DiFi Seeks Investigation Into Reports of "Burrowing" by Bush Appointees at Pentagon

February 06, 2009

In a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Senator Feinstein asks for a review of any last-minute conversions in the Office of Detainee Affairs.

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates to review allegations that political appointees at the Department of Defense were improperly converted to career positions by the outgoing Bush Administration.

These transfers, which allegedly took place in the Defense Department´s Office of Detainee Affairs, were brought to Senator Feinstein´s attention earlier this week. In a letter to Secretary Gates dated February 4, Senator Feinstein requested an immediate review of any improper hires at the Defense Department.

"Allegations of improper ´burrowing´ of political appointees to career positions are very troubling to me," reads the letter. "This is especially disconcerting within the Office of Detainee Affairs due to the nature of the policy recommendations that office provides regarding Guantanamo."

"President Obama has decisively set a new course on detainee policy by issuing an executive order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility."

"I ask that you immediately review the circumstances behind the conversion of these positions and the hiring of any former Bush Administration appointees as career or temporary appointments in that office," wrote Senator Feinstein in her letter to Secretary Gates.


http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/view/90308

Take a look at this report: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34722.pdf

There is a procedure to review and challenge "burrowed" former political appointees.

This report is from the Congressional Research Service and the comments on "burrowing" start on page 24 through page 28 (using the page navigation at the top of the screen).

At page 28 are listed some of the actions Congress could take in relation to "burrowing in."

A GAO audit for this type of switch in status from 2001-2005 (page 27) found about 25% of the appointments switching appointees to civil service satus facially flawed.

they all are a nuisance and a pain in the ass.

who knew? :shrug:

occultism is the republicon modus operandi, to the everlasting detriment of America.