Changes

A growing failure of leadership emerged in the Treasury department in March, as it proved difficult to assemble a leadership team.  Dozens of senior Treasury jobs are empty; apart from the Secretary, the first 3 names were sent to the Senate for confirmation on March 8 and two other top nominees withdrew their names. Secretary Geithner is overwhelmed with multiple major responsibilities without any senior officials in place.  He does have about 50 informal aides.  The result was poorly thought out proposals that won no support, and lengthy delays in responding to the increasingly serious financial crisis.  Analysts debated whether the display of incompetence was due more to Geithner or the White House.

A growing failure of leadership emerged in the Treasury department in March, as it proved difficult to assemble a leadership team.  Dozens of senior Treasury jobs are empty; apart from the Secretary, the first 3 names were sent to the Senate for confirmation on March 8 and two other top nominees withdrew their names. Secretary Geithner is overwhelmed with multiple major responsibilities without any senior officials in place.  He does have about 50 informal aides.  The result was poorly thought out proposals that won no support, and lengthy delays in responding to the increasingly serious financial crisis.  Analysts debated whether the display of incompetence was due more to Geithner or the White House.

With a worldwide [[swine flu]] epidemic threatening, the Administration finally filled the job of Secretary of Health and Human Services on April 28. The flu epidemic petered out but policy initiative has been lagging because of the long delays in filling top posts.  

With a worldwide [[swine flu]] epidemic threatening, the Administration finally filled the job of Secretary of Health and Human Services on April 28. The flu epidemic petered out but policy initiative has been lagging because of the long delays in filling top posts. The confusion caused by weak leadership was underscored in November when runaway advisory boards recommended cutting back on health programs for women, such as mammograms, at a time conservatives were warning that medical care would be rationed under the proposed plans.  

===Cabinet Scandals===

===Cabinet Scandals===

[[Image:Cabinet09.jpg|thumb|300px]]

[[Image:Cabinet09.jpg|thumb|300px]]