Lex at Neptunus Lex ("The unbearable lightness of Lex. Enjoy!") asks a legitimate question, disguised as speculation.
Money quote(s):
"Perhaps its different in other parts of the federal bureaucracy, but in the Navy, at least, senior executives take congressional inquiries quite seriously. And you’d never make it to flag rank by committing your actual thoughts about congressmen or senators to an email.
Of course, flag officers are typically selected competitively based on such characteristics as intelligence, integrity and professional performance. US attorneys, being political appointees, may have other selection criteria."
Not having served in every nook and cranny of the Department of State, I suppose that it's possible that, somewhere, there is an office or, Heavens forfend, an actual post or office that doesn't treat a congressional inquiry (or, as they're known, a "Congressional") as if it were a lightning bolt from Mount Olympus.
Immediate attention, rapid turn-around, and management scrutiny to ensure completeness and attention to detail; these are the highlights of how Congressionals are handled by FSOs (and State civil service staff as well).
Apparently this may not be the case in every Executive department within the federal government.
12/3
12/3
