[20171101]LSB10022_外出：空缺、代理官员和第301天.pdf

CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i Out of Office: Vacancies, Acting Officers, and Day 301 November 1, 2017 Across the executive branch, acting officers are currently serving in vacant advice and consent positions, temporarily filling these offices until a permanent officer is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Some of these offices remain vacant because the Senate is still considering whether to confirm a nominated officer, but others are vacant because President Trump has not yet submitted a nomination to the Senate. According to one tracker, there are currently 277 offices that have no formal nominee. Some of the acting officers filling these vacant advice and consent positions may soon face an important deadlineone that could limit their ability to continue performing the duties of the vacant office. Under federal law, most acting officers may only serve for a limited amount of time. Specifically, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (Vacancies Act), which generally governs the ability of government employees to temporarily perform the “functions and duties” of a vacant advice and consent position, p