The Government Accountability Office (GAO) obtained and analyzed information on (1) the number of non-career Senior Executive Service and Schedule C appointees at each agency and department and government-wide; (2) the number of career SES members government-wide; and (3) the number, placement and employment trends of non-career SES and Schedule C appointees at five selected departments and agencies: the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Information Agency.