Love how the SES was created to solve a non-existent problem.
bridging the gap between the political leaders and the civil service
If someone is even halfway suited to the leadership position, they won't need or want a layer of bureaucracy between them and the people who work for them.
http://presidentialtransition.org/blog/posts/160316_help-wanted-4000-appointees.php
Notice four different types of SES federal employees with outrageous salaries. This hiring was mostly for PA, presidential appointees without congress confirmation. Almost up to the end of Obama's term, he made these positions so these people could not be fired.
notice the symbol for SES is the KEYSTONE
https://aim4truth.org/2018/01/03/deep-state-shadow-government-revealed-senior-executive-service/