The Office of the General Counsel
The Office of the General Counsel serves as the chief legal counsel for the Secretary and the agency as a whole. As such, this office brings forward litigation as appropriate on behalf of the agency, defends the agency in any litigation, tracks relevant court decisions in the federal circuit, advises agency employees on proper conduct and procedure, and ensures that all agency actions are within the statutory provisions determined by Congress. The Office of General Counsel also researches precedent, agency regulations, and case law to inform his advice and the Secretary’s decisions. One final major part of the role of the General Counsel is to keep all employees informed of the Hatch Act and make sure they do not violate the Act’s provisions, which bars public employees from engaging in overtly political activity while being paid by the taxpayer.
The Secretary’s Office
The Secretary’s Office is in charge of managing the day-to-day activities of the agency secretary, and all the commotion that comes with being a member of the president’s cabinet. This can look like a number of different things, but it usually includes managing the Secretary’s calendar and schedule, booking his travel and flights, arranging his on-ground transportation and security details, greeting and welcoming his guests to the office, printing all needed briefing materials, making sure the Secretary is prepared for his meetings and public appearances, and anything else that could possibly arise. This role can be called into action at any time of the day or night, depending on the situation that arises.
