5 CFR §432.102
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Actions covered. This part covers reduction in grade and removal of employees based on unacceptable performance.
- (b)Actions excluded. This part does not apply to:
- (1)The reduction in grade of a supervisor or manager who has not completed the probationary period under 5 U.S.C. 3321(a)(2) if such a reduction is based on supervisory or managerial performance and the reduction is to the grade held immediately before becoming a supervisor or manager in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 3321(b);
- (2)The reduction in grade or removal of an employee in the competitive service who is serving a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment;
- (3)The reduction in grade or removal of an employee in the competitive service serving in an appointment that requires no probationary or trial period who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar position under other than a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less;
- (4)The reduction in grade or removal of an employee in the excepted service who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar positions;
- (5)An action imposed by the Merit Systems Protection Board under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 1206;
- (6)An action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7521 against an administrative law judge;
- (7)An action taken under 5 U.S.C. 7532 in the interest of national security;
- (8)An action taken under a provision of statute, other than one codified in title 5 of the U.S. Code, which excepts the action from the provisions of title 5 of the U.S. Code;
- (9)A removal from the Senior Executive Service to a civil service position outside the Senior Executive Service under part 359 of this chapter;
- (10)A reduction-in-force governed by part 351 of this chapter;
- (11)A voluntary action by the employee;
- (12)A performance-based action taken under part 752 of this chapter;
- (13)An action that terminates a temporary or term promotion and returns the employee to the position from which temporarily promoted, or to a different position of equivalent grade and pay if the agency informed the employee that it was to be of limited duration;
- (14)A termination in accordance with terms specified as conditions of employment at the time the appointment was made;
- (15)An involuntary retirement because of disability under part 831 of this chapter; and
- (16)An action against a technician in the National Guard concerning any activity under 32 U.S.C. 709(f)(4), except as provided by 32 U.S.C. 709(f)(5).
- (c)Agencies covered. This part applies to:
- (d)Agencies excluded. This part does not apply to:
- (1)A Government corporation;
- (2)The Central Intelligence Agency;
- (3)The Defense Intelligence Agency;
- (4)The National Security Agency;
- (5)Any executive agency or unit thereof which is designated by the President and the principal function of which is the conduct of foreign intelligence or counterintelligence activities;
- (6)The General Accounting Office;
- (7)The U.S. Postal Service; and
- (8)The Postal Rate Commission.
- (e)Employees covered. This part applies to individuals employed in or under a covered agency as specified at § 432.102(c) except as listed in § 432.102(f).
- (f)Employees excluded. This part does not apply to:
- (1)An employee in the competitive service who is serving a probationary or trial period under an initial appointment;
- (2)An employee in the competitive service serving in an appointment that requires no probationary or trial period, who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar positions under other than a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less;
- (3)An employee in the excepted service who has not completed 1 year of current continuous employment in the same or similar positions;
- (4)An employee outside the United States who is paid in accordance with local native prevailing wage rates for the area in which employed;
- (5)An individual in the Foreign Service of the United States;
- (6)An employee who holds a position with the Veterans Health Administration which has been excluded from the competitive service by or under a provision of title 38, United States Code, unless such employee was appointed to such a position under section 7401(3) of title 38;
- (7)An administrative law judge appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105;
- (8)An individual in the Senior Executive Service;
- (9)An individual appointed by the President;
- (10)An employee occupying a position in Schedule C or Schedule Policy/Career as authorized under part 213 of this chapter;
- (11)A reemployed annuitant;
- (12)An individual occupying a position in the excepted service for which employment is not reasonably expected to exceed 120 calendar days in a consecutive 12 month period; and
- (13)A manager or supervisor returned to his or her previously held grade pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3321 (a)(2) and (b).