As the economy sinks ever deeper, a tougher vetting process has the Treasury Department struggling to find acceptable staff, leaving Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner all but alone at an agency that’s integral to the government’s battle against the recession.

It was revealed this week that two more candidates have withdrawn from key posts in President Barack Obama’s administration, The Wall Street Journal reports.      

Annette Nazareth, who was vying for deputy Treasury secretary, withdrew her name several days ago, according to the paper, while Caroline Atkinson, a candidate for the agency’s international affairs chief, called it quits last month.

Both women blamed the tougher vetting process imposed by the White House after it was forced to reverse a series of high-profile appointments over unpaid taxes.

Geithner’s own nomination was nearly scuttled by questions about his taxes. Last month, tax issues put the kibosh on Sen. Tom Daschle’s bid for secretary of Health. Other agencies losing top nominees include energy and transportation.

At the Treasury, Geithner is so far the only nominee to be confirmed. An agency spokesperson says the Treasury Department is "following the normal vetting process" and already has more than 50 political appointees hard at work.

Of course, it may be for the best. Nazareth’s previous job was at the Securities and Exchange Commission, where she headed a division charged with oversight of the financial markets.