With just two weeks remaining until President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, reports suggest that his transition team is facing challenges in meeting its hiring goals for political appointees.
Concretely, CBS News reported that the team had set a target of onboarding 2,000 appointees by January 20. The federal government typically requires approximately 4,000 political appointees
Delays in the hiring process have been attributed to candidates hesitating to leave private-sector jobs without formal offers and the extensive vetting procedures required. The outlet detailed that candidates for senior management posts also want to give their private sector companies two weeks' notice before they leave for government service.
The pace of hiring is further constrained by the multi-step evaluation process for senior roles, which includes background checks, interviews with experts, and consultations with department heads. Senate confirmation hearings for Cabinet nominees are set to begin soon, adding pressure to finalize appointments.
Incoming National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has emphasized the importance of aligning staff with Trump's "America First" agenda, reflecting ongoing debates within the MAGA movement about ensuring ideological consistency in key appointments.
Trump himself has already prioritized selecting wealthy business leaders for key roles, including coveted ambassadorships. Recently announced appointments include health care executive Benjamin Leon Jr. as ambassador to Spain and entrepreneur Joe Popolo for the Netherlands.
Trump has historically favored a higher proportion of political appointees for ambassadorial roles compared to career diplomats, surpassing the 40 percent mark in his first term. This approach, while not uncommon as a reward for donors and allies, departs from the norm of around one-third seen in prior administrations, as Politico points out.
Nevertheless, concerns have emerged from Trump loyalists over perceived hiring of individuals with histories of opposing Trump. For example, Joshua Steinman, a former senior director for cyber policy on the National Security Council, expressed skepticism over some appointments on Sunday:
"Many who have gotten the nod are great. But a significant number of as-yet-unannounced staff have long histories of being vocally 'never Trump,' and working for prominent figures who have repeatedly undermined the President"
Initial hires under the first Trump administration back in 2017 numbered around 1,200, a figure comparable to other recent administrations.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
