The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Updating the IRS Spotlight: Tracking a weakened agency
English Summary
The Brookings Institution argues that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), a critical pillar of federal governance, is experiencing a severe decline in operational capacity and independence. Key evidence supporting this finding includes significant workforce reductions, leadership instability, and escalating political interference that threatens the agency's nonpartisanship. These systemic weaknesses raise serious concerns about the integrity and stability of the U.S. tax system. Consequently, the publication emphasizes the necessity of continuous public scrutiny, utilizing its "IRS Spotlight" to provide decision-makers and the public with accessible, data-driven monitoring of the agency's performance and vulnerabilities.
中文摘要
布魯金斯學會（The Brookings Institution）指出，國稅局（IRS）作為聯邦治理的關鍵支柱，目前正經歷營運能力和獨立性方面的嚴重衰退。支持此觀點的關鍵證據包括人力資源的大幅削減、領導層的不穩定，以及日益升級的政治干預，這些因素威脅到該機構的非黨派性。這些系統性弱點引發了對美國稅收體系完整性與穩定性的嚴重擔憂。因此，該出版物強調了持續的公眾監督的必要性，並利用其「IRS Spotlight」工具，為決策者和公眾提供可及的、數據驅動的監測機制，以掌握該機構的表現和潛在漏洞。
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