Merit Systems Protection Board [MSPB] Law & Legal Definition

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is an independent, quasi-judicial agency incorporated within the Executive Branch. The Board was established by the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA). MSPB ensures that federal civil servants are hired and retained based on merit. The board members of MSPB are appointed by the U.S. President. The board members serve in their headquarters at Washington D.C. Hence, most of the MSPB’s studies and appeals occur in Washington where many federal workers are employed. In addition to the central office at Washington D.C, there are MSPB regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. There are also field offices in Denver and New York. The cases that come before MSPB are heard and decided by the administrative law judges. This ensures that MSPB processes are accessible to local federal workers and agencies. Further, MSPB reviews the significant actions of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to assess the degree to which those actions may affect merit.

The mission of MSPB is to protect Federal merit systems and the rights of individuals within those systems.