Why are iron triangles less common today than they once were?

The prevalence of iron triangles, which are stable relationships between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that work together to create policy, has decreased primarily because modern agencies face pressure from a greater variety of interest groups. In the past, these relationships often formed around a limited number of interest groups that could exert significant influence, leading to more stable and predictable policy outcomes.

Today, the landscape is much more complex. Agencies must navigate a wide array of competing interests and lobbying efforts from diverse groups, which dilutes the power of any single iron triangle. This increased competition means that agencies cannot align too closely with any one group, as doing so could undermine their ability to respond to other stakeholders. Moreover, the rise of public interest advocacy and more transparency in government has further complicated the dynamics between agencies, Congress, and interest groups.

Therefore, the variety and intensity of pressures on agencies today render the traditional iron triangle model less effective, contributing to its decreased commonality.