Help wanted: Staff shortages under Trump slow policy changes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of government employees file in and out of the U.S. agency for auto safety in Washington every working day, investigating potentially dangerous vehicles and managing a $900 million annual budget.
But an administrator is not among them - nobody has been nominated to the top job since President Donald Trump took office.
Also missing from the roughly 550 people on the payroll of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, are a permanent chief counsel, director for government affairs, chief financial officer and enforcement chief.
While a deputy administrator was appointed last week, slow progress in bringing in senior politically appointed officials has nearly frozen key decision-making at the agency, according to five former NHTSA officials, consumer groups, lawmakers and some business leaders.
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Eight months into Trump’s presidency, senior positions in many government agencies across Washington remain vacant, including roles at the State Department, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and throughout the Transportation Department that oversees NHTSA.
Much more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-trump-effect-staff/help-wanted-staff-shortages-under-trump-slow-policy-changes-idUSKBN1CB1AL?il=0
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on top of the end of regulations.
This must be what people wanted. They knew the differences, but this is what they wanted. 
The most important job in the world and only Trump would think it's acceptable to do a half assed job... His failure to do the job should be in the headlines every single day. 
So is it better or worse to have no one?? As for Pence, he may have more experience in government, but his values and beliefs are equally anti-progressive and just plain bizarre. I've often wondered how he would manage if he suddenly became POTUS - what if Nancy Pelosi - or some other high ranking female legislator - needed to have a meeting? Would his wife have to be constantly on call?? 
Even those who initially agreed with him only last so long. I often wonder how history will judge this clusterfuck - and I cringe. 
This was the Chicago office, but I'm sure it was true in other cities.
It was enough of a nightmare for the rest of us. I may have told you, but I made the mistake of having dental surgery on election day. It was a rough day and I fell asleep on the couch watching the returns. I woke up at around 3am to see Trump and his entire extended family standing there, made no sense to me. This was certainly not anything that we expected - I don't know a soul who can stand Trump - and I keep thinking this must be a nightmare and I'm going to wake up...