Anne Wagner, the vice chairwoman of the Merit Systems Protection Board, is leaving the organization to become an associate special counsel at the Office of Special Counsel.

MSPB members are appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate. Wagner was appointed by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 5, 2009, and sworn in at the MSPB on Nov. 12.

Before the MSPB Wagner was the general counsel at the Personnel Appeals Board at the Government Accountability Office and had previously served as a member of the GAO Personnel Appeals Board and as a staff attorney at the General Services Administration.

Wagner's departure leaves Chairwoman Susan Grundmann and member Mark Robbins without a tie-breaking vote.

If the remaining two members cannot agree on a verdict then the initial decision of the administrative judge in the case is automatically upheld, according to MSPB.

Tom Devine, legal director at the Government Accountability Project, said Wagner was a presidential appointee who acted as a dedicated public servant while at MSPB.

"As a rule, her track record rebutted charges of a "war on whistleblowers" for all federal workers not accused of national security leaks," Devine said. "Her departure is a litmus test whether the President appoint a successor will continue protecting federal workers when it counts outside the headlines."

A White House official said there were "no personnel announcements at this time" regarding a replacement for Wagner on the board.

Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner said Wagner brings a "wealth of experience and expertise" on the federal workplace and the merit system. Wagner will have a "diverse" portfolio at OSC, according to the agency.

"She has a strong track record of upholding the legal rights of federal employees," Lerner said in a statement.

Wagner said in a statement that she was "thrilled" to be working with Lerner and at OSC.

"I firmly believe in OSC's mission to protect federal merit system principles," Wagner.

Share:
In Other News
Load More