Commerce's Blank Loses 'Acting Secretary' Title, Now 'Deputy Secretary'

February 6, 2013 by Brian Feito|Commerce Dept.

Rebecca Blank’s title is now “Deputy Secretary of Commerce” instead of acting secretary, although she “continues to perform the duties of Secretary,” according to her biography on the Commerce Department website. Blank had held the title of acting secretary since former Secretary John Bryson’s resignation in June 2012. The Vacancies Reform Act only allows unappointed officials to hold “acting” status for 210 days, with some exceptions, although Commerce declined to say if the title change was related to the law. David Aguilar of CBP went from acting commissioner to deputy commissioner in August because of the Vacancies Reform Act time limit (see ITT’s Online Archives 12091219 for summary).