Almost twice as many Bush administration political appointees switched to federal career positions — a practice known as "burrowing in" — in the administration's second term as did in the first term, according to a new report.

The Government Accountability Office found that 143 political appointees at 26 agencies took career federal jobs between May 2005 and May 2009. During Bush's first term, the figure was 77.

Of those who switched to career jobs in the second term, most were in the Justice Department, which had 32 conversions; followed by the Homeland Security Department, with 18; and the Defense Department, with 13. Twenty-five of those who converted to career positions took jobs in the Senior Executive Service.

"Burrowing in" is a controversial practice — the conversions often bypass the normal job application process — and also one that happens in virtually every election year.

The Office of Personnel Management issued a memo in November that promised to crack down on the practice: It requires agencies to get OPM's permission before moving any political appointees into career positions. Those requests will be reviewed by career employees at OPM.

GAO said it will follow up with a report that details each conversion and analyzes whether they followed proper civil service procedures. The agency didn't say when it expects to finish that report.