What does the federal government do? -

Secretary of defense must perform a ‘delicate dance’ between the president, Congress and the public Evelyn Farkas, Arizona State University Leading the US Defense Department is a massive job, broadly affecting Americans’ security at home and abroad and overseeing huge numbers of people and immense amounts of money.		Spending, regulations and DOGE: Office of Management and Budget director plays vital role helping government get stuff done Martha Coven, Princeton University; Bridget C.E. Dooling, The Ohio State University The OMB is like the government’s central nervous system – it, and its director, are at the center of pretty much everything.
US secretary of state has an expansive job that could make or break peace deals and key foreign alliances Monica Duffy Toft, Tufts University Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, will begin his confirmation hearing on Jan. 15.		How a director of national intelligence helps a president stay on top of threats from around the world Gregory F. Treverton, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences The director of national intelligence is the president’s principal adviser on intelligence. A former White House intelligence official explains the role and how the person in it serves the nation.
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy provides in-house science advice for the president Kenneth Evans, Rice University Headed by the president’s science adviser, OSTP serves as a one-stop shop for everything science and innovation inside the White House.		Interior secretary manages vast lands that all Americans share − and can sway the balance between conservation and development Emily Wakild, Boise State University The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of all US land. Its secretary mediates among many competing uses for it, from recreation to energy production.
The US ambassador to the UN is tasked with doing a careful dance between Washington and the world Abiodun Williams, Tufts University The US ambassador to the UN has considerable power and influence over US international affairs.		US secretary of education helps set national priorities in a system primarily funded and guided by local governments Dustin Hornbeck, University of Memphis If Republicans manage to achieve a long-standing goal by getting rid of the Department of Education, there wouldn’t be a secretary of education anymore.
From watts to warheads: Secretary of energy oversees big science research and the US nuclear arsenal Valerie Thomas, Georgia Institute of Technology; Margaret E. Kosal, Georgia Institute of Technology The Energy Department has a dual mission with a heavy science focus and manages large, expensive programs, many of which are behind schedule and over budget.		What does the NASA administrator do? The agency’s leader reaches for the stars while navigating budgets and politics back on Earth Wendy Whitman Cobb, Air University NASA administrators have hard choices to make, but the outcomes are often out-of-this-world exciting.
What does the US attorney general actually do? A law professor explains Jennifer Selin, Arizona State University The combined political and legal roles and responsibilities of the US attorney general can create conflicts. Some attorneys general yielded to political pressure from the president – many did not.		FBI director guides the agency in confronting complex international threats, investigating federal crimes and running 55 field offices Javed Ali, University of Michigan The FBI investigates everything from terrorist threats to cybercrime to public corruption. What does the presidentially nominated, Senate-confirmed head of the sprawling agency actually do?
How the EPA administrator protects public health, air, water and the environment Stan Meiburg, Wake Forest University Enforcing environmental laws isn’t a job that makes people popular. But polls show that Americans generally want more environmental protection, not less.		How the CIA director helps the US navigate a world of spies, threats and geopolitical turbulence Matthew Clary, Auburn University The director of the CIA is responsible for overseeing the agency’s clandestine operations and advising the president on national security matters.
Job of homeland security secretary is to adapt almost continuously to pressures from the department, the public and the world at large Frank J. Cilluffo, Auburn University The Department of Homeland Security’s massive bureaucracy has many critical national security functions and spends billions of taxpayer dollars seeking to keep the nation safe.		Why does the Senate confirm Trump’s picks for key posts — and how? A legal scholar explains the confirmation process and the ‘constitutional loophole’ of recess appointments Jennifer Selin, Arizona State University Senators have the power to approve or reject a president’s cabinet nominees. A loophole allows presidents to do an end run around the Senate – but Senate leaders have to agree to it.
When presidents would send handwritten lists of their nominees to the Senate, things were a lot different Peter Kastor, Washington University in St. Louis The US now faces the likelihood of a bruising and raucous set of confirmation hearings − a clear break from the cooperative system the founders established.		US attorney general’s professionalism can protect Americans’ privacy, former federal judge explains John E. Jones III, Dickinson College A former federal judge explains a key power the US attorney general has, and why it’s useful to the public for the Justice Department to operate in a trustworthy way.