GovernmentExecutive.com

Suppose you ran an immense bureaucracy (let's call it the "Defense Department") and you needed a new top procurement official. And suppose you've already got someone with several years experience as the top acquisition official at one of your biggest sub-units (let's call it the "Navy"). What's more, this person has extensive experience overseeing defense appropriations as a Senate staffer, and is a trained engineer who has worked on weapons systems at several defense contracting firms. You might think it would be a great idea to promote him to the top job. But in fact, CongressDaily's Amy Klamper reports, it would be illegal. This is what happens when Congress decides that it's just not good enough to be able to pass judgment on political appointees through the confirmation process, and decides to set specific restrictions on who can and cannot even be considered for top executive branch positions.