HouseH.R. 10265119th Congress
White House Fellows Program Authorization Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10265 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10265
To codify and authorize the White House Fellows Program, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 3, 2026
Mr. Fuller introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To codify and authorize the White House Fellows Program, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``White House Fellows Program
Authorization Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The White House Fellows Program was established by
Executive Order 11183, issued October 3, 1964, to provide
gifted and highly motivated Americans with first-hand
experience in the process of governing the Nation.
(2) Since its founding, the Program has produced nearly 900
alumni who have gone on to leadership positions in the
military, business, education, media, philanthropy, and
government.
(3) Despite its longstanding contribution to public service
and leadership development, the Program has never been
authorized by statute.
(4) Codifying the Program in law will ensure its
continuity, provide a stable statutory basis for its
administration and funding, and formally recognize its value to
the United States Government.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the
President's Commission on White House Fellowships established
under section 4.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Office of Personnel Management.
(3) Fellow.--The term ``Fellow'' means an individual
selected to participate in the Program under section 5.
(4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the White House
Fellows Program established under section 4.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM AND COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--There is established in the Executive Office of
the President a program to be known as the ``White House Fellows
Program,'' the purpose of which is to provide outstanding citizens of
the United States with first-hand experience working at senior levels
of the Federal Government and a sense of personal involvement in the
leadership of the Nation.
(b) Commission.--There is established the ``President's Commission
on White House Fellowships'' (in this Act referred to as the
``Commission''), which shall continue the functions performed under
Executive Order 11183 (as amended) as of the date of enactment of this
Act.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Appointment.--The Commission shall be composed of not
more than 30 members, appointed by the President, who shall
serve without compensation for their service on the Commission.
(2) Qualifications.--Members shall be private citizens of
the United States broadly representative of the regions,
professions, and backgrounds of the Nation, and shall be
selected on a nonpartisan basis.
(3) Chair.--The President shall designate a Chair of the
Commission from among its members.
(4) Terms.--Members shall serve at the pleasure of the
President.
(d) Duties of the Commission.--The Commission shall--
(1) establish criteria and procedures for the recruitment,
screening, and selection of Fellows, consistent with section 5;
(2) recommend to the President the individuals to be
selected as Fellows in each program year;
(3) design and oversee an educational program for Fellows,
including seminars, roundtable discussions, and study travel;
and
(4) submit the report required under section 8.
SEC. 5. SELECTION OF FELLOWS.
(a) Number.--The Commission shall recommend not fewer than 11 and
not more than 19 individuals for selection as Fellows in each program
year, subject to the availability of appropriations.
(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible for selection as a Fellow, an
individual shall--
(1) be a citizen of the United States;
(2) have completed an undergraduate degree;
(3) be early in his or her chosen career;
(4) demonstrate unusual ability, high moral character,
outstanding motivation, and a broad capacity for leadership;
and
(5) show exceptional promise of future development.
(c) Nondiscrimination.--Selection of Fellows shall be made without
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national
origin, disability, age, or political affiliation.
(d) Federal Employees.--An individual who is an officer or employee
of the Federal Government at the time of application shall not be
eligible for selection as a Fellow, except that active-duty members of
the Armed Forces shall remain eligible.
(e) Final Selection.--The President shall make the final selection
of Fellows from among the individuals recommended by the Commission.
SEC. 6. TERMS OF SERVICE; COMPENSATION.
(a) Duration.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a fellowship
under the Program shall be for a term of 12 months, beginning on the
date specified by the Commission.
(b) Extension.--The Commission may, in its discretion, extend the
term of a fellowship for not more than an additional 3 months.
(c) Status and Compensation.--A Fellow shall serve as a full-time
employee of the agency or office to which the Fellow is assigned and
shall receive pay and benefits consistent with the applicable rates of
pay under the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5, United
States Code, as determined by the Director.
(d) Assignment.--Fellows shall be assigned to serve senior
officials of the Executive Office of the President, the heads of
executive departments and agencies, or other senior Federal officials,
as determined by the Commission in consultation with such officials.
(e) Military Personnel.--A member of the Armed Forces selected as a
Fellow shall remain subject to the provisions of title 10, United
States Code, and to applicable service regulations governing fellowship
participation, including any post-fellowship service obligation
established by the Secretary concerned.
SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
(a) Office of Personnel Management.--The Director shall provide
administrative, budgetary, and personnel support necessary for the
operation of the Program and the Commission.
(b) Staff.--The Director may appoint and fix the pay of such staff
as may be necessary to carry out this Act, in accordance with
applicable provisions of title 5, United States Code.
(c) Detailees.--Federal agencies may, upon request of the Director
and with the consent of the employing agency, detail personnel to
assist in the administration of the Program without reimbursement.
SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the Committee on
Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a
report that includes--
(1) the number of individuals selected as Fellows during
the preceding program year;
(2) a summary of the agencies and offices to which Fellows
were assigned;
(3) an accounting of amounts expended in carrying out the
Program; and
(4) any recommendations of the Commission for legislative
or administrative changes to improve the Program.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Personnel
Management such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act for each
of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
SEC. 10. RELATIONSHIP TO EXECUTIVE ORDER.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of
the President to issue further executive orders governing the internal
administration of the Program that are not inconsistent with this Act.
To the extent any provision of Executive Order 11183, as amended, is
inconsistent with this Act, this Act shall control.
SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act and
shall apply beginning with the program year following such date of
enactment.
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