Does CHCO have that authority?
The Chief Human Capital Officers (CHCO) Council does not directly govern all federal employees. Instead, it serves as an advisory and coordinating body focused on human capital management across federal agencies. Established under the Chief Human Capital Officers Act of 2002 (part of the Homeland Security Act, Public Law 107-296), the CHCO Council advises and coordinates activities related to modernizing human resources systems, improving HR information quality, and addressing legislation affecting HR operations.
Each federal agency has a designated CHCO who is responsible for overseeing human capital strategies within their respective agency, ensuring compliance with merit system principles, and supporting workforce development, diversity, and performance. The Council facilitates collaboration among CHCOs from different agencies to share best practices and align efforts, but it does not have direct governing authority over federal employees. Governance of federal employees remains with individual agencies, guided by laws, regulations, and policies set by entities like the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Congress, and agency leadership.
In summary, the CHCO Council influences human capital policies and practices across the federal government but does not govern federal employees directly—its role is advisory and coordinative, supporting agency CHCOs in their management of human resources.