Official's departure adds to strain of vacancies at Justice
Some of President Donald Trump's Justice Department nominees  have been in limbo for months as  they  go through a drawn-out confirmation process that has been aggravated by Gardner's resistance.
Eight key positions lack Senate-confirmed leaders  including four that were overseen by Brand. Also awaiting confirmation is John Demers   Trump 's choice to lead the national security division responsible for terrorism and espionage cases. The post is critical  in part because only officials with Senate approval can sign warrants for foreign surveillance  an essential duty for the head of the national security division.
Twelve of  Trump 's 58 U.S. attorney picks still await confirmation  and dozens more have yet to be nominated. Some divisions have seen more than one acting leader in the course of just a few months. They have been briefing Congress and giving news conferences. That can be problematic  said Peter Keisler  who served as acting attorney general under President George W. Bush when Alberto Gonzales resigned from that job.
Other impacts of the vacancies are less obvious. Leaders serving in acting capacities are less likely to make wide-reaching policy changes for fear they'll be overturned once a permanent head is in place. That matters  as Sessions and  Trump  continue to try to roll out an ambitious agenda that targets urban crime and illegal immigration.
[TGT] have been in limbo for months as   [TGT]   go through a drawn-out confirmation process that has been aggravated by Gardner's resistance.
Eight key positions lack Senate-confirmed leaders  including four that were overseen by Brand. Also awaiting confirmation is John Demers   Trump 's choice to lead the national security division responsible for terrorism and espionage cases. The post is critical  in part because only officials with Senate approval can sign warrants for foreign surveillance  an essential duty for the head of the national security division.
Twelve of   [TGT]  's 58 U.S. attorney picks still await confirmation  and dozens more have yet to be nominated. Some divisions have seen more than one acting leader in the course of just a few months. They have been briefing Congress and giving news conferences. That can be problematic  said Peter Keisler  who served as acting attorney general under President George W. Bush when Alberto Gonzales resigned from that job.
Other impacts of the vacancies are less obvious. Leaders serving in acting capacities are less likely to make wide-reaching policy changes for fear they'll be overturned once a permanent head is in place. That matters  as Sessions and   [TGT]   continue to try to roll out an ambitious agenda that targets urban crime and illegal immigration.