White House Secretly Swayed Board Meant to Stop Civil Service Politicization
nytimes.com
The Trump White House secretly shaped the very board designed to keep it from politicizing the civil service — raising the question of who guards the guardians.
Principal-Agent ProblemSeparation of PowersRegulatory CaptureUnitary Executive Theory
Theory Briefing
- The board targeted was specifically designed to insulate federal workers from political interference, making the White House's behind-the-scenes influence especially pointed.
- The operation reflects a broad theory of executive power the Trump administration has been actively advancing across government institutions.
- Shaping an oversight body from within undermines the independence that gives such boards their legitimacy in the first place.