Merit System Accountability and Compliance (MSAC)
Merit System Accountability and Compliance (MSAC) ensures that the human resources (HR) operations and human capital programs of Federal agencies align with the President’s priorities and other laws, rules, and regulations while adhering to merit system principles.MSAC's key responsibilities include:
- Ensuring compliance with the President’s Executive Orders, Presidential memoranda, and civil service laws, rules, and regulations.
- Providing ongoing guidance and feedback to agencies’ Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) offices and accountability teams on initiatives led by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
- Identifying and promoting leading, best, and promising practices in human capital management and HR through conducting Human Capital Reviews.
- Promoting a culture of continuous improvement in utilizing human capital.
- Advising on the use of data to inform HR decision-making.
- Reviewing and approving requests to appoint current or former political appointees to permanent non-political positions (known as “political conversions”).
Additionally, MSAC assesses the effectiveness of agencies’ evaluation systems, which is an assessment of their Human Capital Operating Plans, independent audit programs and HRSTAT programs to determine their impact on meeting agency strategic goals. MSAC also chairs the governmentwide Accountability Program Manager Council (APMC). The APMC is responsible for overseeing, coordinating, and strengthening human capital audits and accountability programs across government. The APMC serves as the governance body for ensuring compliance with federal human capital statutes, regulations, merit system principles, and applicable Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance.