Amid partisan battles over President Trump’s cabinet nominees, Republican congressional leaders are threatening to make members work weekends to get the president’s confirmations finalized. While these threats largely are a response to Democratic stalling tactics, expanding Congress’ work week actually would be a good idea from a policy perspective, as well.

The last several decades have seen an immense growth in the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy, all at a time in which congressional capacity and oversight have dwindled.