Acknowledgements.- The Appeal of Neutral Competence.- Where to Find Neutral Competence.- The Office of Management and Budget: When Responsive Competence Isn't Enough.- Congressional Budget Office: Wonks Protected by Congressional Committees.- The Government Accountability Office: Redefining but Maintaining Neutral Competence.- The Economic Research Service: Attacking Neutral Competence by Going Around the Rules.- The Four P's of Protecting Neutral Competence.- The State and Fate of Neutral Competence.- Bibliography.- Appendix.