and Human Services

Table 12. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Health and Human Services

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Administrator—Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

III

Administrator—Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Aging

IV

Assistant Secretary—Children and Familiesc

IV

Assistant Secretary—Health

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislation

IV

Assistant Secretary—Planning and Evaluation

IV

Assistant Secretary—Preparedness and Response

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Resources /Chief Financial Officerd

IV

Commissioner—Food and Drugs

IV

Director—National Institutes of Health

IV

General Counsel

IV

Commissioner—Children, Youth, and Families

V

Commissioner—Administration for Native Americans

V

Director—Indian Health Servicee

V

Surgeon Generalf

g

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. This position is called Assistant Secretary for Family Support in the Senate nominations database of the Legislative Information System. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, it is referred to as the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

d. The chief financial officer (CFO) may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(l)). The Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources is HUD's designated CFO.

e. This position has a four-year term; a director may serve more than one term. See 25 U.S.C. §1661(a)(2).

f. This position has a four-year term and specified qualifications. See 42 U.S.C. §205.

g. The Surgeon General is compensated as a commissioned officer at level 0-9. See 37 U.S.C. §201.

Table 13. Department of Health and Human Services Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

William B. Schultz

General Counsel

01/22/13

04/25/13

93

Marilyn B. Tavenner

Admin.—Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

02/07/13

05/15/13

97

Yvette Roubideaux

Dir.—Indian Health Service

04/23/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Richard G. Frank

Asst. Sec.—Planning and Evaluation

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Vivek H. Murthy

Surgeon General

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Richard G. Frank

Asst. Sec.—Planning and Evaluation

01/06/14

05/22/14

136

Vivek H. Murthy

Surgeon General

01/06/14

12/15/14

343

Yvette Roubideaux

Dir.—Indian Health Service

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Maria Cancian

Asst. Sec.—Family Supportb

02/12/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Sylvia M. Burwell

Secretary

04/11/14

06/05/14

55

Rafael J. Lopez

Commissioner—Children, Youth, and Families

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

144.8

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

97.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

b. This position is called Assistant Secretary for Family Support in the Senate nominations database of the Legislative Information System. Within the Department of Health and Human Services, it is referred to as the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.

Department of Homeland Security

Table 14. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Homeland Security

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary—Intelligence and Analysis

III

Under Secretary—Management

III

Under Secretary—National Protection and Programs Directorate

III

Under Secretary—Science and Technology

III

Director—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

III

Commissioner—U.S. Customs and Border Protection

III

Assistant Secretary—Health Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Transportation Security Administrationc

IV

Assistant Secretary—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementd

IV

Chief Financial Officere

IV

General Counsel

IV

Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard

Admiralf

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Administrator

II

Deputy Administrator—Protection and National Preparedness

III

Deputy Administrator

III

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. Within the Department of Homeland Security, this position is also sometimes known as the Administrator—Transportation Security Administration.

d. Within the Department of Homeland Security, this position is also sometimes known as the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

e. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

f. The Commandant of the Coast Guard is compensated under the military pay system, rather than the executive schedule, with the grade of admiral.

Table 15. Department of Homeland Security Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Alejandro N. Mayorkas

Dep. Sec.

06/27/13

12/20/13

176

R. Gil Kerlikowske

Commissioner—U.S. Customs and Border Protection

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Stevan E. Bunnell

General Counsel

08/01/13

10/16/13

76

Suzanne E. Spaulding

Under Sec.—National Protection and Programs Directorate

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Jeh C. Johnson

Secretary

10/28/13

12/16/13

49

John Roth

Inspector General

11/21/13

Returned 01/03/14a

R. Gil Kerlikowske

Commissioner—U.S. Customs and Border Protection

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

Suzanne E. Spaulding

Under Sec.—National Protection and Programs Directorate

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

John Roth

Inspector General

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Leon Rodriguez

Dir.—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

01/07/14

06/24/14

168

L. Reginald Brothers, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science and Technology

01/30/14

04/07/14

67

Francis X. Taylor

Under Sec.—Intelligence and Analysis

02/12/14

04/07/14

54

Paul F. Zukunft

Commandant—U.S. Coast Guard

03/04/14

05/14/14

71

Joseph L. Nimmich

Dep. Admin.—Federal Emergency Management Agency

07/14/14

09/11/14

59

Charles H. Fulghum

Chief Financial Officer

07/21/14

09/18/14

59

Russell C. Deyo

Under. Sec.—Management

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Sarah R. Saldana

Asst. Sec.—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcementb

09/08/14

12/16/14

99

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

83.7

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

67.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

b. Within the Department of Homeland Security, this position is also sometimes known as the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Table 16. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Housing and Urban Development

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Assistant Secretary—Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Community Planning and Development

IV

Assistant Secretary—Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations

IV

Assistant Secretary—Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

IV

Assistant Secretary—Housing/Federal Housing Administration Commissioner

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy Development and Research

IV

Assistant Secretary—Public and Indian Housing

IV

Chief Financial Officerc

IV

General Counsel

IV

President—Government National Mortgage Association

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

Table 17. Department of Housing and Urban Development Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Katherine M. O'Regan

Asst. Sec.—Policy Development and Research

06/27/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Katherine M. O'Regan

Asst. Sec.—Policy Development and Research

01/06/14

04/28/14

112

Gustavo V. Aguilar

Asst. Sec.—Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

01/16/14

06/19/14

154

Erika L. Moritsugu

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations

03/10/14

07/30/14

142

Nani A. Coloretti

Dep. Sec.

03/10/14

12/02/14

267

Bradford R. Huther

Chief Financial Officer

03/13/14

09/17/14

188

Julian Castro

Secretary

06/02/14

07/09/14

37

Lourdes M. Castro Ramirez

Asst. Sec.—Public and Indian Housing

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

150.0

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

148.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules.

Department of the Interior

Table 18. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of the Interior

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Special Trustee for American Indians

a

Inspector Generalb

III + 3%c

Assistant Secretary—Fish and Wildlife and Parks

IV

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Insular Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Land and Minerals Management

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy, Management, and Budget/Chief Financial Officer

IV

Assistant Secretary—Water and Science

IV

Chair—National Indian Gaming Commission

IV

Solicitor

IV

Director—National Park Service

V

Director—Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

V

Commissioner—Bureau of Reclamation

V

Director—Bureau of Land Management

V

Director—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

V

Director—U.S. Geological Survey

V

Commissioner—Indian Affairsd

V

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The Special Trustee is to be paid "at a rate determined by the Secretary to be appropriate for the position, but not less than the rate of basic pay payable at Level II of the Executive Schedule" (25 U.S.C. §4042(b)(2)).

b. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

c. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

d. This position (provided for at 25 U.S.C. §1) has been vacant since 1981.

Table 19. Department of the Interior Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Sarah Jewell

Secretary

02/07/13

04/10/13

62

Vincent G. Logan

Special Trustee for American Indians

02/27/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Michael L. Connor

Dep. Sec.

07/31/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Esther P. Kia'aina

Asst. Sec.—Insular Affairs

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Rhea S. Suh

Asst. Sec.—Fish and Wildlife and Parks

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Janice M. Schneider

Asst. Sec.—Land and Minerals Management

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Tommy P. Beaudreau

Asst. Sec.—Policy, Management, and Budget/Chief Financial Officer

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Neil G. Kornze

Dir.—Bureau of Land Management

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Rhea S. Suh

Asst. Sec.—Fish and Wildlife and Parks

01/06/14

Withdrawn 09/18/14

Janice M. Schneider

Asst. Sec.—Land and Minerals Management

01/06/14

05/01/14

115

Neil G. Kornze

Dir.—Bureau of Land Management

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

Esther P. Kia'aina

Asst. Sec.—Insular Affairs

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Michael L. Connor

Dep. Sec.

01/06/14

02/27/14

52

Tommy P. Beaudreau

Asst. Sec.—Policy, Management, and Budget/Chief Financial Officer

01/06/14

Withdrawn 05/12/14

Vincent G. Logan

Special Trustee for American Indians

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Suzette M. Kimball

Dir.—U.S. Geological Survey

01/09/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Estevan R. Lopez

Commissioner—Bureau of Reclamation

03/10/14

12/16/14

281

Jonodev O. Chaudhuri

Chair—National Indian Gaming Commission

07/22/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

134.9

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

115.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Justice

Table 20. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Justice

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Positiona

Pay Level

Attorney General

I

Deputy Attorney General

II

Inspector Generalb

III + 3%c

Director—Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosivesd

III

Director—Federal Bureau of Investigatione

II

Administrator—Drug Enforcement

III

Associate Attorney General

III

Solicitor General

III

Assistant Attorney General—Antitrust Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Civil Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Civil Rights Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Criminal Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Environment and Natural Resources Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Legislative Affairs

IV

Assistant Attorney General—National Security Division

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Office of Justice Programs

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Office of Legal Counsel

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Office of Legal Policy

IV

Assistant Attorney General—Tax Division

IV

Deputy Administrator—Drug Enforcement Administration

IV

Director—Community Relations Servicef

IV

Director—U.S. Marshals Service

IV

Special Counsel—Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practicesg

h

Director—Violence Against Women Office

V

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. Positions in this column do not include the U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal positions. The chief financial officer (CFO) position is also not listed here. Although the Department of Justice is included in the statue that provides presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed CFOs for all of the major executive branch agencies (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)), this provision is superseded by 28 U.S.C. §507, which provides that the Assistant Attorney General for Administration, appointed by the Attorney General with the approval of the President, shall be the CFO for the Department of Justice.

b. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

c. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

d. The position of Director—Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was made a presidential appointment requiring the advice and consent of the Senate under the provisions of P.L. 109-177, Title V §504 (120 Stat. 247), enacted March 9, 2006. It was filled for the first time in the 113th Congress.

e. This position has a 10-year term. See 28 U.S.C. §532 note.

f. This position has a four-year term. See 42 U.S.C. §2000g.

g. This position has a four-year term. See 8 U.S.C. §1324b(c)(1).

h. "The Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices is entitled to receive compensation at a rate not to exceed the rate now or hereafter provided for grade GS-17 of the General Schedule," under 8 U.S.C. §1324b(c)(3).

Table 21. Department of Justice Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Derek A. West

Assoc. Atty. General

1/22/2013

7/25/2013

184

Byron T. Jones

Dir.—Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

1/24/2013

7/31/2013

188

Karol V. Mason

Asst. Atty. General—Office of Justice Programs

2/13/2013

4/25/2013

71

Stuart F. Delery

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Division

3/21/2013

8/1/2013

133

James B. Comey, Jr.

Dir.—Federal Bureau of Investigation

6/21/2013

7/29/2013

38

Peter J. Kadzik

Asst. Atty. General—Legislative Affairs

8/1/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

John P. Carlin

Asst. Atty. General—National Security Division

9/11/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Leslie R. Caldwell

Asst. Atty. General—Criminal Division

9/18/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Debo P. Adegbile

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Rights Division

11/18/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Debo P. Adegbile

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Rights Division

1/6/2014

Withdrawn 09/15/14

Leslie R. Caldwell

Asst. Atty. General—Criminal Division

1/6/2014

5/15/2014

129

John P. Carlin

Asst. Atty. General—National Security Division

1/6/2014

4/1/2014

85

Peter J. Kadzik

Asst. Atty. General—Legislative Affairs

1/6/2014

6/17/2014

162

John C. Cruden

Asst. Atty. General— Environment and Natural Resources Division

1/7/2014

12/16/2014

343

Loretta E. Lynch

Attorney General

11/13/2014

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

148.1

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

133

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Labor

Table 22. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Labor

(as of the End of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Assistant Secretary—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Disability Employment Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Employee Benefits Security Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Employment and Training Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Mine Safety and Health Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Occupational Safety and Health Administration

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Veterans' Employment and Training Service

IV

Chief Financial Officerc

IV

Commissioner—Bureau of Labor Statisticsd

IV

Solicitor

IV

Administrator—Wage and Hour Division

V

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

d. This position has a four-year term. See 29 U.S.C. §3.

Table 23. Department of Labor Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Thomas E. Perez

Secretary

03/19/13

07/18/13

121

Scott S. Dahl

Inspector General

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

David Weil

Admin.—Wage and Hour Division

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Portia Y. Wu

Asst. Sec.—Employment and Training Administration

12/13/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Portia Y. Wu

Asst. Sec.—Employment and Training Administration

01/06/14

04/02/14

86

David Weil

Admin.—Wage and Hour Division

01/06/14

04/28/14

112

Christopher P. Lu

Dep. Sec.

01/09/14

04/01/14

82

Adri D. Jayaratne

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

07/21/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

98.2

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

90.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of State

Table 24. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of State

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Positiona

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Deputy Secretary—Management and Resources

II

Inspector Generalb

III + 3%c

Under Secretary—Arms Control and International Security

III

Under Secretary—Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment

III

Under Secretary—Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rightsd

III

Under Secretary—Management

III

Under Secretary—Political Affairs

III

Under Secretary—Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

III

Ambassador-at-Large—Global Women's Issues

IV

Ambassador-at-Large—International Religious Freedom

IV

Ambassador-at-Large/Director—Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

IV

Ambassador-at-Large—War Crimes Issues

IV

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—Counterterrorism

IV

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—U.S. Global AIDS

IV

Chief of Protocol

IV

Assistant Secretary—African Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Arms Control, Verification and Compliance

IV

Assistant Secretary—Conflict and Stabilization Operations/ Coordinator—Reconstruction and Stabilization

IV

Assistant Secretary—Consular Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

IV

Assistant Secretary—Diplomatic Securitye

IV

Assistant Secretary—East Asian and Pacific Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Economic and Business Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Educational and Cultural Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Energy Resources

IV

Assistant Secretary—European and Eurasian Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Intelligence and Research

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Organizations Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Security and Nonproliferation

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislative Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Near Eastern Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Political-Military Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Population, Refugees, and Migration

IV

Assistant Secretary—South and Central Asian Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Western Hemisphere Affairs

IV

Chief Financial Officerf

IV

Director General—Foreign Serviceg

IV

Director—Office of Foreign Missione

IV

Legal Adviser

IV

International Organizations

 

U.S. Representative—United Nations (UN)

II

U.S. Representative—Organization of American States

h

U.S. Deputy Representative—UN

i

U.S. Representative—Economic and Social Council, UN

i

U.S. Representative—Management and Reform, UN

i

U.S. Alternate Representative—Special Political Affairs, UN

i

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The positions in this column do not include chiefs of mission in overseas posts or Foreign Service officers. In addition, certain officers of the State Department may be required to have certain qualifications. See 22 U.S.C. §2651a(g).

b. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

c. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

d. This position was formerly known as the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs.

e. From 1998 to 2008, each time an individual has been nominated to and confirmed for the position of Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, he has simultaneously been nominated to and confirmed for the position of Director of Foreign Missions. In the 113th Congress, the President nominated distinct individuals to each position as shown below.

f. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

g. By law, incumbent must be a current or former career member of the Foreign Service (22 U.S.C. §3928).

h. The salary for the U.S. Representative to the Organization of the American States is linked to the pay for chiefs of mission.

i. The salaries for these positions within the UN are administratively determined.

Table 25. Department of State Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

John F. Kerry

Secretary

01/22/13

01/29/13

7

Catherine M. Russell

Amb.-at-Large—Global Women's Issues

03/19/13

08/01/13

135

Avril D. Haines

Legal Adviser

04/18/13

Withdrawn 06/13/13

Carlos Pascual

Asst. Sec.—Energy Resources

04/23/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Rose E. Gottemoeller

Under Sec.—Arms Control and International Security

05/09/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Daniel R. Russel

Asst. Sec.—East Asian and Pacific Affairs

05/16/13

07/09/13

54

Victoria Nuland

Asst. Sec.—European and Eurasian Affairs

05/23/13

09/12/13

112

Samantha Power

U.S. Rep.—United Nations (UN)

06/13/13

08/01/13

49

Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Asst. Sec.—African Affairs

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

Steve A. Linick

Inspector General

06/27/13

09/17/13

82

Tomasz P. Malinowski

Asst. Sec.—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

07/09/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Evan Ryan

Asst. Sec.—Educational and Cultural Affairs

07/09/13

09/23/13

76

Frank A. Rose

Asst. Sec.—Arms Control, Verification and Compliance

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Nisha D. Biswal

Asst. Sec.—South Asian Affairs

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

Julia Frifield

Asst. Sec.—Legislative Affairs

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

Gregory B. Starr

Asst. Sec.—Diplomatic Security

07/31/13

11/14/13

106

Anne W. Patterson

Asst. Sec.—Near Eastern Affairs

08/01/13

12/16/13

137

Sarah Sewall

Under Sec.—Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Puneet Talwar

Asst. Sec.—Political-Military Affairs

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Heather A. Higginbottom

Dep. Sec.—Management and Resources

09/11/13

12/13/13

93

Richard Stengel

Under. Sec.—Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

09/18/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Catherine A. Novelli

Under Sec.—Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment

09/25/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Arnold A. Chacon

Dir. Gen.—Foreign Service

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Daniel B. Smith

Asst. Sec.—Intelligence and Research

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Charles H. Rivkin

Asst. Sec.—Economic and Business Affairs

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Bathsheba N. Crocker

Asst. Sec.—International Organization Affairs

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Tina S. Kaidanow

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—Counterterrorism

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Peter A. Selfridge

Chief of Protocol

12/13/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Richard Stengel

Under. Sec.—Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Sarah Sewall

Under Sec.—Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Puneet Talwar

Asst. Sec.—Political-Military Affairs

01/06/14

03/13/14

66

Frank A. Rose

Asst. Sec.—Arms Control, Verification and Compliance

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Charles H. Rivkin

Asst. Sec.—Economic and Business Affairs

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Carlos Pascual

Asst. Sec.—Energy Resources

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Tomasz P. Malinowski

Asst. Sec.—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

01/06/14

04/02/14

86

Rose E. Gottemoeller

Under Sec.—Arms Control and International Security

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Bathsheba N. Crocker

Asst. Sec.—International Organization Affairs

01/06/14

09/18/14

255

Peter A. Selfridge

Chief of Protocol

01/06/14

05/05/14

119

Tina S. Kaidanow

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—Counterterrorism

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Catherine A. Novelli

Under Sec.—Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Arnold A. Chacon

Dir. Gen.—Foreign Service

01/06/14

12/12/14

340

Daniel B. Smith

Asst. Sec.—Intelligence and Research

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Deborah L. Birx

Amb.-at-Large/Coordinator—U.S. Global AIDS

01/09/14

04/02/14

83

Gentry O. Smith

Dir.—Office of Foreign Missions

05/05/14

Returned 12/17/14a

David Pressman

U.S. Alt. Rep.—Special Political Affairs, UN

06/16/14

09/17/14

93

Michele J. Sison

U.S. Dep. Rep.—UN

07/09/14

11/19/14

133

David N. Saperstein

Amb.-at-Large—International Religious Freedom

07/29/14

12/12/14

136

Mari C. Aponte

U.S. Representative—Organization of American States

07/31/13

Returned 12/17/14a

Jennifer A. Haverkamp

Asst. Sec.—Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Michele T. Bond

Asst. Sec.—Consular Affairs

09/10/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Brian J. Egan

Legal Adviser

09/18/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Antony Blinken

Dep. Sec.

11/12/14

12/16/14

34

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

97.9

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

83.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of Transportation

Table 26. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Transportation

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Under Secretary—Policy

II

Administrator—Federal Aviation Administrationa

II

Administrator—Federal Highway Administration

II

Inspector Generalb

III + 3%c

Administrator—Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

III

Administrator—Federal Railroad Administration

III

Administrator—Federal Transit Administration

III

Administrator—Maritime Administration

III

Administrator—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

III

Administrator—Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

III

Assistant Secretary—Research and Technologyd

III

Assistant Secretary—Aviation and International Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Governmental Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Transportation Policy

IV

Chief Financial Officere

IV

General Counsel

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. This position has a five-year term and specified qualifications. See 49 U.S.C. §106.

b. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3 (b)).

c. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

d. Under P.L. 113-76, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (128 Stat. 574), the functions of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration were transferred to a newly created Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research Technology, and the position of Administrator was redesignated as Assistant Secretary.

e. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

Table 27. Department of Transportation Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Anthony R. Foxx

Secretary

05/07/13

06/27/13

51

Gregory D. Winfree

Admin.—Research and Innovative Technology Administrationa

07/15/13

10/16/13

93

Sylvia I. Garcia

Chief Financial Officer

07/31/13

10/16/13

77

Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr.

Admin.—Maritime Administration

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14b

Kathryn B. Thomson

General Counsel

09/23/13

Returned 01/03/14b

Kathryn B. Thomson

General Counsel

01/06/14

03/27/14

80

Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr.

Admin.—Maritime Administration

01/06/14

07/15/14

190

Victor M. Mendez

Dep. Sec.

05/15/14

07/24/14

70

Peter M. Rogoff

Under Sec.—Policy

05/15/14

07/24/14

70

Therese W. McMillan

Admin.—Federal Transit Administration

07/28/14

Returned 12/17/14b

Carlos A. Monje, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Transportation Policy

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14b

Mark R. Rosekind

Admin.—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

11/19/14

12/16/14

27

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

82.3

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

73.5

Source: CRS.

a. Gregory D. Winfree was confirmed to the position of Administrator for the Research and Innovative Technology Administration as noted above. However, under P.L. 113-76, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (128 Stat. 574), this position was redesignated as Assistant Secretary for Research Technology. On January 23, 2014, Winfree was sworn in as the new Assistant Secretary.

b. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Department of the Treasury

Table 28. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of the Treasury

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Inspector General—Tax Administrationa

III + 3%b

Special Inspector General—Troubled Asset Relief Programa,c

III + 3%b

Commissioner of Internal Revenued

III

Comptroller of the Currencye

III

Director—Office of Financial Research

III

Director—Office of Thrift Supervisionf

III

Under Secretary—Domestic Finance

III

Under Secretary—Terrorism and Financial Intelligence

III

Under Secretary—International Affairs

III

Assistant Secretary—Economic Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Institutions

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Markets

IV

Assistant Secretary—Financial Stability

IV

Assistant Secretary—Intelligence and Analysis

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Financeg

IV

Assistant Secretary—International Markets and Development

IV

Assistant Secretary—Legislative Affairsg

IV

Assistant Secretary—Tax Policy

IV

Assistant Secretary—Terrorist Financing

IV

Chief Financial Officerh

IV

General Counsel

IV

Chief Counsel—Internal Revenue Service/Assistant General Counsel for Tax

V

Director of the Minti

SLj

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3 (b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3 (e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The position of Special Inspector General has the same removal provisions as other inspectors general (see table note b, above).

d. This position has a five-year term and specified qualifications. See 26 U.S.C. §7803(a)(1).

e. This position has a five-year term and a limitation on the President's removal power. See 12 U.S.C. §2.

f. This position has a five-year term and specified qualifications. See 12 U.S.C. §1462a(c).

g. The U.S. Code provides that the department has two Deputy Under Secretaries appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. "When appointing each Deputy Under Secretary, the President may designate the Deputy Under Secretary as an Assistant Secretary" (31 U.S.C. §301(d)). In each of these two cases, the President did so.

h. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

i. The position has a five-year term and a limitation on the President's removal power. See 31 U.S.C. §304(b).

j. According to the 2012 edition of the Plum Book, the Director of the United States Mint and the Treasurer of the United States were both senior-level positions (p. 126). With regard to pay for such positions, the Plum Book states, "The minimum pay for SL [Senior Level] positions is 120 percent of the rate of basic pay for GS-15, step1. For agencies without a certified performance appraisal system, SL members' pay may not exceed the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule. For agencies with a certified performance appraisal system, SL members' pay may not exceed the rate payable for level II of the Executive Schedule. SL members are not entitled to locality-based comparability payments." (p. 204).The Department of the Treasury received certification from the Office of Personnel Management for its performance appraisal system during the period covered by this report. See also 5 U.S.C. §5376 and 5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(2).

Table 29. Department of the Treasury Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date Nominated

Date Confirmed

Days to Confirm

Christopher J. Meade

General Counsel

01/22/13

04/25/13

93

Jacob J. Lew

Secretary

01/22/13

02/27/13

36

Sarah B. Raskin

Dep. Sec.

07/31/13

Returned 01//03/14a

Karen Dynan

Asst. Sec.—Economic Policy

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14a

John A. Koskinen

Commissioner—Internal Revenue

08/01/13

12/20/13

141

Nani A. Coloretti

Chief Financial Officer

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14a

Karen Dynan

Asst. Sec.—Economic Policy

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Sarah B. Raskin

Dep. Sec.

01/06/14

03/12/14

65

Nani A. Coloretti

Chief Financial Officer

01/06/14

Withdrawn 03/10/14

D. Nathan Sheets

Under Sec.—International Affairs

02/12/14

09/18/14

218

Ramin Toloui

Asst. Sec.—International Financeb

04/10/14

11/20/14

224

Brodi L. Fontenot

Chief Financial Officer

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Seth B. Carpenter

Asst. Sec.—Financial Markets

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Adewale Adeyemo

Asst. Sec.—Int'l Markets and Development

11/12/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Antonio F. Weiss

Under Sec.—Domestic Finance

11/12/14

Returned 12/17/14a

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

135.4

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

141.0

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

b. The U.S. Code provides that the department has two Deputy Under Secretaries appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. "When appointing each Deputy Under Secretary, the President may designate the Deputy Under Secretary as an Assistant Secretary" (31 U.S.C. §301(d)). In the case of Ramin Touloui, the President did so.

Department of Veterans Affairs

Table 30. Full-Time PAS Positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs

(as of the end of the 113th Congress)

Position

Pay Level

Secretary

I

Deputy Secretary

II

Inspector Generala

III + 3%b

Under Secretary—Benefits

III

Under Secretary—Health

III

Under Secretary—Memorial Affairs

III

Assistant Secretary—Congressional and Legislative Affairs

IV

Assistant Secretary—Information and Technology

IV

Assistant Secretary—Policy and Planning

IV

Chief Financial Officerc

IV

Chairman—Board of Veterans' Appealsd

IV

General Counsel

IV

Source: CRS.

Note: PAS refers to presidential appointments with the advice and consent of the Senate.

a. The President may remove an inspector general (IG) from office, as he may remove most other appointed officials in the departments. In the case of an IG, however, the law provides that "[i]f an Inspector General is removed from office or is transferred to another position or location within an establishment, the President shall communicate in writing the reasons for any such removal or transfer to both Houses of Congress, not later than 30 days before the removal or transfer" (5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(b)).

b. Under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. Appx. §3(e), "The annual rate of basic pay for an inspector general (as defined under section 12(3)) shall be the rate payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, plus 3 percent."

c. The chief financial officer may be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, or may be designated by the President from among agency officials who have been confirmed by the Senate for other positions (31 U.S.C. §901(a)(1)).

d. This position has a six-year term and limitations on the President's removal power. See 38 U.S.C. §7101(b).

Table 31. Department of Veterans Affairs Appointment Action During the 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Date
Nominated

Date
Confirmed

Days to
Confirm

Constance B. Tobias

Chairman—Board of Veterans' Appeals

3/21/2013

Returned 01/03/14a

Returned 01/03/14a

Returned 01/03/14a

Returned 01/03/14a

Linda A. Schwartz

Asst. Sec.—Policy and Planning

8/1/2013

Sloan D. Gibson

Dep. Sec.

9/11/2013

Helen Tierney

Chief Financial Officer

10/7/2013

Sloan D. Gibson

Dep. Sec.

1/6/2014

2/11/2014

36

Linda A. Schwartz

Asst. Sec.—Policy and Planning

1/6/2014

9/16/2014

253

Helen Tierney

Chief Financial Officer

1/6/2014

12/16/2014

344

Constance B. Tobias

Chairman—Board of Veterans' Appeals

1/6/2014

12/17/2014

345

Jeffrey A. Murawsky

Under Sec.—Health

5/5/2014

Withdrawn 06/09/14

Robert A. McDonald

Secretary

7/7/2014

7/29/2014

22

Leigh A. Bradley

General Counsel

11/12/2014

12/16/2014

34

Mean number of days to confirm a nomination

Median number of days to confirm a nomination

172.3

144.5

Source: CRS.

a. Returned to the President under the provisions of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate.

Appendix A. Presidential Nominations, 113th Congress

Table A-1. Nominations and Appointments to Full-Time Positions in Executive Departments, 113th Congress

Nominee

Position

Department

Date
Nominated

Date
Confirmed

Days to Confirma

Debo P. Adegbile

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Rights Division

DOJ

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Debo P. Adegbile

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Rights Division

DOJ

01/06/14

Withdrawn 09/15/14

Adewale Adeyemo

Asst. Sec.—Int'l Markets and Development

TREAS

11/12/14

Returned 12/17/14

Gustavo V. Aguilar

Asst. Sec.—Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity

HUD

01/16/14

06/19/14

154

Bruce H. Andrews

Deputy Sec.

DOC

05/22/14

07/24/14

63

Mari C. Aponte

U.S. Representative—Organization of American States

DOS

07/31/13

Returned 12/17/14

Miranda A. A. Ballentine

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Installations, Environment, and Logistics

DOD

01/30/14

09/11/14

224

Todd A. Batta

Asst. Sec.—Congressional Relations

USDA

02/12/14

06/12/14

120

Tommy P. Beaudreau

Asst. Sec.—Policy, Management, and Budget/Chief Financial Officer

DOI

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14

Tommy P. Beaudreau

Asst. Sec.—Policy, Management, and Budget/Chief Financial Officer

DOI

01/06/14

Withdrawn 05/12/14

David J. Berteau

Asst. Sec.—Logistics and Materiel Readiness

DOD

11/12/14

12/16/14

34

Deborah L. Birx

Amb.-at-Large/Coordinator—U.S. Global AIDS

DOS

01/09/14

04/02/14

83

Nisha D. Biswal

Asst. Sec.—South Asian Affairs

DOS

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

Antony Blinken

Dep. Sec.

DOS

11/12/14

12/16/14

34

Michele T. Bond

Asst. Sec.—Consular Affairs

DOS

09/10/14

Returned 12/17/14

Robert Bonnie

Under Sec.—Natural Resources and Environment

USDA

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Leigh A. Bradley

General Counsel

DVA

11/12/14

12/16/14

34

L. Reginald Brothers, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science and Technology

DHS

01/30/14

04/07/14

67

Manson K. Brown

Asst. Sec.—Environmental Observation and Prediction

DOC

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14

Stevan E. Bunnell

General Counsel

DHS

08/01/13

10/16/13

76

Sylvia M. Burwell

Secretary

HHS

04/11/14

06/05/14

55

Leslie R. Caldwell

Asst. Atty. General—Criminal Division

DOJ

09/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Leslie R. Caldwell

Asst. Atty. General—Criminal Division

DOJ

01/06/14

05/15/14

129

Maria Cancian

Asst. Sec.—Family Supportb

HHS

02/12/14

Returned 12/17/14

John P. Carlin

Asst. Atty. General—National Security Division

DOJ

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

John P. Carlin

Asst. Atty. General—National Security Division

DOJ

01/06/14

04/01/14

85

Seth B. Carpenter

Asst. Sec.—Financial Markets

TREAS

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14

Brad R. Carson

Under Sec.—Army

DOD

11/21/13

Returned 01/03/14

Brad R. Carson

Under Sec.—Army

DOD

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Julian Castro

Secretary

HUD

06/02/14

07/09/14

37

Arnold A. Chacon

Dir. Gen.—Foreign Service

DOS

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Arnold A. Chacon

Dir. Gen.—Foreign Service

DOS

01/06/14

12/12/14

340

Jonodev O. Chaudhuri

Chair—National Indian Gaming Commission

DOI

07/22/14

Returned 12/17/14

James Cole, Jr.

General Counsel

ED

06/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

James Cole, Jr.

General Counsel

ED

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Nani A. Coloretti

Dep. Sec.

HUD

03/10/14

12/02/14

267

Nani A. Coloretti

Chief Financial Officer

TREAS

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Nani A. Coloretti

Chief Financial Officer

TREAS

01/06/14

Withdrawn 03/10/14

James B. Comey, Jr.

Dir.—Federal Bureau of Investigation

DOJ

06/21/13

07/29/13

38

Michael L. Connor

Dep. Sec.

DOI

07/31/13

Returned 01/03/14

Michael L. Connor

Dep. Sec.

DOI

01/06/14

02/27/14

52

Madelyn R. Creedon

Prin. Dep. Admin.—National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

DOE

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Madelyn R. Creedon

Prin. Dep. Admin.—NNSA

DOE

01/06/14

07/23/14

198

Bathsheba N. Crocker

Asst. Sec.—International Organization Affairs

DOS

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Bathsheba N. Crocker

Asst. Sec.—International Organization Affairs

DOS

01/06/14

09/18/14

255

Steven Croley

General Counsel

DOE

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Steven Croley

General Counsel

DOE

01/06/14

05/12/14

126

Bradley Crowell

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

DOE

09/11/13

10/16/13

35

John C. Cruden

Asst. Atty. General— Environment and Natural Resources Division

DOJ

01/07/14

12/16/14

343

Margaret L. Cummisky

Asst. Sec.—Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

DOC

07/10/13

08/01/13

22

Scott S. Dahl

Inspector General

DOL

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

Stuart F. Delery

Asst. Atty. General—Civil Division

DOJ

03/21/13

08/01/13

133

Martin E. Dempsey

Chairman—Joint Chiefs of Staff

DOD

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

Russell C. Deyo

Under. Sec.—Management

DHS

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14

Lisa S. Disbrow

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Financial Management/Comptroller

DOD

02/27/14

07/24/14

147

Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.

Commandant—Marine Corps

DOD

06/04/14

07/23/14

49

Karen Dynan

Asst. Sec.—Economic Policy

TREAS

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Karen Dynan

Asst. Sec.—Economic Policy

TREAS

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Brian J. Egan

Legal Adviser

DOS

09/18/14

Returned 12/17/14

Jonathan Elkind

Asst. Sec.—International Affairs

DOE

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Jonathan Elkind

Asst. Sec.—International Affairs

DOE

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Alan F. Estevez

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics

DOD

01/22/13

10/30/13

281

Eric K. Fanning

Under Sec.—Air Force

DOD

02/04/13

04/18/13

73

Brodi L. Fontenot

Chief Financial Officer

TREAS

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14

Anthony R. Foxx

Secretary

DOT

05/07/13

06/27/13

51

Richard G. Frank

Asst. Sec.—Planning and Evaluation

HHS

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Richard G. Frank

Asst. Sec.—Planning and Evaluation

HHS

01/06/14

05/22/14

136

Julia Frifield

Asst. Sec.—Legislative Affairs

DOS

07/18/13

10/16/13

90

Charles H. Fulghum

Chief Financial Officer

DHS

07/21/14

09/18/14

59

Sylvia I. Garcia

Chief Financial Officer

DOT

07/31/13

10/16/13

77

Sloan D. Gibson

Dep. Sec.

DVA

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Sloan D. Gibson

Dep. Sec.

DVA

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Robert M. Gordon

Asst. Sec.—Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development

ED

05/05/14

Returned 12/17/14

Rose E. Gottemoeller

Under Sec.—Arms Control and International Security

DOS

05/09/13

Returned 01/03/14

Rose E. Gottemoeller

Under Sec.—Arms Control and International Security

DOS

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Charles T. Hagel

Secretary

DOD

01/22/13

02/26/13

35

Avril D. Haines

Legal Adviser

DOS

04/18/13

Withdrawn 06/13/13

Krysta L. Harden

Deputy Secretary

USDA

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Jennifer A. Haverkamp

Asst. Sec.—Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

DOS

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14

Ellen C. Herbst

Asst. Sec.—Administration

DOC

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Ellen C. Herbst

Chief Financial Officer

DOC

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Joseph S. Hezir

Chief Financial Officer

DOE

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Joseph S. Hezir

Chief Financial Officer

DOE

01/06/14

12/04/14

332

Heather A. Higginbottom

Dep. Sec.—Management and Resources

DOS

09/11/13

12/13/13

93

Jon M. Holladay

Chief Financial Officer

USDA

05/20/13

Returned 01/03/14

Jon M. Holladay

Chief Financial Officer

USDA

01/06/14

11/19/14

317

Bradford R. Huther

Chief Financial Officer

HUD

03/13/14

09/17/14

188

Marcus D. Jadotte

Asst. Sec.—Industry and Analysis

DOC

05/22/14

12/16/14

208

Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr.

Admin.—Maritime Administration

DOT

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Paul N. Jaenichen, Sr.

Admin.—Maritime Administration

DOT

01/06/14

07/15/14

190

Deborah L. James

Secretary—Air Force

DOD

08/01/13

12/13/13

134

Adri D. Jayaratne

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs

DOL

07/21/14

Returned 12/17/14

Sarah Jewell

Secretary

DOI

02/07/13

04/10/13

62

Jeh C. Johnson

Secretary

DHS

10/28/13

12/16/13

49

Byron T. Jones

Dir.—Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

DOJ

01/24/13

07/31/13

188

Laura Junor

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

DOD

02/27/14

07/31/14

154

Peter J. Kadzik

Asst. Atty. General—Legislative Affairs

DOJ

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Peter J. Kadzik

Asst. Atty. General—Legislative Affairs

DOJ

01/06/14

06/17/14

162

Tina S. Kaidanow

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—Counterterrorism

DOS

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Tina S. Kaidanow

Ambassador-at-Large/Coordinator—Counterterrorism

DOS

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Marc A. Kastner

Dir.—Office of Science

DOE

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Marc A. Kastner

Dir.—Office of Science

DOE

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

R. Gil Kerlikowske

Commissioner—U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DHS

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

R. Gil Kerlikowske

Commissioner—U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DHS

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

John F. Kerry

Secretary

DOS

01/22/13

01/29/13

7

Esther P. Kia'aina

Asst. Sec.—Insular Affairs

DOI

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Esther P. Kia'aina

Asst. Sec.—Insular Affairs

DOI

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Suzette M. Kimball

Dir.—U.S. Geological Survey

DOI

01/09/14

Returned 12/17/14

Frank G. Klotz

Under Sec.—Nuclear Security

DOE

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Frank G. Klotz

Under Sec.—Nuclear Security

DOE

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

Neil G. Kornze

Dir.—Bureau of Land Management

DOI

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14

Neil G. Kornze

Dir.—Bureau of Land Management

DOI

01/06/14

04/08/14

92

John A. Koskinen

Commissioner—Internal Revenue

TREAS

08/01/13

12/20/13

141

Arun M. Kumar

Asst. Sec.—Trade Promotion/Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

DOC

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Arun M. Kumar

Asst. Sec.—Trade Promotion/Director General, U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service

DOC

01/06/14

03/13/14

66

Janet L. LaBreck

Commissioner—Rehabilitation Services Administration

ED

02/04/13

08/01/13

178

William A. LaPlante, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Acquisition

DOD

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

William A. LaPlante, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Air Force—Acquisition

DOD

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Michelle K. Lee

Under Sec.—Intellectual Property/Dir.—U.S. Patent and Trademark office

DOC

11/12/14

Returned 12/17/14

Marcel J. Lettre II

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Intelligence

DOD

07/25/13

10/31/13

98

Jacob J. Lew

Secretary

TREAS

01/22/13

02/27/13

36

Catherine E. Lhamon

Asst. Sec.—Civil Rights

ED

06/11/13

08/01/13

51

Steve A. Linick

Inspector General

DOS

06/27/13

09/17/13

82

Vincent G. Logan

Special Trustee for American Indians

DOI

02/27/13

Returned 01/03/14

Vincent G. Logan

Special Trustee for American Indians

DOI

01/06/14

06/26/14

171

Rafael J. Lopez

Commissioner—Children, Youth, and Families

HHS

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14

Estevan R. Lopez

Commissioner—Bureau of Reclamation

DOI

03/10/14

12/16/14

281

Christopher P. Lu

Dep. Sec.

DOL

01/09/14

04/01/14

82

Michael D. Lumpkin

Asst. Sec.—Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict

DOD

09/11/13

11/14/13

64

Loretta E. Lynch

Attorney General

DOJ

11/13/14

Returned 12/17/14

Tomasz P. Malinowski

Asst. Sec.—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

DOS

07/09/13

Returned 01/03/14

Tomasz P. Malinowski

Asst. Sec.—Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

DOS

01/06/14

04/02/14

86

Karol V. Mason

Asst. Atty. General—Office of Justice Programs

DOJ

02/13/13

04/25/13

71

Willie E. May

Under Sec.—Standards and Technology

DOC

07/28/14

Returned 12/17/14

Alejandro N. Mayorkas

Dep. Sec.

DHS

06/27/13

12/20/13

176

Michael J. McCord

Under Sec.—Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer

DOD

01/30/14

06/12/14

133

Robert A. McDonald

Secretary

DVA

07/07/14

07/29/14

22

Dennis V. McGinn

Asst. Sec.—Navy—Energy, Installations and Environment

DOD

0709/13

08/01/13

23

Brian P. McKeon

Prin. Dep. Under Sec.—Policy

DOD

01/30/14

07/28/14

179

Therese W. McMillan

Admin.—Federal Transit Administration

DOT

07/28/14

Returned 12/17/14

Christopher J. Meade

General Counsel

TREAS

01/22/13

04/25/13

93

Victor M. Mendez

Dep. Sec.

DOT

05/15/14

07/24/14

70

Lisa A. S. Mensah

Under Sec.—Rural Development

USDA

05/12/14

11/20/14

192

Ericka M. Miller

Asst. Sec.— Postsecondary Education

ED

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14

Ericka M. Miller

Asst. Sec.—Postsecondary Education

ED

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Theodore R. Mitchell

Under Sec.

ED

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Theodore R. Mitchell

Under Sec.

ED

01/06/14

05/08/14

122

Ernest J. Moniz

Secretary

DOE

03/07/13

05/16/13

70

Carlos A. Monje, Jr.

Asst. Sec.—Transportation Policy

DOT

09/08/14

Returned 12/17/14

Jamie M. Morin

Dir.—Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

DOD

0911/13

Returned 01/03/14

Jamie M. Morin

Dir.—Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation

DOD

01/06/14

06/25/14

170

Erika L. Moritsugu

Asst. Sec.—Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations

HUD

03/10/14

07/30/14

142

Jeffrey A. Murawsky

Under Sec.—Health

DVA

05/05/14

Withdrawn 06/09/14

Vivek H. Murthy

Surgeon General

HHS

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Vivek H. Murthy

Surgeon General

HHS

01/06/14

12/15/14

343

Joseph L. Nimmich

Dep. Admin.—Federal Emergency Management Agency

DHS

07/14/14

09/11/14

59

Catherine A. Novelli

Under Sec.—Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment

DOS

09/25/13

Returned 01/03/14

Catherine A. Novelli

Under Sec.—Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment

DOS

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Victoria Nuland

Asst. Sec.—European and Eurasian Affairs

DOS

05/23/13

09/12/13

112

Katherine M. O'Regan

Asst. Sec.—Policy Development and Research

HUD

06/27/13

Returned 01/03/14

Katherine M. O'Regan

Asst. Sec.—Policy Development and Research

HUD

01/06/14

04/28/14

112

Franklin M. Orr, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science

DOE

11/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Franklin M. Orr, Jr.

Under Sec.—Science

DOE

01/06/14

12/04/14

332

Carlos Pascual

Asst. Sec.—Energy Resources

DOS

04/23/13

Returned 01/03/14

Carlos Pascual

Asst. Sec.—Energy Resources

DOS

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Anne W. Patterson

Asst. Sec.—Near Eastern Affairs

DOS

08/01/13

12/16/13

137

Thomas E. Perez

Secretary

DOL

03/19/13

07/18/13

121

Samantha Power

U.S. Rep.—United Nations (UN)

DOS

06/13/13

08/01/13

49

David Pressman

U.S. Alt. Rep.—Special Political Affairs, UN

DOS

06/16/14

09/17/14

93

Stephen W. Preston

General Counsel

DOD

06/11/13

10/16/13

127

Penny Pritzker

Secretary

DOC

05/09/13

06/25/13

47

Susan J. Rabern

Asst. Sec.—Navy—Financial Management/Comptroller

DOD

06/27/13

08/01/13

35

Lourdes M. Castro Ramirez

Asst. Sec.—Public and Indian Housing

HUD

07/31/14

Returned 12/17/14

Sarah B. Raskin

Dep. Sec.

TREAS

07/31/13

Returned 01//03/14

Sarah B. Raskin

Dep. Sec.

TREAS

01/06/14

03/12/14

65

Monica C. Regalbuto

Asst. Sec.—Environmental Management

DOE

03/10/14

Returned 12/17/14

Massie Ritsch

Asst. Sec.—Communications and Outreach

ED

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Massie Ritsch

Asst. Sec.—Communications and Outreach

ED

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Charles H. Rivkin

Asst. Sec.—Economic and Business Affairs

DOS

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Charles H. Rivkin

Asst. Sec.—Economic and Business Affairs

DOS

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Elizabeth M. Robinson

Under Sec.

DOE

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Elizabeth M. Robinson

Under Sec.

DOE

01/06/14

Withdrawn 7/9/2014

Leon Rodriguez

Dir.—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

DHS

01/07/14

06/24/14

168

Peter M. Rogoff

Under Sec.—Policy

DOT

05/15/14

07/24/14

70

Jo Ann Rooney

Under Sec.—Navy

DOD

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Jo Ann Rooney

Under Sec.—Navy

DOD

01/06/14

Withdrawn 11/12/14

Frank A. Rose

Asst. Sec.—Arms Control, Verification and Compliance

DOS

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Frank A. Rose

Asst. Sec.—Arms Control, Verification and Compliance

DOS

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Mark R. Rosekind

Admin.—National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

DOT

11/19/14

12/16/14

27

Eric Rosenbach

Asst. Sec.—Homeland Defense and Global Security

DOD

01/07/14

09/18/14

254

John Roth

Inspector General

DHS

11/21/13

Returned 01/03/14

John Roth

Inspector General

DHS

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Yvette Roubideaux

Dir.—Indian Health Service

HHS

04/23/13

Returned 01/03/14

Yvette Roubideaux

Dir.—Indian Health Service

HHS

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Daniel R. Russel

Asst. Sec.—East Asian and Pacific Affairs

DOS

05/16/13

07/09/13

54

Catherine M. Russell

Amb.-at-Large—Global Women's Issues

DOS

03/19/13

08/01/13

135

Evan Ryan

Asst. Sec.—Educational and Cultural Affairs

DOS

07/09/13

09/23/13

76

Jon T. Rymer

Inspector General

DOD

06/24/13

09/17/13

85

Sarah R. Saldana

Asst. Sec.—U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

DHS

09/08/14

12/16/14

99

David N. Saperstein

Amb.-at-Large—International Religious Freedom

DOS

07/29/14

12/12/14

136

Mark E. Schaefer

Asst. Sec.—Oceans and Atmosphere/Deputy Administrator, NOAA

DOC

05/23/13

08/01/13

70

Robert M. Scher

Asst. Sec.—Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

DOD

09/15/14

12/16/14

92

Janice M. Schneider

Asst. Sec.—Land and Minerals Management

DOI

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Janice M. Schneider

Asst. Sec.—Land and Minerals Management

DOI

01/06/14

05/01/14

115

William B. Schultz

General Counsel

HHS

01/22/13

04/25/13

93

Linda A. Schwartz

Asst. Sec.—Policy and Planning

DVA

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Linda A. Schwartz

Asst. Sec.—Policy and Planning

DVA

01/06/14

09/16/14

253

Peter A. Selfridge

Chief of Protocol

DOS

12/13/13

Returned 01/03/14

Peter A. Selfridge

Chief of Protocol

DOS

01/06/14

05/05/14

119

Stefan M. Selig

Under Sec.—International Trade

DOC

11/12/13

Returned 01/03/14

Stefan M. Selig

Under Sec.—International Trade

DOC

01/06/14

06/04/14

149

Sarah Sewall

Under Sec.—Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

DOS

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Sarah Sewall

Under Sec.—Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights

DOS

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

David B. Shear

Asst. Sec.—Asian and Pacific Security Affairs

DOD

01/07/14

07/17/14

191

D. Nathan Sheets

Under Sec.—International Affairs

TREAS

02/12/14

09/18/14

218

James H. Shelton III

Dep. Sec.

ED

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

James H. Shelton III

Dep. Sec.

ED

01/06/14

03/12/14

65

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

Dep. Sec.

DOE

07/09/14

09/18/14

71

Michele J. Sison

U.S. Dep. Rep.—UN

DOS

07/09/14

11/19/14

133

Elissa Slotkin

Asst. Sec.—International Security Affairs

DOD

11/13/14

Returned 12/17/14

Christopher Smith

Asst. Sec.—Fossil Energy

DOE

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Christopher Smith

Asst. Sec.—Fossil Energy

DOE

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Daniel B. Smith

Asst. Sec.—Intelligence and Research

DOS

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Daniel B. Smith

Asst. Sec.—Intelligence and Research

DOS

01/06/14

02/12/14

37

Gentry O. Smith

Dir.—Office of Foreign Missions

DOS

05/05/14

Returned 12/17/14

Suzanne E. Spaulding

Under Sec.—National Protection and Programs Directorate

DHS

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Suzanne E. Spaulding

Under Sec.—National Protection and Programs Directorate

DHS

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Robert M. Speer

Asst. Sec.—Army—Financial Management/Comptroller

DOD

04/10/14

11/20/14

224

Gregory B. Starr

Asst. Sec.—Diplomatic Security

DOS

07/31/13

11/14/13

106

Alissa M. Starzak

General Counsel—Army

DOD

07/14/14

Returned 12/17/14

Richard Stengel

Under. Sec.—Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

DOS

09/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Richard Stengel

Under. Sec.—Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

DOS

01/06/14

02/11/14

36

Rhea S. Suh

Asst. Sec.—Fish and Wildlife and Parks

DOI

10/30/13

Returned 01/03/14

Rhea S. Suh

Asst. Sec.—Fish and Wildlife and Parks

DOI

01/06/14

Withdrawn 09/18/14

Kathryn D. Sullivan

Under Sec.—Oceans and Atmosphere

DOC

08/01/13

Returned 01/03/14

Kathryn D. Sullivan

Under Sec.—Oceans and Atmosphere

DOC

01/06/14

03/06/14

59

Puneet Talwar

Asst. Sec.—Political-Military Affairs

DOS

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Puneet Talwar

Asst. Sec.—Political-Military Affairs

DOS

01/06/14

03/13/14

66

Gordon O. Tanner

General Counsel—Air Force

DOD

04/07/14

09/16/14

162

Marilyn B. Tavenner

Admin.—Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

HHS

02/07/13

05/15/13

97

Francis X. Taylor

Under Sec.—Intelligence and Analysis

DHS

02/12/14

04/07/14

54

Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Asst. Sec.—African Affairs

DOS

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

John H. Thompson

Dir.—Bureau of the Census

DOC

05/23/13

08/01/13

70

Kathryn B. Thomson

General Counsel

DOT

09/23/13

Returned 01/03/14

Kathryn B. Thomson

General Counsel

DOT

01/06/14

03/27/14

80

Helen Tierney

Chief Financial Officer

DVA

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Helen Tierney

Chief Financial Officer

DVA

01/06/14

12/16/14

344

Constance B. Tobias

Chairman—Board of Veterans' Appeals

DVA

03/21/13

Returned 01/03/14

Constance B. Tobias

Chairman—Board of Veterans' Appeals

DVA

01/06/14

12/17/14

345

Ramin Toloui

Asst. Sec.—International Finance

TREAS

04/10/14

11/20/14

224

Frederick Vollrath

Asst. Sec.—Readiness and Force Management

DOD

01/22/13

04/18/13

86

Debra S. Wada

Asst. Sec.—Army—Manpower and Reserve Affairs

DOD

05/05/14

09/17/14

135

David Weil

Admin.—Wage and Hour Division

DOL

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

David Weil

Admin.—Wage and Hour Division

DOL

01/06/14

04/28/14

112

Antonio F. Weiss

Under Sec.—Domestic Finance

TREAS

11/12/14

Returned 12/17/14

Kelly R. Welsh

General Counsel

DOC

10/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Kelly R. Welsh

General Counsel

DOC

01/06/14

03/31/14

84

Derek A. West

Assoc. Atty. General

DOJ

01/22/13

07/25/13

184

Roy K. J. Williams

Asst. Sec.—Economic Development

DOC

09/11/13

Returned 01/03/14

Roy K. J. Williams

Asst. Sec.—Economic Development

DOC

01/06/14

05/14/14

128

Ellen D. Williams

Dir.—Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

DOE

11/07/13

Returned 01/03/14

Ellen D. Williams

Dir.—Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

DOE

01/06/14

12/08/14

336

Gregory D. Winfree

Admin.—Research and Innovative Technology Administration

DOT

07/15/13

10/16/13

93

James A. Winnefeld, Jr.

Vice Chairman—Joint Chiefs of Staff

DOD

06/24/13

08/01/13

38

Robert O. Work

Dep. Sec.

DOD

02/10/14

04/30/14

79

Christine E. Wormuth

Under Sec.—Policy

DOD

01/30/14

06/19/14

140

Jessica G. Wright

Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

DOD

07/18/13

Returned 01/03/14

Jessica G. Wright

Under Sec.—Personnel and Readiness

DOD

01/06/14

06/25/14

170

Portia Y. Wu

Asst. Sec.—Employment and Training Administration

DOL

12/13/13

Returned 01/03/14

Portia Y. Wu

Asst. Sec.—Employment and Training Administration

DOL

01/06/14

04/02/14

86

Michael K. Yudin

Asst. Sec.—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

ED

07/10/13

Returned 01/03/14

Michael K. Yudin

Asst. Sec.—Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

ED

01/06/14

Returned 12/17/14

Paul F. Zukunft

Commandant—U.S. Coast Guard

DHS

03/04/14

5/14/2014

71

Mean number of days to confirm

119.5

Median number of days to confirm

92.0

Source: CRS.

Note: For a complete list of departmental abbreviations, see Appendix B.

a. As discussed earlier in this report, under Senate Rules, nominations not acted on by the Senate at the end of a session of Congress (or before a recess of 30 days) are returned to the President. This was the case at the end of the first session of the 113th Congress. The President re-nominated most individuals whose nominations had been returned to him. This report measures the "days to confirm" from the date of receipt of the resubmitted nomination, not the original. As a result, this calculation may be shorter on average than previous Congresses in which the Senate, by unanimous consent, agreed to waive the rule (which, in effect, prevented nominations not acted upon from being returned to the President, and therefore negated the need for returned nominees to be re-nominated).

Table A-2. Appointment Action, Executive Departments, 113th Congress

Department

Positions

Nominations

Individual Nominees

Confirmations

Returned

Withdrawn

Recess Appointments

Mean Days to Confirm

Median Days to Confirm

Agriculture

14

6

5

5

1

0

0

139.8

120.0

Commerce

24

21

15

13

8

0

0

79.7

66.0

Defense

60

40

35

32

7

1

0

116.5

112.5

Education

16

15

9

5

10

0

0

152.0

122.0

Energy

23

24

14

10

13

1

0

193.6

162.0

Health and Human Services

19

11

8

5

6

0

0

144.8

97.0

Homeland Security

19

17

14

13

4

0

0

83.7

67.0

Housing and Urban Development

13

8

7

6

2

0

0

150.0

148.0

Interior

19

18

11

7

9

2

0

134.9

115.0

Justice

24

15

11

9

5

1

0

148.1

133.0

Labor

15

8

6

5

3

0

0

98.2

90.0

State

49

52

38

31

20

1

0

97.9

83.0

Transportation

18

12

10

8

4

0

0

82.3

73.5

Treasury

26

15

12

7

7

1

0

135.4

141.0

Veterans Affairs

12

11

7

6

4

1

0

172.3

144.5

Total

351

273

202

162

103

8

0

119.2

92.0

Source: CRS.

Appendix B. Abbreviations of Departments

Table B-1. Department Abbreviations

DHS

Department of Homeland Security

DOC

Department of Commerce

DOD

Department of Defense

DOE

Department of Energy

DOI

Department of the Interior

DOJ

Department of Justice

DOL

Department of Labor

DOS

Department of State

DOT

Department of Transportation

DVA

Department of Veterans Affairs

ED

Department of Education

HHS

Department of Health and Human Services

HUD

Department of Housing and Urban Development

TREAS

Department of the Treasury

USDA

Department of Agriculture

Source: CRS.

Footnotes

1.

Full-time departmental presidential appointments with Senate confirmation (PAS positions) that are not covered in this report include U.S. attorney and U.S. marshal positions in the Department of Justice; most Foreign Service and diplomatic positions in the Department of State; and the officer corps in the military services. Nominees to these positions are generally submitted in groups, often with dozens or hundreds of names appearing in a single nomination, and tend to be of a noncontroversial nature.

2.

A collection of such reports may be found at http://www.crs.gov/Pages/subissue.aspx?cliid=2153&parentid=12&Preview=False.

3.

Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of the Senate provides that "Nominations neither confirmed nor rejected during the session at which they are made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session without being again made to the Senate by the President; and if the Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than thirty days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall be returned by the Secretary to the President, and shall not again be considered unless they shall again be made to the Senate by the President." U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Manual, 113th Cong., 1st sess., S. Doc. 113-1 (Washington: GPO, 2014), p. 59.

4.

For more information on floor procedure related to Senate consideration of nominations, see CRS Report RL31980, Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure, by [author name scrubbed].

5.

Notably, on January 3, 2014, nearly all nominations were returned to the President under Senate rules, between the first and second session of the 113th Congress. No unanimous consent agreement was reached that nominations received in the first session remain as status quo notwithstanding Senate Rule XXXI (which requires nominations not acted upon to be returned to the President at the end of the session). In most cases, the President re-nominated those individuals whose nominations had been returned to him.

6.

The data on incumbents at the end of the 113th Congress were collected as of the Senate's last day of business on December 16, 2014. Beginning on December 17, agency officials were contacted and the lists of incumbents were finalized.

7.

See footnote 1 for a list of full-time positions not included in this report.

8.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management, "Salary Table No. 2014-EX," available at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/14Tables/exec/html/EX.aspx.

9.

In some cases, the title drawn from the Legislative Information System (LIS) database is expanded upon for clarity in the second table. For example, Gustavo H. Aguilar was nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). His nomination, as shown in the LIS database, does not indicate to which assistant secretary position he was nominated; it merely states that he was nominated as an assistant secretary. In the section on HUD, the second table shows that he was nominated to be Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.