Anne O’Connell

Did Shulkin get fired or resign? This is why it matters.

Anne Joseph O’Connell quoted by Politico, March 31, 2018

O’Connell said she believes the law does in fact apply to firings and she listed several potential hurdles to mounting a serious legal challenge. Among them: finding somebody who has been injured by a decision made by the acting secretary and convincing a court that the law intended to stop presidents from picking acting secretaries after a firing. Another potential difficulty: figuring out a way to differentiate between a firing and a forced resignation.

Trump has left hundreds of key government positions vacant

Anne Joseph O’Connell interviewed by Vox, Jan. 30, 2018

“It’s not just relevant in President Trump’s administration,” O’Connell told Vox. “But just given the delays both in nomination and confirmation of agency officials in recent administrations the Vacancies Act — although it hasn’t kind of the same media attention — comes into play.”

Trump’s hiring problem is getting better – but his administration is still thin

Anne O’Connell quoted by CNBC, June 30, 2017

O’Connell adds that deregulation — a key plank of the Trump agenda — could be hindered by a lack of officials at executive branch agencies. Agencies looking to repeal regulations as directed by Trump need to undertake a notice and comment process during rulemaking, something that could be hurt by fewer appointees.