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Vetting Process Leaves Agencies Understaffed

Stimulus increases workload, but senior posts vacant

By Sarah Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 27, 2009 3:02 PM CST

(Newser) – President Obama’s nominee vetting process is making it hard for federal agencies to get to work on new projects, the Boston Globe reports. Of about 500 senior positions, only 70 have been filled. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem, but the passage of the stimulus package “may exacerbate the consequences of appointments taking awhile,” one expert said.

The Treasury situation, in particular, is “shameful,” White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said yesterday, and Secretary Timothy Geithner “shouldn’t be sitting there alone.” Other departments are depending on aides, staffers and Bush holdovers as well. But one ex-Clinton official said vacancies can be beneficial: “You can get bolder policy initiatives acted on because there are fewer people to second-guess them.”

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Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is the only official listed on the department website. (AP Photo)

President Barack Obama speaks about his federal budget on Thursday. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is at left. (AP Photo)

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You can't be the leading economic power in the world with all the problems we have and have a weak Treasury. - Paul Volcker, White House
economic adviser

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Vetting Process Leaves Agencies Understaffed