Mark Small

<thoughts> One of the biggest problems with these cabinet level and agency positions having acting directors is that it hobbles the agencies. The power of a cabinet level official isn't singularly derived from the Executive Branch. 1/

Because a nominee must go through the Senate confirmation process, in that process the nominees and Senators have meetings, get to know one another. Relationships are built that can be used by the nominees later if they're confirmed, or by the Senators. 2/

That's politikin', for good and bad, depending on the actors of course. But it's vital to how our gov't works. And this relationship between the Senate and the Executive goes on down the line. Ask any low level federal employee, they know. Even the DoD has it. 3/

BUT, when we have strict partisan votes, and non-confirmed, appointed acting directors, there's no motivation to start these relationships, and the dept. in question suffers in all kinds of ways trying to complete its legal responsibilities. 4/