I have doubts about all claims made by americans4innovation about SES, but the issue most definitely is worth following, so thanks for posting this. The Senior Executive Service (SES) was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA; P.L. 95-454, 92 Stat. 1111). (Amended 1980 to include employees of the US Export/Import Bank) If anyone is interested in looking at the CSRA , here is a link https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/95/s2640/text. Look for "Title IV: Senior Executive Service" [Main sponsor Sen. Ribicoff, Abraham A. [D-CT] and co-sponsors: Sen. Ribicoff, Abraham A. [D-CT] | Sen. Percy, Charles H. [R-IL] Sen. Javits, Jacob K. [R-NY] Sen. Eagleton, Thomas F. [D-MO] Sen. Jackson, Henry M. [D-WA] Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA] Sen. Glenn, John H., Jr. [D-OH] Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL] Sen. Muskie, Edmund S. [D-ME] Sen. Clark, Dick [D-IA] Sen. Humphrey, Muriel [D-MN]