Obama Announces Recess Appointments To EEOC

Last Saturday, the White House announced it intent to make 15 recess appointments to high level government positions. The nominations are currently stalled in the Senate. Four of the 15 are for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Jacqueline A. Berrien for EEOC Chair; Chai R. Feldblum for EEOC Commissioner; Victoria A. Lipnic for EEOC Commissioner; and P. David Lopez for General Counsel of the EEOC. As recess appointees, these individuals will hold office until the end of the Senate's session in 2011. (CRS background.) However their names will remain before the Senate for confirmation for the full terms of their offices. The EEOC enforces federal laws barring discrimination in employment, including the ban on religious discrimination.