Executive Order 8257

By virtue of and pursuant to the authority vested in me by the provisions of paragraph Eighth of subdivision of Section 2 of the Civil Service Act (22 Stat. 403, 404), it is hereby ordered that, subject to appropriate non-competitive tests of fitness, the Civil Service Commission is authorized to permit an immediate appointment without regard to the competitive requirements of the Civil Service Rules in any case in which it appears that a public exigency exists which is directly connected with the neutrality of the United States or the preparedness program of the Federal Government. This authority may be used only under most unusual and compelling circumstances, and the person or persons so appointed will not thereby acquire a classified civil service status.

, September 21, 1939.