Key Slots Still Vacant

"Diversity concerns" and "intense political jockeying" have caused a "frustratingly slow pace" for filling top-level Clinton administration posts. Only 18 candidates for senior-level admin. positions have been nominated for confirmation by the Senate out of 130 vacancies, while Clinton has not yet picked candidates for 16% of the spots, reports The Washington Post.

At the Interior Dept., nominees have been selected for two of the five "key" vacant political positions -- director of the Bureau of Land Management and director of the Office of Surface Mining. But the asst. secretary for Indian Affairs, Fish and Wildlife Service director and National Park Service director positions still need nominees.

Five top positions are open at the US EPA: the asst. administrators for administration and resources management and for solid waste and emergency response, inspector general, chief financial officer and associate administrator for intergovernment affairs. Meanwhile, the Energy Dept. has openings for a new deputy secretary, undersecretary, general counsel, and asst. secretaries for congressional affairs and for policy (Al Kamen, Wash. Post, 4/14).