Working at the gao this summer calmed my partisan bias quite a bit. I took a step to the right. To put this in perspective, I’m a couple olympic-length swimming pools to the left. But I did notice the change. I don’t think it was a change so much of political beliefs, but an insertion of another layer of analytical detachment, and a realization that so much of what government does is the subject of no partisan debate. That part just doesn’t get covered in the press. “Government working smoothly” makes for boring headlines.
To echo what you are saying, I think my current political appointee agency leader is doing an excellent job.