What is the Plum Book?
The Plum Book is the list of government positions that are appointed by the President. It’s over 200 pages and includes more than 8,000 federal civil service positions in the executive branch. The individuals hired for these positions are presidential appointees.
The Plum Book is published every four years so both the voters and the government are made aware of positions that can be appointed once the new presidential term begins. Officially, the title of The Plum Book is the United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions. Committees in the Senate and House of Representatives take turns publishing the book. The Senate published the 2024 Plum Book.
Why was the book created?
The first Plum Book was created in 1952. When President Dwight Eisenhower was elected, the Democratic party had been in charge of the White House for 22 years. The Eisenhower administration and the Republican party wanted an overview of all the appointed positions he would be able to fill with his own people.
While The Plum Book was not published at the beginning of Eisenhower’s second term, the tradition of The Plum Book lived on when it was once again published after the 1960 presidential election and every four years after with varying quality.
Why is it called The Plum Book?
The printed version of the book also features a plum-colored cover; however, its nickname came to be because it was meant to advertise the “plum” top jobs in government. Eisenhower saw the book as an essential part of the planning and transition of presidential power, but he also hoped the book would help create transparency about appointed positions.
What positions are included in The Plum Book?
The Plum Book includes leadership roles such as cabinet secretaries, heads of agencies, board members, chairs, policy executives, and council members, but it also includes thousands of supporting roles. While some appointments are straightforward, others require Senate approval.
Where are these positions located?
The more than 8,000 appointed positions are at various agencies within the executive branch and a few within the legislative branch. Included in the Plum Book are positions in well known departments. Examples of these entities include:
- Department of Education,
- Department of Health and Human Services,
- Department of Justice,
- Environmental Protection Agency, and
- Department of Defense
The Plum Book also includes numerous lesser known government agencies. A few examples of these offices include:
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,
- Advisory Council on Historic Preservation,
- Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board,
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
- Library of Congress,
- National Endowment for the Arts,
- Peace Corps,
- Central Intelligence Agency,
- Securities and Exchange Commission,
- U.S. Postal Service
The individuals appointed to these positions have power to shape the actions of these agencies for as long as they are in the role. They may advocate for the president’s policies, or they may push back.
What does the inside of the book look like?
The list of committee members responsible for assembling the Plum Book are on the first page. The first several pages include a foreword and a legend to help the reader understand the book’s contents and layout, as well as the location, type of appointment and pay codes used to describe each position, respectively.
The book is sorted by government department, with a job listed in each row. Along with the position title, each row includes information about location, name of incumbent, type of appointment, pay plan, level grade or pay, tenure, and expiration date, if for a limited time position.
The appendices at the end of the book include additional supplementary information such as salary breakdowns by federal grade and location, senior executive service, summary of noncompetitive positions, and more.
You can check out a digital version of the 2024 Plum Book here.
Why is this book a good resource after the presidential election?
A new administration brings change in many forms. Since presidents are given the power to appoint new government officials, it is critical that they understand what roles they can choose. The Plum Book can help facilitate a smooth transition of power.
Plum Books are not only important for the president, but also for voters. It is also important for voters to stay informed and up-to-date about what positions the new president will be appointing. Check out the 2024 Plum Book to learn more.
2025 Presidential Appointments – Tracking Resources
- Tracking Trump’s Cabinet and Staff Nominations
- Political Appointee Tracker • Partnership for Public Service
Published January 23, 2025