[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 45, Number 2 (Monday, January 19, 2009)]
[Pages 87-89]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Executive Order 13488--Granting Reciprocity on Excepted Service and 
Federal Contractor Employee Fitness and Reinvestigating Individuals in 
Positions of Public Trust

January 16, 2009

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and 
the laws of the United States of America, including sections 1104(a)(1), 
3301, and 7301 of title 5, United States Code, and in order to simplify 
and streamline the system of Federal Government personnel investigative 
and adjudicative processes to make them more efficient and effective, it 
is hereby ordered as follows:
    Section 1. Policy. (a) When agencies determine the fitness of 
individuals to perform work as employees in the excepted service or as 
contractor employees, prior favorable fitness or suitability 
determinations should be granted reciprocal recognition, to the extent 
practicable.
    (b) It is necessary to reinvestigate individuals in positions of 
public trust in order to

[[Page 88]]

ensure that they remain suitable for continued employment.
    Sec. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this order:
    (a) ``Agency'' means an executive agency as defined in section 105 
of title 5, United States Code, but does not include the Government 
Accountability Office.
    (b) ``Contractor employee'' means an individual who performs work 
for or on behalf of any agency under a contract and who, in order to 
perform the work specified under the contract, will require access to 
space, information, information technology systems, staff, or other 
assets of the Federal Government. Such contracts, include, but are not 
limited to:
(i)          personal services contracts;
(ii)         contracts between any non-Federal entity and any agency; 
            and
(iii)        sub-contracts between any non-Federal entity and another 
            non-Federal entity to perform work related to the primary 
            contract with the agency.
    (c) ``Excepted service'' has the meaning provided in section 2103 of 
title 5, United States Code, but does not include those positions in any 
element of the intelligence community as defined in the National 
Security Act of 1947, as amended, to the extent they are not otherwise 
subject to Office of Personnel Management appointing authorities.
    (d) ``Fitness'' is the level of character and conduct determined 
necessary for an individual to perform work for or on behalf of a 
Federal agency as an employee in the excepted service (other than a 
position subject to suitability) or as a contractor employee.
    (e) ``Fitness determination'' means a decision by an agency that an 
individual has or does not have the required level of character and 
conduct necessary to perform work for or on behalf of a Federal agency 
as an employee in the excepted service (other than a position subject to 
suitability) or as a contractor employee. A favorable fitness 
determination is not a decision to appoint or contract with an 
individual.
    (f) ``Position of Public Trust'' has the meaning provided in 5 CFR 
Part 731.
    (g) ``Suitability'' has the meaning and coverage provided in CFR 
Part 731.
    Sec. 3. Agency Authority to Set Fitness Criteria and Determine 
Equivalency. The authority to establish criteria for making fitness 
determinations remains within the discretion of the agency head. Agency 
heads also have the discretion to determine whether their criteria are 
equivalent to suitability standards established by the Office of 
Personnel Management. Agency heads shall take into account Office of 
Personnel Management guidance when exercising this discretion.
    Sec. 4. Reciprocal Recognition of Fitness and Suitability 
Determinations. (a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this 
section, agencies making fitness determinations shall grant reciprocal 
recognition to a prior favorable fitness or suitability determination 
when:
(i)          the gaining agency uses criteria for making fitness 
            determinations equivalent to suitability standards 
            established by the Office of Personnel Management;
(ii)         the prior favorable fitness or suitability determination 
            was based on criteria equivalent to suitability standards 
            established by the Office of Personnel Management; and
(iii)        the individual has had no break in employment since the 
            favorable determination was made.
    (b) Exceptions to Reciprocal Recognition. A gaining agency is not 
required to grant reciprocal recognition to a prior favorable fitness or 
suitability determination when:
(i)          the new position requires a higher level of investigation 
            than previously conducted for that individual;
(ii)         an agency obtains new information that calls into question 
            the individual's fitness based on character or conduct; or
(iii)        the individual's investigative record shows conduct that is 
            incompatible with the core duties of the new position.
    Sec. 5. Reinvestigation of Individuals in Positions of Public Trust. 
Individuals in positions of public trust shall be subject to 
reinvestigation under standards (including but not limited to the 
frequency of such reinvestigation) as determined by the Director of

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the Office of Personnel Management, to ensure their suitability for 
continued employment.
    Sec. 6. Responsibilities. (a) An agency shall report to the Office 
of Personnel Management the nature and results of the background 
investigation and fitness determination (or later changes to that 
determination) made on an individual, to the extent consistent with law.
    (b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management is delegated 
authority to implement this order, including the authority to issue 
regulations and guidance governing suitability, or guidance related to 
fitness, as the Director determines appropriate.
    Sec. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be 
construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i)          authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the 
            head thereof; or
(ii)         functions of the Director of the Office of Management and 
            Budget relating to budget, administrative, or legislative 
            proposals.
    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law 
and subject to the availability of appropriations.
    (c) This order shall not suspend, impede, or otherwise affect 
Executive Order 10450 of April 27, 1953, as amended, or Executive Order 
13467 of June 30, 2008;
    (d) This order is intended only to improve the internal management 
of the executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any 
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in 
equity by any party against the United States, its agencies, 
instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees or agents, or 
any other person.
    Sec. 3. Effective Date and Applicability. This order is effective 
upon issuance and is applicable to individuals newly appointed to 
excepted service positions or hired as contractor employees beginning 90 
days from the effective date of this order.
                                                George W. Bush
 The White House,
 January 16, 2009.

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 2:30 p.m., January 21, 
2009]

Note: This Executive order will be published in the Federal Register on 
January 22.