Why aren't NSA leaders elected?

[sibelian]

How can these people be allowed to potentially tap the phone calls of presidential candidates without fear of at least losing their jobs?

[Lurks Often]

1. Any President can fire the Director of the NSA

or for that matter just about any of the people in charge of departments that fall under the Executive Branch.

All the President has to do is ask for the resignation of General Alexander, the current head of the NSA.

[sibelian]

3. Yeah, but all the NSA leader has to do is gather stuff that president wouldn't want public.

It's extremely easy to convince one person not to do something.

Just wondering...

[Lurks Often]

5. And be releasing such material the NSA Director risks a court martial n/t

[MADem]

2. Why isn't the SECSTATE or SECDEF elected?

It's a cabinet level position. The President has the right to pick his own advisors.

[sibelian]

4. Good question.

Why not, indeed?

[MADem]

6. Because their job is to advise and serve the PRESIDENT. Not us.

They are agents of HIS (or HER) policy decisions, they aren't there to ask us what we think.

We elect a President to prosecute an executive agenda. He picks the people to make that happen.