The Color of Governance: Disentangling Race and Representation within Federal Agencies

• In Event: Race, Gender and Governance

Abstract

This paper investigates how racial and gender diversity within federal agency leadership and workforces shapes agency behavior, public engagement, and policy outcomes. Specifically, it asks: How does variation in agency-level diversity influence the policymaking process, particularly during critical stages such as rulemaking and the public comment period? Drawing on a novel dataset of 243 presidentially appointed leaders across 15 executive departments and seven large federal agencies, as well as workforce-level diversity data from the Office of Personnel Management and FedScope, the paper reveals stark partisan differences. Democratic administrations consistently appoint more women and people of color, while Republican administrations show declines in both racial and gender representation. Building on scholarship in descriptive representation and bureaucratic politics, this paper argues that leadership diversity shapes how agencies anticipate oversight, engage with the public, and navigate racialized policy debates. By examining elite-level bureaucrats—often overlooked in identity-based analyses—this study highlights the strategic dimensions of identity in administrative governance. At a time of increasing polarization and the rollback of DEI initiatives, this research offers timely insights into how racial and gender dynamics structure federal policymaking.

Author

• Karla M Magaña, University of Michigan Ann Arbor
  Presenting Author