Weekend update

Here's a link to the Week in Congress's report on last week's activities on Capitol Hill. Countable tells us the Senate remains in session this week. The House is out on the campaign trail.  The Supreme Court will have a full bench of nine justices when it returns to hearing oral arguments on Tuesday after the Columbus Day holiday tomorrow. 

The Federal Times, Govexec.com and Federal News Radio have articles on OPM Director Pon's surprise departure from the agency last Friday.  Federal News Radio provided a link to the White House announcement which reads as follows:

President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to designate the following individual to a key position in his Administration: 

Margaret Weichert of Georgia, to be the Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management.  Ms. Weichert currently serves as the Senate-confirmed Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget in the Executive Office of the President.  She will assume the Office of Personnel Management duties in addition to her current duties at the Office of Management and Budget.

Earlier this decade, when the Obama Administration and Congress forced out the OPM Director Archuleta in the wake of the massive OPM data breach, President Obama reassigned Beth Cobert from OMB to serve as acting OPM Director. It was the first time that the Administration had filled an OPM Director vacancy with an OMB official. However, in the case of Ms. Cobert's appointment, OPM lacked a deputy director who would be the logical person to serve as acting director. In the case of Ms. Weichert, the Administration went to OMB rather than designate the sitting OPM Deputy Director Michael Rigas. The FEHBlog here is making an observation, not seeking to draw any conclusion.

Happy Columbus Day, all.