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Obama's Slow Vetting Leaves Agencies Empty, Stymied

Treas. secretary swamped with little help amid crisis

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 6, 2009 7:48 AM CST

(Newser) – The Obama administration’s painstaking vetting of nominees for important positions has left many lower-level posts unfilled at a time of crisis, NPR reports. Some agencies lack appointees below Cabinet level—meaning, for example, that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is swamped as “pretty much the only Obama appointee with a desk at the Treasury,” NPR says. It’s “shameful,” former Fed chairman Paul Volker told Congress.

The unfilled jobs “are the people who do a lot of the work," says an expert. "It's sub-Cabinet positions that actually help to write the legislation, make the policy and do the oversight needed for effective government.” Obama has filled about 70 of some 360 “policy jobs” that need Senate confirmation—so Bush policies still guide many agencies, notes an analyst.

President Barack Obama listens to a question at the White House in Washington yesterday.
President Barack Obama listens to a question at the White House in Washington yesterday.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is largely on his own at the agency, says former Fed chair Paul Volcker.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is largely on his own at the agency, says former Fed chair Paul Volcker.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama's slowed vetting has left many jobs unfilled, NPR reports.
President Barack Obama's slowed vetting has left many jobs unfilled, NPR reports.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Rob
Mar 6, 2009 8:13 PM CST
Sorry, adept, you're not even wrong.
BackAgain
Mar 6, 2009 7:18 PM CST
Can't find a Democrat that has paid his taxes. that is so ironic since all they want me to do is pay mine so they can send it into a black hole. Stop this socialist madness!
Guest
Mar 5, 2009 10:40 PM CST
Republicans are still running the offices? I don't know if you failed Gov't. in HS but we had an election in Nov of last year, and "The Bama" won, he made sure people knew that. Inexperience and ineptitude are no excuse in this matter, even Clinton filled his "House" quicker.

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