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The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), within the U.S. Department of Education (ED), is established as a performance-based organization (PBO) pursuant to Section 141 of the Higher Education Act (HEA). This report begins by discussing the HEA provisions that distinguish FSA from other types of federal agencies. This is followed by a discussion of the legislative history of the creation of FSA as a PBO and of HEA Title IV programmatic changes that may affect its operations. Next, the report describes the current operations and structure of FSA. Finally, it discusses several issues related to FSA's operations and how they may relate to its structure as a PBO. The issues presented have received recent congressional and stakeholder attention and have been identified in reviews of FSA's operations. Appendix A provides a bibliography of recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) and ED Office of Inspector General (IG) reports relating to FSA's operations. Appendix B provides a list of selected acronyms used in this report.

Updated January 8, 2024 Contents Designations Under the Vacancies Act Who May Serve Under the Vacancies Act Potential Duration of Service Under the Vacancies Act Recess Appointments Limitations on Recess [...]

Visible light photon counters (VLPCs) offer many attractive features as photon detectors, such as high quantum efficiency and photon number resolution. We report measurements of the single-photon timing jitter in a VLPC, a critical performance factor in a time-correlated single-photon counting measurement, in a fiber-coupled closed-cycle cryocooler. The measured timing jitter is 240 ps full-width-at-half-maximum at a wavelength of 550 nm, with a dark count rate of 25 000 counts per second. The timing jitter increases modestly at longer wavelengths to 300 ps at 1000 nm, and increases substantially at lower bias voltages as the quantum efficiency is reduced.

Updated June 2, 2022 Contents Introduction Background on Quasi-Governmental Entities Existing Agency-Related Nonprofit R&D Organizations Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) National Foundation for the Centers for Disease [...]

The article offers information on the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (PTA), focusing on provisions and funding for the presidential transition process. Topics include the evolution of the PTA over six decades, expanded support for pre-election activities and support, and the recent amendment by the Presidential Transition Improvement Act.

The article focuses on the complex process of abolishing a federal agency, particularly the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), due to political challenges and administrative complexities. Topics discussed include the ICC's historical context, its evolving role in regulating the railroad industry, and the bipartisan efforts leading to its eventual abolishment in the 1990s, highlighting factors such as deregulatory trends and changing policy considerations.

December 9, 2019 Contents Introduction Background on Quasi-Governmental Entities Existing Agency-Related Nonprofit R&D Organizations Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control [...]

Conventional wisdom regarding regulators is that the structure and design of the organization matters for policy outcomes. Financial regulators conduct rulemaking and enforcement to implement law and supervise financial institutions. These agencies have been given certain characteristics that enhance their day-to-day independence from the President and Congress, which may make policymaking more technical and less "political" or "partisan," for better or worse. Independence may also make regulators less accountable to elected officials and can reduce congressional influence, at least in the short term. Although independent agencies share many characteristics, there are notable differences. Some federal financial regulators are relatively more independent in some areas but relatively less so in others. Major structural characteristics of federal financial regulators that influence independence include • agency head: the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Federal Reserve (Fed), National Credit Union Association (NCUA), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have multi-member boards or commissions led by a chair, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) are led by single directors. • party affiliation: for multi-member boards or commissions, statute sets a party balance among members for all except the Fed. • term in office: terms in office are fixed in length, varying among the regulators from five years to 14 years, and do not coincide with the President's term. Terms for Fed governors and NCUA board members are not renewable. • grounds for removal: although not always specified in statute, it appears that members of most regulatory boards and commissions can be removed only "for cause" (e.g., malfeasance or neglect of duty). The enabling statutes for two director-led financial regulators-FHFA and CFPB-also provided that their leaders could be removed only for cause. However, the Supreme Court held that each of these two provisions is unconstitutional. • executive oversight: rulemaking, testimony, legislative proposals, and budget requests are not subject to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review. • congressional oversight: agencies are statutorily required to submit periodic reports to Congress. Agency officials testify before Congress upon request; some are also statutorily required to do so periodically. Agencies are subject to Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits and investigations. Top leadership is subject to Senate confirmation. Agency rulemaking can be overturned under the Congressional Review Act. • funding: the SEC's and CFTC's budgets are set through congressional authorization and appropriations, whereas other regulators set their own budgets. These budgets are funded through the collection of fees or other revenues, with the exception of the CFTC and CFPB. From time to time, Congress has considered legislation that would alter the structure and design of some of the federal financial regulators, including changes to their leadership and funding structure, the Congressional Review Act, and cost-benefit analysis requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Presidential Transition Act (PTA) of 1963 and its provisions for managing presidential transitions. Topics include the evolution of the PTA from ad hoc procedures to a formalized process, the pre-election and post-election support provided under the act, and the funding and resources allocated for effective transitions.

The article focuses on the status and management of political appointees during presidential transitions. Topics include the potential for appointees to serve across administrations despite policy differences, the impact of fixed terms and removal restrictions on appointee tenure, and the constitutional rules governing recess appointments.

Updated September 7, 2017 Contents Characteristics of Recess Appointments by President Obama Full-Time and Part-Time Positions Within-Session and Between-Session Recess Appointments Recess Appointments by Branch Recess Appointments and Related Nominations [...]

Updated April 18, 2017 Contents Designations Under the Vacancies Act Recess Appointments Position-Specific Temporary Appointment Provisions Method 1 Method 2 Method 3 Method 4 Combinations of Tools Unsuccessful Nominations and [...]

We present a description of a new 1024x1024 Si:As array designed for ground-based use from 5 - 28 microns. With a maximum well depth of 5e6 electrons, this device brings large-format array technology to bear on ground-based mid-infrared programs, allowing entry to the mega-pixel realm previously only accessible to the near-IR. The multiplexer design features switchable gain, a 256x256 windowing mode for extremely bright sources, and it is two-edge buttable. The device is currently in its final design phase at DRS in Cypress, CA. We anticipate completion of the foundry run in October 2005. This new array will enable wide field, high angular resolution ground-based follow up of targets found by space-based missions such as the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).

The article offers information on the constitutional transfer of power and authority from an incumbent American President to a successor, focusing on the role of the Presidential Transition Act (PTA) of 1963, as amended. Topics include the complex nature of the transition process, the informal beginning of transition activities before the general election, and the formalized transition process established by the PTA to ensure continuity in the conduct of the executive branch's affairs.

Updated September 9, 2015 Contents Introduction The Constitutional Appointments Framework Congressional Authority to Establish Qualifications for Leadership Positions Executive Branch Views Signing Statements Department of Justice Opinions Statutory Qualifications in [...]

Updated March 11, 2015 Contents What Is the Purpose of a Recess Appointment? How Often Have Recent Presidents Made Recess Appointments? What Is a 'Session'? What Is a 'Recess'? How [...]

The article presents a report of the U.S. Congressional Research Service (CRS), which reveals that the U.S. Constitution divides the responsibility for populating the top positions in the executive branch of the federal government between the President and the Senate. It mentions that the White House selects and clears a prospective appointee before sending a formal nomination to the U.S. Senate.

The article focuses on the U.S. Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (PTA) authorizes funding for the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide suitable office space, staff compensation, and other services associated with the presidential transition process. It provides for the negotiation, before the election, of memoranda of understanding (MOU) between the incumbent President and eligible candidates. It also mentions pre-election transition support for eligible candidates.

Contents Characteristics of Recess Appointments by President Obama Full-Time and Part-Time Positions Within-Session and Between-Session Recess Appointments Recess Appointments by Branch Recess Appointments and Related Nominations Congressional Efforts to Block [...]

Contents What Is the Purpose of a Recess Appointment? How Often Have Recent Presidents Made Recess Appointments? What Is a 'Session'? What Is a 'Recess'?. How Long Must the Senate [...]

December 17, 2012 The Presidential Transition Act of 1963 (PTA), as amended, authorizes funding for the General Services Administration (GSA) to provide suitable office space, staff compensation, and other services [...]

October 9, 2009 Summary A number of the appointments made by President Barack Obama to his Administration or by Cabinet Secretaries to their departments have been referred to, especially by […]

A number of the appointments made by President Barack Obama to his Administration or by Cabinet Secretaries to their departments have been referred to, especially by the news media, as […]

Table A-1. Selected Legislation Introduced in the 111th Congress Related to Selected Appointments in the Administration of Barack Obama, as of October 1, 2009 Legislation Sponsor Date Introduced H.Amdt. 49 […]

Concern has been raised that the President's hiring, or use, of various presidential advisors circumvents the requirements of the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (211) The Appointments Clause establishes […]

As noted above, the term "czar" has been used as a shorthand reference to a number of appointments made by President Obama or his Cabinet Secretaries. The discussion that follows […]

Congress's Oversight Authority Generally, Congress's legal authority to obtain information, including, but not limited to, confidential, sensitive, or deliberative information, is extremely broad. While there is no express provision of […]

Every American President, since George Washington, has needed advice and assistance. The President's Committee on Administrative Management (commonly referred to as the Brownlow Commission), which had been established by President […]

In examining the concerns surrounding presidential advisors, Congress may decide that no action is needed. However, should it decide otherwise, there are some legislative and non-legislative options. Legislative options Option: […]

Updated November 3, 2008 Under the Constitution, the President and the Senate share the power to make appointments to the highest-level politically appointed positions in the federal government. (1) The […]

Introduction (3) The constitutional transfer of power and authority from an incumbent American President to a successor is a momentous occasion in American government. In the present day, this transfer […]

The following terms identify the acronyms used in this CRS report. (260) CDL: Community Disaster Loan CEM: Comprehensive Emergency Management System CHCO: Chief Human Capital Officer CMO: Chief Medical Officer […]

Background (8) Since 1979, when the agency was first established, FEMA has been charged with carrying out activities that enable the federal, state, and local governments to address a broad […]

Background (223) In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005 Congress passed legislation that, among other purposes, funded oversight activities of the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). […]

Background (122) As enacted by Congress in November 2002, the HSA directed the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the FEMA Director, to improve the Nation's emergency preparedness and response capabilities. […]

Background (247) In addition to the provisions summarized above that directly affect the administration of emergency management, Congress enacted other statutory changes in light of the experiences gained from Hurricane […]

Background (111) The Post-Katrina Act includes various statutory authorities to enhance the management and capability of FEMA's workforce, some of which are arguably similar or parallel to federal policies in […]

Background (229) The Post-Katrina Act includes 16 reporting requirements that must be met by the DHS Secretary, the FEMA Administrator, and officials in other federal entities. These requirements are intended […]

Background (175) The Stafford Act authorizes federal assistance for state and local governments, certain nonprofit organizations, and families or individuals after state and local governments are overwhelmed by natural disasters […]

Background (212) Contractors played an essential role in the government's response, relief, and reconstruction activities following Hurricane Katrina. However, in the aftermath of the hurricane, several procurement practices came to […]

Background (154) National preparedness includes homeland security education and training and the associated standards. Federal homeland security education and training programs are varied and are provided by numerous federal agencies […]

Background (77) Several dozen political appointees and career senior executives head the Preparedness Directorate and FEMA. Four leadership positions in these organizations have been established in statute: the Under Secretary […]