With the change of administration, learn about presidential appointments and other positions within the federal government in the new 2024 United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions, or the “Plum Book,” now available from the U.S. Government Bookstore.
What is the Plum Book? Known officially as the “United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions,” the Plum Book is published alternately by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs or by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The 2024 edition lists over 8,000 civil service leadership and support positions (filled and vacant) in the Legislative and Executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointments.
Why is the Plum Book Important? The Plum Book is a crucial resource for understanding the inner workings of the federal government. It highlights the positions directly involved in shaping and implementing government policy. These positions are often filled by individuals closely aligned with the political party in power, making the Plum Book a valuable tool for analyzing the political landscape and the potential impact of policy changes.
The Plum Book serves several crucial purposes:
- Presidential Transition: It aids in the smooth transition of power between administrations by providing a comprehensive list of key positions and their associated duties.
- Public Transparency: The Plum Book promotes transparency by making information about federal government positions accessible to the public.
- Career Development: It can be a valuable resource for individuals interested in pursuing careers in federal government service, providing insights into potential career paths and the qualifications needed to advance.
What Types of Positions are Listed in the Plum Book?
- Executive Schedule and salary-equivalent positions paid at the rates established for Levels I through V of the Executive Schedule.
- Senior Executive Service “General” positions (i.e., those positions which may be filled by a career, non-career, or limited appointment)
- Senior Foreign Service positions
- Schedule C positions excepted from the competitive service by the President or the Director, Office of Personnel Management, because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties.
- Other confidential or policy-determining positions at the GS-14 and above level excepted from the competitive civil service by law because of the confidential or policy-determining nature of the position duties.
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About the author: Trudy Hawkins is Government Book Talk Editor and Senior Marketing & Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication & Information Sales Office, supporting the U.S. Government Online Bookstore (https://bookstore.gpo.gov).
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Trudy Hawkins
Government Book Talk 