burrowing

Yesterday I blogged The Washington Post’s story on political appointees slyly sliding into career positions. One expert on the subject I spoke with said the practice has the potential to make it difficult for the incoming administration to carry out its policy vision.

This morning’s Washington Post explains that the Bush administration is using the last-minute practice of “burrowing,” or slipping political appointees into career positions in federal agencies, throughout the executive branch.
The Post reports that, so far, 20 political appointees have been changed over to career posts — which carry rules that make it more difficult for [...]