Sponsors (2)
The bill improves independence and reduces conflicts by prohibiting acting officials from holding multiple Federal positions, at the cost of reduced short-term staffing flexibility and some additional administrative expense.
Federal employees in independent offices (e.g., OPM, OGE, OSC, Archivist) and taxpayers: reduces conflicts of interest and divided attention by preventing acting officials from simultaneously holding or performing another Federal position, which strengthens oversight, accountability, and the independence of those offices.
Federal agencies and the public relying on them: could make it harder to fill short-term vacancies quickly, slowing agency decision-making and delaying services or regulatory actions that depend on an authorized leader.
The President, agency leaders, and national security stakeholders: reduces flexibility to respond to unexpected vacancies, which could delay urgent or time-sensitive actions previously handled via temporary dual-role assignments.
Taxpayers and agency budgets: may increase administrative costs if agencies must appoint or hire additional officials instead of relying on temporary dual-role coverage to manage vacancies.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits certain principal officers and civil‑service acting officials from simultaneously serving in or performing duties of any other Federal position, including Executive Schedule level I posts.
Introduced February 11, 2026 by Yassamin Ansari · Last progress February 11, 2026
Prohibits certain principal officers and civil‑service employees serving in an acting capacity from simultaneously holding or performing the duties of any other Federal position. The change removes existing allowances for "dual‑hatting" for named offices (e.g., Director of OPM, Special Counsel, Director of OGE, Archivist) and applies a broad prohibition to Executive Schedule level I officials and any civil‑service individual acting in such a post. It also bars the President from directing someone who is already an acting head of one office to perform the functions of another vacant office. The effect is to require separate occupancy of senior Federal positions (including acting roles) rather than allowing one person to carry out multiple agency leadership duties at the same time. The bill amends several provisions of title 5 and title 44, U.S. Code, to implement these limits.