Controversy Continues To Swirls As President-Elect Donald Trump Announces Key Nominees For His Administration
While some Americans are grappling with disappointment following the results of the November 5th presidential election, the president-elect is focused on selecting prospective Cabinet members, pending Senate hearings and confirmations.
The Withdraw of Initial Nominee for AG
Within the past week, the nominee for the position of Attorney General – former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew himself from consideration for the post. Amid continuing allegations of his having previously engaged in sexual activities with a seventeen year old girl. As well as other alleged illegal drug use and payments to two other women for sexual activities.
Illegal Donation
The new nominee, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, previously received an “illegal donation” in 2016 from the former president, who later paid a fine for the violation.
Another nominee from the president-elect’s past, selected to lead the Office of Budget and Management, is Russ Vought, the architect of Project 2025 and a former director of the office, serving from January 2019 to July 2020. The president-elect praised Vought, stating, “He’s an aggressive cost-cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda.” The president-elect further commented, “Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and weaponized government, and he will help us return self-governance to the people.”
VP of Heritage Action For America
Having briefly served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), he also spent seven years as vice president of Heritage Action for America, a sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, where Project 2025 was developed. Many of the policies from Project 2025 focus on expanding presidential authority while reducing the influence of career civil servants.
While campaigning, the president-elect has stated his intention to use the military to assist with the deportation of undocumented migrants.
Military Pushback
This proposal has faced pushback, including from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who expressed support for deportation but argued that the plan, as currently proposed, “would be illegal.” Paul further explained, “There is no widespread threat to public order that would justify such an action, and it would violate the law.”
I am confident that community-based organizations, socially active groups, and scholars from diverse perspectives are rigorously analyzing this issue, organizing efforts, and developing strategies to challenge and resist the incoming administration’s attempts to consolidate power.