Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, alongside Senators Ron Johnson, James Lankford, Mitt Romney, Rick Scott, and Josh Hawley, has formally requested information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the conversion of Biden Administration political appointees into nonpolitical permanent positions. This process is commonly referred to as "burrowing."

The senators' letter emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the federal workforce by preventing partisan influence. They assert that transparency in these conversions is crucial for public trust in government operations.

The current law mandates OPM to provide Congress with quarterly updates on such conversions. However, according to the senators, recent submissions only cover up to June 30, 2024. The letter highlights that this leaves a significant period unaccounted for during President Biden's administration.

The report mentioned in the letter includes seven examples of burrowing; five were approved by OPM while two remain pending. None were denied. Notably, four of those approved received substantial salary increases.

The letter references a past example involving Leandra English from the Obama Administration who transitioned into a career position at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and later engaged in legal action against President Trump over control of CFPB.

The senators have requested detailed information about individuals seeking conversion from political to career positions between June 30, 2024, and November 22, 2024. They also seek similar data for January 1 to June 30, 2024, and weekly updates until January 20, 2025.