A recent New York Times article points to how the growing number of vacancies at the head of many federal agencies is quickly becoming the norm. The number of interim and acting heads tapped to fill these posts has increased as the end of President Bush’s second term nears. The President has claimed that Senate Democrats are stalling key nominees while acting secretaries and undersecretaries are capable and talented individuals. However, many posts, including the Attorney General’s, appear as if they will remain without permanent appointees until the end of the President’s term. Legal scholars find the vacancy rate striking compared to the President’s predecessors’ and that by keeping acting heads in power, the Senate’s right of confirmation and review is effectively being circumvented. To read more from this article, please click here.