Question
What happens to employees serving on excepted service appointments (e.g., Career Interns, Veterans’ Recruitment Appointments, and Presidential Management Fellows) if the agency is unable to convert the employees to the competitive service because the agency is temporarily shut down or disrupted as a result of a pandemic health crisis? May the employees continue on the excepted appointment even though they have completed program requirements, or must the agency terminate them?
Answer
Agencies should do everything possible to ensure conversions are processed in a timely manner. If conversions cannot be made prior to the expiration date of an appointment, agencies should contact OPM.