The MSPB Office of Policy and Evaluation needs a new director. Will the next one answer the question posed by Congress in 1978–which has never been answered by MSPB–whether the public interest in a civil service free of prohibited personnel practices is being adequately protected? Or will institutional conflicts of interest and/or a culture of silence yield more milquetoast studies that hint at, but never expose, the vast culture of fear and retaliation in the federal government?

Imagine if this individual answered to no one but Congress and had job protection and independence of the type enjoined by the Special Counsel. Imagine if he or she headed a non-profit that did not have to worry about pleasing corporate donors, but instead was rewarded for tackling the big issues and proposing adequate reforms. Would this officer then speak truth to power?

One can only hope.

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It seems the Duties section is illegible. Here it is:

DUTIES:

The duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Develops the overall program and procedures for the accomplishment of the Board’s mission with regard to studies and OPM oversight. Develops and recommends regulations and policies for action by the Chairman and/or Board regarding the study and oversight functions, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1204 (a) (3) and (e) (3).
• Reviews the regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, in collaboration with the MSPB General Counsel, and makes recommendations in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 1204 (f)
• Directs the planning, development, design, and execution of special systemic studies and reviews of merit systems 1) to ensure that the Federal civil services is free from prohibited personnel parties and compatible with the merit system principles, and 2) to highlight current issues or concerns in the management of Federal merit systems.
• Represents and speaks for the agency in meetings with high level officials from other government agencies, staff of congressional committees, members of the media, and others.
• Analyzes and evaluations the data and findings resulting from the MSPB’s studies and reviews and prepares reports for the Chairman and the Board for submission to the President and Congress, including recommendations for legislative changes or systemic changes in regulations, policies, or procedures in the executive branch.
• Initiates and conducts investigations and makes recommendations for appropriate and immediate corrective action in situations involving a pattern of merit systems violations within a single agency or group agencies.
• Serves as the principal policy advisor to the agency relative to assigned functions and advises the Chairman on actual and potentially controversial matters. Constantly monitors and assures the integrity of the studies and oversight functions carries out under the delegated authorities. Advises the Board on solutions to emerging policy problems and issues regarding the MSPB’s relationships with other Federal agencies.

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