Concerns about so-called “burrowing in” are commonly raised both before and after a change in party control of the White House. Image: photo.ua/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., has asked agencies for detailed data on hiring during 2024 through January 20, saying “we are concerned that the Biden-Harris Administration maneuvered to embed political appointees into positions in the competitive service . . . including a desire to “Trump proof” agency staffs by placing personnel opposed to President Donald Trump’s agenda,” he wrote to the two dozen Cabinet departments and largest independent agencies.
He asked for data covering that time including the names of all persons hired in that time and the hiring authorities used; all job postings during that time including postings that were taken down; positions whose titles changed; hiring made outside of standard competitive service processes; and individuals who served as political appointees in the prior administration who are now in career positions.
Concerns about so-called “burrowing in” are commonly raised both before and after a change in party control of the White House. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., now the chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, had raised the issue shortly after last fall’s elections. However, the level of interest traditionally has been well out of proportion to its share of the federal workforce.
In a 2017 report requested by congressional Republicans about possible burrowing in by Obama administration appointees, the GAO had found 69 such conversions from 2010 to 2016. A 2010 report requested by Democrats regarding the practice under the Bush administration found 143 conversions over 2005 to 2009, and a 2002 report requested by Republicans found 111 over the last three years of the Clinton administration.
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