Memo Addresses Employee Financial Problems

President Obama’s memo of last week specifying that federal agencies may not decide not to hire an applicant on grounds of unemployment or financial difficulties through no fault of the person also states that “agencies shall not remove, suspend, or demote a current federal employee if the basis of the action is that the employee has experienced, or is experiencing, financial difficulty through no fault of the employee, and the employee has undertaken a good-faith effort to meet his or her financial obligations.” However, the memo specifies that it does not “create any right or benefit” that can be enforced against the government in any way, nor does it affect the right of an agency “to determine eligibility for access to classified information or to occupy a sensitive position.” Financial difficulties can in certain circumstances affect an employee’s eligibility to get or maintain a security clearance, which is needed for many positions.