[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