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Violation of the 210-Day Limit Imposed by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998-- Department of Energy, Director of the Office of Science

B-328888 Mar 03, 2017
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Highlights

Pursuant to section 3349(b) of title 5 of the United States Code, we are reporting a violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (herein "the Vacancies Reform Act" or "the Act") at the Department of Energy (DOE), with respect to the Director of the Office of Science position. The Director of the Office of Science is a Presidential appointment subject to Senate confirmation, and thus is subject to the Vacancies Reform Act. 5 U.S.C. 3345(a). Specifically, we are reporting that the service of Dr. Patricia Dehmer as Acting Director of the Office of Science from the period of November 14, 2013, until November 18, 2013, and from July 16, 2015, until December 17, 2015, was in violation of the Act. Since the position was subsequently filled, we believe no further action on this issue is necessary.

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