Emergency request justification

Subject: Request for an emergency extension for White House Fellows application

From: Jennifer Y. Kaplan, Director

President’s Commission on White House Fellowships

Contact: Sophie Kim Goldmacher, Deputy Director

President’s Commission on White House Fellowships

[email protected] / 202-395-4522

Contact: Steve Pierce, Government Information Specialist

Office of Personnel Management

[email protected] / 202-606-2560

Date: October 22, 2014

The President’s Commission on White House Fellowships respectfully submits this request for emergency extension for continued use of the White House Fellows application. The application for the 2015-2016 cycle is set to launch on November 1, 2014, with an open period until January 15, 2015. A central component of the administration of the White House Fellows program is the White House Fellows application. The effective and timely launch of the application on November 1, 2014 is critical to the mission and functions of the White House Fellows program.

This year marks a particularly important milestone in the program’s history. Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships and over the course of nine presidential administrations, the nonpartisan White House Fellows program has become the nation’s premier fellowship for public service and leadership. Since its inception, the White House Fellows program has sought, cultivated, and produced an impressive group of leaders. The program’s mission is to expose Fellows to first-hand, high-level experience in the Federal government. The program consists of a full-time work placement in the offices of Cabinet Secretaries, senior White House staff, and other high-ranking Administration officials. Fellows also participate in a robust education program designed to provide a behind-the-scenes look into the inner workings of the Federal government.

The President’s Commission on White House Fellowships has historically been compliant with the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements. However, due to staff changes and over transitions in presidential Administrations, some of the institutional knowledge with respect to the White House Fellows application was not transferred. Consequently, there has been a lapse in the program’s compliance with the Act and OMB’s processes, which the program learned about only recently. The White House Fellows program regards compliance a top priority and seeks to do so as expeditiously as possible. Particularly in light of the 50^th anniversary of the White House Fellows program, it is incredibly important that the White House Fellows application launches on the scheduled date of November 1, 2014, which is a date that has been widely advertised.

Thank you for your consideration of this emergency extension request for the White House Fellows application.