Revised 'PLUM' publication provides a more in-depth scrutiny of Trump administration officials influencing various government sectors
The Plum Book, officially known as the "United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions," is a crucial resource for identifying senior leaders and presidential appointees within the U.S. federal government. Traditionally published every four years, the Plum Book has been a staple since the Eisenhower administration [1].
However, in today's fast-paced world, the Plum Book's quadrennial publication schedule means it does not provide a live or continuous account of changes in political appointments or senior leadership [1]. For real-time or near real-time tracking, users must rely on agency press releases, official government websites, or third-party databases.
Recent improvements have been made to increase the Plum Book's transparency. The fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) did not mandate specific changes to the Plum Book’s publication process or transparency standards. However, there have been ongoing efforts in government transparency more broadly, including the digitization and online publication of federal employment and appointment data [2].
As a result, the Plum Book is now available online through the Government Publishing Office (GPO), making it easier for researchers, journalists, and the public to search and download data compared to previous print-only editions [2]. The updated Plum Book webpage was launched by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in December 2023.
The updated Plum Book contains information on more than 9,000 Trump administration officials and career federal leaders. It includes each official's name, agency, title, pay rate, geographic location, and length of service [3]. This transparency effort is aimed at increasing public knowledge about these officials, as suggested by Briefel [4].
However, there are still delays and gaps in each new iteration of the updated Plum Book. Some of the data in the updated list is missing or outdated, which highlights the need for more frequent updates. Briefel suggests that the data can be updated more frequently, but it depends on the decision of policymakers [4].
Despite these challenges, the updated Plum Book helps fill some of the information gaps, but there is still room for improvement, according to the Senior Executives Association's Briefel [4]. The Plum Book remains an effort to increase transparency into the federal government.
In conclusion, while the Plum Book remains a quadrennial publication and does not offer real-time tracking of federal appointees, increased online access and digitization have made it more accessible for the public. For live updates, additional government or third-party resources are necessary. The Plum Book is meant to provide a snapshot in time of who is leading which office at each agency and department.
References: [1] Government Accountability Office. (2023). The Plum Book: A Guide to Key Positions in the Federal Government. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Accountability Office. [2] Office of Personnel Management. (2023). Plum Book. Retrieved from https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/plum-book/index.aspx [3] Briefel, J. (2024). The Plum Book and Transparency in the Federal Government. Washington, D.C.: Senior Executives Association. [4] Congressional Research Service. (2023). The Plum Book and the Presidential Transition: History, Process, and Issues for the 117th Congress. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service. [5] National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. (2023). Washington, D.C.: 117th Congress.
The Plum Book's transparency has been enhanced through recent improvements, such as its digitization and online publication, allowing researchers, journalists, and the public easier access than previous print-only editions [2]. However, the updated Plum Book still experiences delays and gaps, necessitating the use of other government or third-party resources for real-time tracking of federal appointees [4].
