Yale Lab Investigates Unconfirmed Officials Shaping Government

A team at Yale University is working to uncover the identities of acting officials within the United States federal government, a group that has significant influence despite often lacking formal Senate confirmation. Many positions in the government have been filled by these unconfirmed individuals, who make critical decisions affecting millions of Americans without the public being aware of who they are.

Christina Kinane, an assistant professor of political science and a faculty fellow at the Institution for Social and Policy Studies (ISPS), highlighted the lack of tracking for these acting officials. “In fact, members of Congress don’t even know who these people are,” she stated. “But they are widespread and often doing big things.”

To address this gap, Kinane has received funding from ISPS to lead a research team focused on identifying both career and politically appointed acting directors from the Reagan Administration through the current Biden Administration. The project aims to develop a web scraper that provides real-time updates on current acting directors and to create a centralized database for better transparency and accountability in government.

Kinane emphasized the importance of collecting data systematically, noting, “On a number of dimensions, government actions can be obscured from view.” By gathering this information, her team aims to contribute to a clearer understanding of the federal bureaucracy and the individuals operating within it.

One of the students working in the Kinane Lab is investigating acting officials dating back to 1981 to determine whether they are career federal employees or political appointees. Career officials typically occupy high-level positions that extend beyond a single administration, which can provide them with a deeper understanding of agency missions. In contrast, political appointees often rise from lower positions that do not require Senate confirmation, making them more difficult to track.

Kinane elaborated on the challenges in identifying these officials, stating, “We often have absolutely no idea who or where these actings came from and where they went after serving.” This lack of visibility has implications for accountability, as acting officials can make significant decisions, sometimes without adequate oversight.

In a collaborative effort, two additional students specializing in computer science and data science are developing a web tool to monitor current acting officials. This tool aims to determine if these officials remain in their positions beyond the legal limits of 210 or 300 days while awaiting Senate confirmation. The students face unique challenges, particularly due to the varying structures of government websites, which can complicate personnel identification.

Kinane expressed pride in her students’ determination to uncover the truth. “A lot of people stop when they hit a dead end and say we just can’t know. But we can know,” she affirmed. The team is utilizing freedom of information laws, congressional hearings, and official records to shed light on these often-hidden figures in government.

Alan Gerber, Director of ISPS and Sterling Professor of Political Science, praised the Kinane Lab’s efforts. “Christina Kinane and her students exemplify the ISPS mission to advance research and to engage the next generation,” he stated. The data collected will serve as a valuable resource for future research on the contemporary workings of government, helping to replace speculation with facts.

Kinane stresses the importance of identifying those making significant decisions within the federal government. “Without knowing who the people are who are making these decisions, there is no way to hold people to account,” she noted. This lack of transparency can impact critical areas, including recent decisions affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

She concluded, “Understanding who is really in charge is a fundamental tenet of democracy.” The initiative not only aims to document the current landscape of acting officials but also seeks to foster greater accountability in government decision-making processes.