Statement of Government Accountability Project on Merit Systems Protection Board Appointments

The
Government Accountability Project
today offered unqualified praise for two
appointments that President Obama made to lead the U.S. Merit Systems
Protection Board. The Board is the administrative law forum that adjudicates
employment appeals for federal employees, including Whistleblower Protection
Act cases. The President selected as chair Susan Grundmann, general counsel for
the National Federation of Federal Employees, ,and as vice chair Anne Wagner,
whose experience includes 20 years as counsel for the American Federation of
Government Employees. More recently, Wagner was a member and later general
counsel for the Personnel Appeals Board at the Government Accountability
Office, which performs much the same duties at GAO as the MSPB does for other
federal employees.

GAP legal director Tom Devine
commented, "President Obama has put his appointments where his mouth is to
run merit system agencies. Unlike Bush administration appointees who compiled a
1-44 track record against whistleblowers, these leaders are seasoned veterans
with a proven track record of commitment to the merit system throughout their
careers. No law is better than those enforcing it, and these appointments are a
weathervane that the Obama Administration is serious about its good government
rhetoric."