Attached is a copy of the White House Memorandum on Government Hiring Controls issued Saturday, January 20, 2001.

• For agencies without a department or agency head appointed by

President Bush and confirmed by the Senate, these controls apply to all hiring decisions (e.g., appointment, promotion, or reassignment), at all grade levels, from all sources. Agencies may honor official job offers extended before January 20.

• These controls do not apply to agencies where the department or agency head has already been appointed and confirmed. The newly appointed agency head has the authority to establish appropriate mechanisms and delegations to review and approve hiring decisions.

We will keep you informed as we work with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to further define the parameters of these controls as well as exception procedures. In the meantime, HR Directors should address questions to Ellen Tunstall, Assistant Director for Employment Policy, (202) 606-8097.