To ease the transition, the Justice Department was making FBI background check forms available to cabinet candidates, who must fill them out prior to their appointments.

CNN: Janet Reno

Questions will be asked about the probity of the new cabinet, given supposedly extensive background checks failed to pick up on Mr Endo's connection to funding malfeasance.

ECONOMIST: Another blow to Japan's Shinzo Abe as a minister goes

One factor affecting the nomination process includes background problems -- most notably seen with Cabinet secretaries who failed to pass muster.

CNN: Now hiring: Obama still needs to fill top jobs