Our new report, Dismantling Independence, documents the most aggressive effort in the modern era to bring independent federal boards and commissions under direct presidential control.

1/ The federal government now has the largest political workforce in 40 years and the smallest career senior leadership in 25 years — simultaneously. In a new report I authored at @ourpublicservice.bsky.social: ourpublicservice.org/publications...

There is a push for making public sector employees at will, i.e. they can be fired for any reason by politicians. Trump shows how such powers will be abused. This report does a great job of debunking claims that at will employement is working at the state level. ourpublicservice.org/publications...

Excited to share two new posts of mine at @brookings.edu that were posted today. Together, they tell complimentary stories about President Trump's personnel track record nearing the end of his first year back in office. Links below.

The Inspector General system is basically broken now. Most IGs have been fired, most positions remain vacant. Those who remain or would take the job pose no risk to holding the regime accountable. Congress added more barriers to Trump firing IGs after his first term. He just ignored them.

New post by me out today at the Partnership for Public Service highlights how Inspectors General have come under fire during the second Trump administration. Trump’s extensive purges and the resulting vacancies weaken accountability and independent oversight of numerous federal agencies.

New @brookings.edu post out by @kdunntenpas.bsky.social and I examines the Senate’s rules change to allow en bloc consideration of nominees. While it is unlikely to dramatically speed up the overall process, it could make a noticeable difference in the time the Senate spends voting on the floor.

Was triggering the nuclear option in early September worth it? See research by me and @chrispiper.bsky.social to find out. www.brookings.edu/articles/wil...

Happy to share my first @brookings.edu FixGov piece was published today. I take stock of the Senate confirmation process at the 200-day mark of the Trump administration. Among the key findings is the unprecedented degree to which Trump’s nominees have faced procedural barriers.

New report out by me and my team. We conducted interviews with former nominees of Senate-confirmed positions to highlight the stark challenges faced by nominees, their families and the agencies they aim to serve. presidentialtransition.org/reports-publ...

New blog out by me that explores historical trends in the consideration of Cabinet secretaries. 1/ presidentialtransition.org/confirming-t...