Out With The Old: High Turnover On Team Obama Is ‘Normal’

Brookings Institute says fresh blood may help White House reach its policy goals

Amidst all the talk about diversity in President Barack Obama’s second term cabinet and White House staff, almost no one is asking whether the changes are good for his very ambitious policy agenda. The Brookings Institute is asking this question and noted that, although 71 percent of Obama’s “A-team” has left, he is on par with the last three presidents. The downsides to high turnover: “a lost of institutional memory, time lost hiring and orienting a successor, the disappearance of unique networking contacts.” But the good outweighs the bad, from a policy achievement standpoint, says the author of the Brookings Institute's report. Changing up his cabinet could “provide necessary expertise for the legislative battles that lie ahead.” With immigration, gun control and job creation as tops priorities, let’s hope the incoming team is the right fit for the job. (Washington Post)

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