And I have a close friend who in quite high up at EPA who tells me almost the same story as Joe lays out. He has been told that his 'opinon' is not required on certain subjects that he has spent 35 years becoming an expert on......When I asked him if he had any recourse or way to complain, he said essentially that, "we try to do our job as best we can under the circumstances and maintain our integrity as employees who follow the rules, so that when a new administration comes in, we can be trusted to effect needed change under the NEW rules".
It is a difficult line he walks, but he heads one department, and everyone relevant KNOWS he has the right answers and information if & when anyone is ready to hear it.