H.R. 5179: District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act

This bill, known as the District of Columbia Attorney General Appointment Reform Act, proposes significant changes to the way the Attorney General for the District of Columbia is appointed. Here are the main points of the bill:

Appointment Process

The bill states that the Attorney General for the District of Columbia will be appointed directly by the President of the United States. This changes the current process, which allows for a locally elected Attorney General.

Service and Tenure

The Attorney General will serve at the pleasure of the President, meaning that their position can be terminated by the President at any time without requiring Senate approval. The term of the Attorney General will align with the term of the President, which means the Attorney General will be replaced whenever a new President takes office.

Impact on Current Attorney General

Upon the enactment of this bill, the current Attorney General serving on the day before the enactment would automatically have their term terminated, thus creating an immediate vacancy to be filled by the President.

Employment Status of Staff

The bill clarifies that staff members of the Office of the Attorney General, appointed under the new provisions, will not be considered federal employees, unless specified by law. This means their employment status and benefits may differ from those of federal employees.

Conclusion

The bill is aimed at restructuring the appointment and oversight of the Attorney General role, bringing it under direct federal control and aligning it with the executive branch of the government.

Relevant Companies

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