The Importance of Position: Agency Budgets and Executive Appointments

• In Event: The Impact of Politicization and the Budget on Federal Agencies

Abstract

Agency budgets are recognized as a strong conditioning influence on executive nominations and, by extension, bureaucratic politicization. Key is an appointed position with greater budgetary authority attached being more important. Yet, position importance has been measured broadly—for example, distinguishing among appointment tiers—without incorporating discretionary budgets as a more nuanced measure. We rectify this, assessing hypotheses about how a position’s discretionary budget impacts the President’s nomination choice and the Senate’s responses. As expected, higher budgets are associated with Presidents nominating those with whom they are less in tune but the Senate finds ideologically more acceptable and are likely more competent. Also as predicted, the Senate moves these high budget appointments through the process more smoothly and more likely approves. Budgets are a key element of position importance for department-level agencies, and they structure how Presidents make choices and the Senate reacts in politicizing the bureaucracy.

Authors

• Peng Gui, University of Rochester

• Lawrence S. Rothenberg, University of Rochester