Senate Confirms Key Positions at MSPB, OSC, FLRA, and Other Agencies

A number of federal agencies and offices that oversee issues impacting the federal workforce have new leaders after the Senate confirmed a batch of President Trump’s nominees.

The Senate approved the nominees by a 51-47 vote shortly before leaving for its August recess. The confirmations include new leaders for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), and other agencies.

MSPB

The Senate confirmed James Woodruff as chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.

Woodruff has been a Republican member of the MSPB since October 2025. The board’s other GOP member, Henry Kerner, had been acting chairman. Kerner will stay on as vice chairman.

The third seat remains vacant. No more than two MSPB board members can be from the same political party. Last year, President Trump fired Cathy Harris, a Democratic member of the board.

OSC

The Senate confirmed Charles Baldis as Special Counsel.

Baldis was serving as Chief Counsel at OSC. He also served from April 2025 to May 2026 as Senior Counsel to Acting Special Counsel Jamieson Greer.

OSC– an independent federal agency that protects federal employees from prohibited personnel practices and retaliation for whistleblowing– has been without a permanent leader since President Trump fired Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger.

FLRA

Charlton Allen was confirmed as general counsel at the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA).

The general counsel is responsible for prosecuting alleged unfair labor practice complaints before the FLRA board, most of which are brought by unions against management.

The vacancy contributed to a backlog of hundreds of cases.

Justice Department Inspector General

The Senate confirmed Don Berthiaume as inspector general at the Department of Justice.

Berthiaume– a career IG employee– served as acting DOJ IG from October 2025 through January 2026 and later served as a senior adviser.

At his confirmation hearing, Berthiaume testified that he has a personal appreciation for whistleblowers, as he himself was one while at the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

Office of Management and Budget Deputy Director

Hal Duncan was confirmed as OMB Deputy Director.

Duncan– who will serve as number two to OMB Director Russell Vought– defended the administration’s proposed rule to require political appointees to oversee the grantmaking process.

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Cameron Hamilton was confirmed as FEMA Administrator. Hamilton served as acting administrator in 2025 but was fired before being nominated again by President Trump.

He takes over the agency as the White House-backed FEMA Review Council has recommended cutting FEMA’s size and giving state and local governments greater responsibilities following emergencies.