Privatizing Personnel: Bureaucratic Outsourcing and the Administrative Presidency

Privatization of Personnel in the Executive Branch

The executive branch sometimes chooses bureaucrats for governmental work and at other times opts for private sector contractors. The author argues that this choice reflects a bureaucratic management strategy influenced by the political environment. Contractors provide advantages such as speedier hiring, greater control, and reduced visibility regarding government size, making them particularly appealing during divided government and for presidential priorities.

Trends in Federal Contracting

Over the years, there has been a significant surge in the use of contractors, which now outnumber federal bureaucrats. Contractors not only perform administrative tasks but also engage in skilled governmental services, including rulemaking and technical work. The reliance on contractors has elevated to a point where federal spending on contracts has reached $392 billion for service contracts alone in fiscal year 2021.

Advantages of Contractor Use

Contractors offer distinct advantages over bureaucratic labor: 1) Speed - They can be onboarded quickly compared to the lengthy merit hiring process for bureaucrats; 2) Control - Contractors are incentivized to align with the political agendas of their employers as their contracts can be discontinued; 3) Visibility - Their work is less visible to the public and Congress, making it a strategic tool for presidents to avoid scrutiny during politically sensitive times.

Implications for Political Power

The use of contractors can enhance presidential power by allowing for greater control over policy implementation while minimizing oversight from Congress. This has implications for how political governance operates, with contractors becoming a means of avoiding common bureaucratic challenges. Independent agencies, however, tend to rely less on contractors due to their greater autonomy and resistance to presidential oversight.