News In Brief

White House screens appointees for 2nd term

With the election still seven months away, the White House has begun screening the loyalty and performance of hundreds of presidential appointees to determine who will be asked to serve in a second Reagan term.

John Herrington, director of presidential personnel, said he is reviewing the personnel files of 400 to 500 political appointees ''to find out who stays, who goes, and who gets promoted'' if President Reagan wins reelection. Mr. Herrington said the administration has little use for political appointees who openly question Reagan's policies.