This paper integrates insights from public administration and political science scholarship to develop original propositions about the influence of key elements of the political context and responsibilities of agencies on the conduct of government strategic planning. The propositions highlight the importance of external shocks, legislative involvement, an agency’s political support, and an agency’s reliance on collaboration and capital investments in shaping whether an agency conducts strategic planning purposefully, passively, politically, perversely, formally, or informally. A brief examination of strategic planning by U.S. government agencies that operate in the area of national security provides support for several of these propositions.