In any functioning democracy, competence should be the guiding principle of governance. Leadership at the highest levels of government—especially within agencies responsible for policy, security, and economic stability—requires experience, expertise, and the ability to navigate complex challenges. However, in recent years, the prioritization of loyalty over qualifications has led to an unprecedented decline in the effectiveness of government institutions. (Photo by Rosemary Ketchum)
As the United States grapples with political polarization and the erosion of democratic norms, the consequences of appointing unqualified individuals to key positions have become alarmingly clear. The federal government, once a model of bureaucratic efficiency and professionalism, has increasingly come to resemble a bumbling group of Keystone Cops—stumbling through crises, making policy decisions with little foresight, and often doing more harm than good.
The Danger of Filling Government with Sycophants. Throughout history, authoritarian-leaning leaders have sought to consolidate power by replacing experts with loyalists. The logic is simple: competence breeds independence, while blind allegiance ensures compliance. But in a democracy, where institutions are meant to serve the public good rather than the personal interests of a leader, this approach is disastrous.
Under the current administration, numerous political appointees have lacked even the most basic qualifications for their roles. Instead of seasoned professionals leading federal agencies, we have seen media personalities, conspiracy theorists, and partisan operatives assuming control of complex bureaucracies. The result? A government that often acts in contradiction to its own stated goals, struggling to function effectively while claiming success.
Policy Missteps and Mismanagement. From economic policy to public health, federal agencies have been riddled with poor decision-making, often due to a lack of understanding of the issues at hand. When leadership is more concerned with appeasing a single figure rather than serving the nation, long-term strategy gives way to short-term political theater.
Legal Arguments Detached from Reality. In the Justice Department, loyalty-driven appointments have led to legal arguments that fail under even basic scrutiny. Instead of relying on constitutional law and precedent, officials have attempted to bend legal reasoning to fit political narratives, often embarrassing themselves in court.
Foreign Policy Blunders. International diplomacy requires skilled negotiators who understand global affairs, yet recent decisions have demonstrated a lack of strategy, causing allies to question U.S. leadership and adversaries to exploit weaknesses.
Erosion of Public Trust. Perhaps the most damaging effect is the loss of faith in government institutions. When agencies are run by individuals who lack credibility, the public sees the system as corrupt, incompetent, or both. This disillusionment weakens democracy, making it easier for authoritarian forces to further dismantle safeguards.
The Collapse of Institutional Integrity. Government institutions do not crumble overnight. The U.S. has long benefited from a decentralized system of checks and balances, which makes total authoritarian control nearly impossible. However, the appointment of unqualified loyalists erodes these safeguards in subtle yet dangerous ways. Competent public servants who refuse to compromise their integrity are pushed out, replaced by individuals willing to bend the rules. Over time, these agencies become shadows of their former selves—existing not to serve the people, but to maintain the illusion of effective governance.
Federal departments are massive organizations that require skilled leadership to administer policies that uphold democratic principles. When that leadership consists of individuals who lack expertise but excel at parroting political talking points, the very fabric of government begins to fray. Civil servants with decades of experience are ignored, long-standing norms are abandoned, and critical agencies become dysfunctional.
Americans Have Never Known Autocracy—And That Matters. Unlike many nations where authoritarian rule has been the historical norm, Americans have only ever lived under democracy. This matters because it makes any attempt to consolidate power far more difficult. The U.S. is a vast, decentralized nation with 50 states, thousands of local governments, and a deeply ingrained distrust of unchecked authority.
Unlike European nations that transitioned from monarchies to democracies, the United States was founded in direct opposition to tyranny. Americans fought despots, not to become one, but to ensure that no single leader could ever wield unchecked power. This deeply ingrained political culture makes it nearly impossible to fully consolidate federal, state, and local governments under a single authoritarian agenda.
Even so, democratic systems are not self-sustaining. They require vigilance, civic engagement, and a functioning government staffed with individuals who understand their responsibilities. When incompetence takes hold at the highest levels, the risk is not immediate dictatorship, but rather a slow degradation of governance, where institutions become ineffectual, legal norms are ignored, and public disillusionment sets the stage for more extreme political shifts.
Can This Trend Be Reversed? The question now is whether this cycle of placing loyalty over competence can be reversed. The good news is that democracy has built-in mechanisms to correct itself—elections, independent courts, a free press, and an engaged citizenry. However, reversing institutional damage is not as simple as electing new leaders. The challenge will be restoring trust in government, rebuilding agency expertise, and reaffirming the idea that public service is about serving the country, not personal ambition.
History has shown that democracies survive only when their institutions remain strong. The United States has endured corruption, political scandal, and even attempts to subvert its system before on a cold day in January. Whether it can overcome this current period of dysfunction depends on whether Americans demand a return to competence—and whether leaders with integrity step up to meet the challenge.
