Quite a Cabinet, This Administration
It Looked Grim at First
When Trump nominated his cabinet, the reaction outside MAGA world was pretty universal – this looked like the worst cabinet in modern history, by any measure. But the Republican Senate said “Yes, Sir,” approving all but one whose nomination was pulled at the last minute.
That was over 100 days ago. Perhaps things have settled in a bit? Let’s take a look at a few of these folks and see how they are doing. Spoiler alert – It’s even worse than expected.
National Security Portfolios
Secretary of Defense – This fellow stays in the headlines permanently for errors in judgement. He leaked deadly war plans to the wrong people on a commercial link – TWICE. Reports are rampant from multiple sources of total chaos in the Pentagon. Indications are floating about that even Trump has begun to figure out this is hopeless; Hegseth may be on his way out. Not a minute too soon.
A terrible cabinet overall, but this guy appears to be the worst of the worst in every way – a difficult title to earn in a Trump administration.
Secretary of Homeland Security – In an interesting display of personal misjudgment, she was walking around last week in a high density public area with her purse not secured and it was stolen. Stuff happens, but notable that this bag contained her official ID, her passport, and $3,000 in cash.
I’m surprised there was not a pistol in there, just in case Noem decided she wanted to kill another dog on the spur of the moment somewhere.
Director of National Intelligence – When Gabbard was asked in Congressional testimony if the Secretary of Defense’s use of the app Signal to share operational war plans (the first incident) was a violation of national security, said she would defer to DOJ and DOD on that.
This is THE official responsible for national intelligence and she had no judgement on this.
National Life and Rule of Law Portfolios
Secretary of the Treasury – Bessent actually has some relevant background for this position, but he has so far mostly confused everyone on fiscal and related policy, finally saying, basically in repeated statements and interviews, “I don’t know – whatever Trump wants.”
Secretary of Education – In one of her first public speeches as Secretary of Education, McMahon did not know the difference between AI (artificial intelligence) and A1 (the steak sauce. She said she had heard schools all over the country were using A1, and that was terrific. Sounds delicious.
Secretary of Health & Human Services – Where to begin with this one? That right after he took office and the measles epidemic was spreading like wildfire in Texas, he decided to take a few days off and go hiking in California? Hey, at least he posted pictures from his vacation! He encouraged people to get measles shots, but continues to throw shade on inoculations generally, including the persistent nonsense about autism.
This is a seriously flawed human being that has no business in government, as his own family has said. I almost feel sorry for that worm who lived in his brain for a while.
Secretary of the Interior – So, what is the priority in Interior these days? Wildfires? Droughts and floods? Protecting national parks? Nope! It’s cookies. Burgham has made it clear to his staff that he really, really likes fresh, hot cookies whenever the mood strikes him. He has instructed key staff, up to and including political appointees, how he wants his cookies and has sent back batches that did not meet his approval.
This seemed so silly a story that I thought it might be a spoof, but it has been reported by several reliable sources. Even this guy’s mother would be embarrassed.
Attorney General – This is one of those rare Trump cabinet appointees who actually has a legitimate background for the post (unlike Rep. Gaetz, who was so bad a choice that even the milk toast Republican Senators said no). But she quickly made it clear in decisions and announcements that the days of Justice Department independence were over.
She is Trump’s personal attorney for all intents and purposes and is using and staffing Justice accordingly. This is the worst misuse of justice in history, by a wide margin. Even when John Kennedy appointed his brother as Attorney General, the department kept its distance and independence.
And This List Is Only Half The Cabinet!
It gets no better with the rest of them. They just have not risen to levels of visibility that these folks have attained. Stand by – they will all show they are cut from the same cloth.
Even a Trump supporter can figure out by now that this really is a terrible, terrible cabinet. How is it possible that such a grouping came together? Actually, that is not a tough question to answer. The following factors made it happen:
- They all are extremely loyal to Trump. They generally share his views and mindset, but even if they don’t, they will gladly do anything he wants them to do – anything.
- Trump wanted to make four points with these appointments.
- One, that he was dead set on vengeance, and he wanted people that would follow such orders.
- Two, Trump was frustrated at times in his first term by professionals who resisted his extreme and unpredictable behavior. Not going to let that happen this time around.
- Three, Trump brought in a crowd this time, the Plan 2025 and DOGE bunch, dedicated to dismantling government everywhere possible. These appointees are willing to follow orders in that direction and have zero roots in the institutions they are gutting.
- Four, these nominations gave Trump an early opportunity to test and pressure Republican Senators to do whatever he wanted and to not stand up to him in any way. He exercised that model fully and often in his first 100 days. Once a Senator has thusly kissed the ring, it is easier to keep doing the same.
Does It Get Any Better?
In the short term, probably not. Already, a large number of real experts, career civil servants, and people with deep knowledge of government have been fired or have quit in protest and disgust. Still, a cabinet like this will screw up a lot, so perhaps a few may drop off along the way.
One can hope that midterm elections turn at least one house of Congress over to Democrats, which can then begin at last the processes of hearings and accountabilities, while surviving Republican members of Congress finally figure out that Trump is politically poison, which might encourage them to start exercising their oversight responsibilities as well.
We live in interesting times.
Bill Clontz
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