Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management Director Kay Coles James today announced the completion of its annual oversight audits of agency human resources operations for compliance to Merit System Principles and Veterans' Preference.

Four audit reports for fiscal 2004 operations have been issued and released to the respective agencies. As the federal government's primary watchdog agency for merit system compliance, OPM performs annual audits which focus on internal hiring practices, actual new hires, compliance with Veterans' Preference laws, promotions, and training opportunities.

"The American public deserves a federal work force consisting of men and women who compete for their positions and are hired and promoted based on merit," said James. "Our annual review of agency personnel practices and records fulfills our mission for the strategic management of human capital, as well as our commitment to the general public and federal job seekers to keep the federal civil service a merit-based, equal opportunity employer."

OPM conducts agency audits on a three-year rotating cycle; each large agency is audited at least once every three years, and each audit looks at actions and practices over the intervening period. In addition to merit-compliance findings, agency audits provide valuable information on the state of the management of human capital initiatives, leadership and accountability.

In addition to the 4 audits conducted in fiscal 2004, OPM audited 128 agency Delegated Examining Units throughout the country. OPM reports violations of the merit system or Veterans Preference laws to the heads of agencies for corrective and remedial action.

The list of completed audits follows:

• Department of Housing and Urban Development
• Department of Justice
• Department of Labor
• Department of State