Final answer:
Cabinet secretaries may not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda due to their loyalty to departmental priorities and autonomy within the executive bureaucracy, as well as personal ambitions and connections to Congress. Personal relationships with the president and efforts to create a demographically representative cabinet can further influence their actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda is likely because they prioritize loyalty to their department over presidential directives. This can occur because as the heads of their respective departments, they may develop a commitment to their department's goals and personnel, which can sometimes be at odds with the president's policies. Moreover, the size and complexity of the executive bureaucracy mean that cabinet secretaries operate with a degree of independence and have their interests or those of interest groups to consider, making it challenging for presidents to ensure adherence to their policy agendas at all times. Presidents take several factors into account when selecting cabinet members, including political loyalty, ideological similarity, and expertise. However, once in office, cabinet members may exert their autonomy, influenced by their personal ambitions, connections to Congress, and the need to maintain a strong department.