    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [September 12, 1995]
    [Page 1354]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1354]]

    Memorandum on Career Transition Assistance for Federal Employees
    September 12, 1995

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Career Transition Assistance for Federal Employees

        Our highly trained and dedicated Federal work force is one of the
    Federal Government's most valuable resources. In order to help Federal
    employees who have dedicated their careers to public service find new
    job opportunities as Federal organizations undergo downsizing and
    restructuring, the executive branch must implement programs that provide
    Federal employees with career transition assistance. The Office of
    Personnel Management (OPM) Interagency Advisory Group has recommended
    that appropriate career transition assistance services be provided to
    Federal employees who either have been or are likely to be separated
    from Federal service due to a reduction in force. The goal of such
    services is to assist employees in taking charge of their own careers by
    providing them with the support they need to find other job offers,
    either with government or in the private sector.
        I hereby direct the head of each executive department or agency
    (hereafter collectively ``agency'' or ``agencies''), to the greatest
    extent practicable and in accordance with the guidance and any necessary
    regulations to be provided by OPM pursuant to this memorandum, to
    establish a program to provide career transition assistance to the
    agency's surplus and displaced employees. Such a program shall be
    developed in partnership with labor and management and shall include:
           (1)  collaborating with State, local, and other Federal
                employers, as appropriate, to make career transition
                services available to all of the agency's surplus or
                displaced employees;
           (2)  establishing policies for retraining displaced employees, as
                appropriate, for new career opportunities, either in
                government or with the private sector;
           (3)  establishing policies that require the selection of a well-
                qualified surplus or displaced internal agency employee who
                applies for a vacant position in the commuting area, before
                selecting any other candidate from either within or outside
                the agency; and
           (4)  establishing policies that require the selection of a well-
                qualified displaced employee from another agency who applies
                for a vacant position in the commuting area before selecting
                any other candidate from outside the agency.
        I direct the Director of the OPM, in consultation with the
    Interagency Advisory Group, to: (a) prescribe minimum criteria for and
    monitor the effectiveness of agency career transition programs and (b)
    provide guidance and any necessary regulations for the agencies on the
    implementation of this memorandum. The OPM shall work with the
    Interagency Advisory Group to facilitate interagency cooperation in
    providing career transition services. The OPM shall work with agencies
    to maximize the use of existing automated job information and skills-
    based recruiting systems and develop new systems, as necessary.
        Nothing in this memorandum shall affect the Priority Placement
    Program operated by the Department of Defense.
        Independent agencies are requested to adhere to this memorandum to
    the extent permitted by law.
        This memorandum is for the internal management of the executive
    branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any right or
    benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable by a party against the
    United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, its officers or
    employees, or any other person.

                                                          William J. Clinton