Congress: House Democrats query EPA on political staff totals

The Democratic chairmen of 24 House committees and subcommittees are asking EPA and other federal departments, agencies and offices for “a full accounting of political appointees who have already been hired into career positions or are being considered for such conversions.” “Protecting the nonpartisan expertise of the career civil service is essential to the safety and security of the American people,” the committee leaders write in a Nov. 25 letter sent to heads of 61 federal entities. They add that...