washington hundreds government employees file u.s. agency auto safety washington every work day investigate potentially dangerous vehicles manage 900 million annual budget administrator among nobody nominate top job since president donald trump take office also miss roughly 550 people payroll national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa permanent chief counsel director government affairs chief financial officer enforcement chief deputy administrator appoint last week slow progress bring senior politically appoint officials nearly freeze key decision-making agency accord five former nhtsa officials consumer group lawmakers business leaders say without leadership place nhtsa either push back fail act rule set new standards improve bus fare rollover crash system remind passengers rear seat wear seat belt new tire standards eight months trump presidency senior position many government agencies across washington remain vacant include roles state department department energy environmental protection agency throughout transportation department oversee nhtsa vacancies result trump efforts slim federal bureaucracy others simply wait fill white house blame democrats drag confirmation process nominees say vet pick complicate usual many come business world rather government many company applaud trump move roll back federal bureaucracy also complain delay bring aboard political appointees hind government decisions could impact business frustration extend u.s. diplomats private-sector lawyers others regularly deal government agencies accord interview september u.s. tire manufacturers association urge trump letter accelerate efforts nominate nhtsa administrator agency comply 2015 road safety law pass congress law order nhtsa write regulations set minimum tire standards fuel efficiency traction wet condition create online database consumers check tire recall u.s. manufacturers consumer group support regulations draw response vehicle deaths link faulty tire raise standards make u.s. market less accessible poorly make versions want u.s. kind dump group really low technology standard meet say dan zielinski association senior vice president two former nhtsa leaders consumer group say agency also move slowly regulatory issue improve side impact standards agency stall ... go much without political leadership say joan claybrook former nhtsa administrator president jimmy carter prominent consumer advocate nhtsa say statement friday safety top priority agency commit meet obligations require 2015 law nhtsa ongoing review regulatory action part administration-wide effort white house spokeswoman decline comment nhtsa say capable professional staff fill essential position throughout government act basis confirmations go leadership shortages extend beyond nhtsa white house oct. nominate 387 political appointees civilian position executive branch 160 confirm u.s. senate accord non-partisan partnership public service number well first eight months least last four presidents period barack obama presidency 497 candidates nominate 337 confirm one senior administration official say aim top position level assistant secretary nominate year end still political appointee job expect stay empty white house spokeswoman say federal government grow unrestrained decades politicians afraid drain swamp say follow trump 's impact energy environment healthcare immigration economy trump effect www.reuters.com/trump-effect many case dire warn opponents trump delay put forward political nominations approval would cause chaos prove overblown examples government slow mid-level employees authority unwilling make decisions committee foreign investment unite state cfius analyze propose transactions ensure harm national security private-sector lawyers complain slow decisions big deal unwillingness staff people make decision say michael gershberg trade investment attorney fry frank lobbyist work cfius deal say company refile proposals cfius fail reach decision within 75 days drive legal finance fee create uncertainty deal deal refiled include bid jack ant financial buy moneygram mgi.o zhongwang usa 2.33 billion bid aleris corp alsd.pk senate last week confirm heath tarbert expect oversee cfius assistant secretary treasury state department six top 40 job fill confirm officials place run regional bureaus handle foreign relations instead hand career diplomats limit authority unite state ambassador place key ally countries south korea jordan qatar saudi arabia pretty much freeze amber one official say congressional aide say hard determine precise impact vacancies add u.s. policy north korea missiles crisis would likely help ambassador seoul fully empower assistant secretary state east asia active special envoy north korea one example region prominent national security crisis really one serious long time say deputy secretary state john sullivan testify congress sept. 26 address slow pace fill post behind curve ahead curve catch say work get do would good do position fill help want staff shortages trump slow policy change