Small Business Administration: Review of Selected Personnel Practices: GGD-99-68.

The 1990s have been a time of rapid and sweeping change at the Small Business Administration (SBA). From 1993 to 1997, SBA's workforce was cut by about 15 percent. The regional office structure, a layer of management between SBA headquarters and district offices, was a prime target of this reduction. At the same time, new administrators were appointed at the agency in 1993, 1994, and 1997, which brought about further changes at the agency. Following the change in control of Congress in 1995, SBA provided noncompetitive, career appointments to some displaced congressional staffers under the Ramspeck Act. Questions arose about whether improper personnel practices--such as political favoritism, the improper hiring of district office directors, and improper salary setting for political appointees--had taken place. This report examines several events involving personnel reassignments, appointments, and activities at SBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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