Lets Review: Trump’s First Cabinet Official Picks

Last week Trump was reelected to the presidency of the United States. A convicted felon, civilly liable rapist, best friend of Jeffrey Epstein (according to Epstein himself in 2017), attempted insurrectionist, and fascist sympathizer will be the next president. Help us all.

So, lets talk about the news coming out of the president elects administration for who they intend to appoint to cabinet positions and why those folks scare me.

Homeland Security Secretary: Kristi Noem

Noem’s political career began in the South Dakota House of Representatives, where she served from 2007 to 2011. She then represented South Dakota’s at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. In 2018, Noem was elected as the first female governor of South Dakota, assuming office on January 5, 2019.

Controversies:

• Ethics and Transparency: Noem has faced scrutiny over allegations of misconduct, including a situation where she intervened in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license. A South Dakota ethics board found sufficient information that she may have “engaged in misconduct” in this matter.
• Animal Welfare: Noem sparked controversy with the publication of her memoir, “No Going Back,” in which she described shooting her family’s 14-month-old dog, Cricket, after deeming it untrainable and dangerous. The account led to widespread criticism and raised questions about her judgment and temperament.

So, what does the Homeland Security Secretary do?

• Counterterrorism and Security Enhancement: Developing and implementing strategies to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States.
• Border Security and Immigration Enforcement: Managing and securing U.S. borders, facilitating lawful trade and travel, and enforcing immigration laws.
• Cybersecurity: Protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure from cyber threats and enhancing the security of federal networks.
• Disaster Preparedness and Response: Coordinating federal efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters.
• Law Enforcement Coordination: Collaborating with federal, state, local, tribal, and international partners to ensure a unified approach to homeland security challenges.

So, do you think Kristi Noem seems qualified to handle any of the above tasks? What experience does Noem have dealing with the border, cybersecurity, or natural disasters? I guess that she once deployed South Dakota National Guard troops to assist with the U.S.-Mexico border.

Secretary Of State: Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio, born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, began his political career as a city commissioner for West Miami before serving in the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2008, where he became Speaker from 2006 to 2008. In 2010, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Florida, and has been re-elected twice, in 2016 and 2022. During his tenure, Rubio has been involved in various legislative efforts, including the expansion of the child tax credit and the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act.

I remember when Marco Rubio was a favorite for president in 2016, it looks like he may be preparing for a 2028 run. While I have many issues with the different folks on this list, Rubio has to be the least controversial.

So, what does the Secretary of State do?

• Advising the President: Providing counsel on international relations and foreign policy decisions.
• Conducting Diplomacy: Engaging in negotiations and representing the U.S. at international conferences and organizations.
• Managing Foreign Service: Overseeing U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions worldwide.
• Issuing Passports and Visas: Granting and issuing passports to American citizens and exequaturs to foreign consuls in the United States.
• Protecting U.S. Citizens Abroad: Ensuring the safety and welfare of Americans traveling or residing overseas.

So, is Rubio qualified?

Senator Marco Rubio’s extensive experience in foreign policy and national security positions him as a strong candidate for the role of Secretary of State. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he has been actively involved in shaping U.S. foreign policy and addressing international security challenges.

I am happy to say that yes, I do think that Rubio is qualified for the role he is being appointed. Small wins!

National Security Adviser: Mike Waltz

Michael “Mike” Waltz, born on January 31, 1974, in Boynton Beach, Florida, is an American politician and retired U.S. Army Colonel. He has served as the U.S. Representative for Florida’s 6th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Waltz is the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress. Waltz has been a vocal critic of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, warning of potential consequences and the resurgence of terrorist groups. He has also expressed concerns about the influence of critical race theory in the military, arguing it could undermine cohesion and effectiveness.

So, what does the National Security Adviser do?

• Advising the President: Providing counsel on national security issues, including defense, intelligence, and foreign policy.
• Coordinating the National Security Council (NSC): Guiding the NSC, which comprises senior national security advisors and cabinet officials, to ensure cohesive policy development and implementation.
• Managing Crisis Situations: Overseeing the response to national security crises, ensuring timely and effective action.
• Facilitating Interagency Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication and cooperation among various government agencies involved in national security.

So, is he qualified?

Mike Waltz’s extensive background does align well with the responsibilities of the National Security Advisor. Serving over 26 years in the U.S. Army and National Guard, he achieved the rank of Colonel and, as a Green Beret, completed multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, earning four Bronze Stars, including two for valor. Waltz also served as a defense policy director in the Pentagon and as a counterterrorism advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, providing him with substantial experience in national security policy formulation and implementation. Since 2019, he has represented Florida’s 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving on committees pertinent to national security, such as the House Armed Services Committee.

My Concerns:

I have concerns about the fact that his previous involvement in defense contracting, including co-founding a defense firm, might lead to perceived or actual conflicts of interest when advising on defense policies and procurement decisions. In the Trump administration though, what are some small conflicts of interest?

The fact that Waltz voted against the January 6th Commission and joined the Texas v. Pennsylvania lawsuit would be disqualifying in any other administration. For Trump? We will call it par for the course.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin

Lee Zeldin earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Albany and a Juris Doctor from Albany Law School. Zeldin served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2007 and continues to serve in the Army Reserve. His political career began in the New York State Senate, representing the 3rd district from 2011 to 2014. He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving New York’s 1st congressional district from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, Zeldin was the Republican nominee for Governor of New York but was defeated by incumbent Governor Kathy Hochul. Throughout his career, Zeldin has been known for his conservative positions on issues such as national security, taxation, and environmental regulation.

What does the Environmental Protection Agency do?

• Developing and Enforcing Regulations: The EPA creates and enforces regulations based on laws passed by Congress, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to control pollution and ensure environmental standards are met.
• Conducting Environmental Research: The agency conducts scientific research to understand environmental issues and inform policy decisions, ensuring that regulations are grounded in the best available science.
• Monitoring Environmental Quality: The EPA monitors air, water, and soil quality to assess environmental conditions and identify potential health risks to the public.
• Assisting State and Local Governments: The agency provides guidance, grants, and technical assistance to state and local governments to support their environmental protection efforts.
• Educating the Public: The EPA offers information and resources to help individuals and communities understand environmental issues and take action to protect the environment.

Is Zeldin a good fit for the role?

I guess that depends, how important is actually protecting the environment for you? The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) tracks how public officials vote on issues surrounding the environment to assign a rating. Out of the time that Zeldin has served in office he has voted in favor for only 14% of the environmental legislation on the table, notably voting against 95% of environmental legislation in 2022 and 83% in 2021.

If your goal for the EPA is to get ‘burdensome’ environmental regulations to protect our air, water, and natural beauty here in the United States Zeldin is almost certainly going to be a figure that advances those goals. For the rest of us who love the earth and its natural beauty, lets just hope those regulations truly were just chaff. What are the odds those regulations and laws help keep us all safe right?

Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy: Stephen Miller

Stephen Miller, born on August 23, 1985, in Santa Monica, California, is an American political advisor known for his influential role in shaping immigration policies during President Donald Trump’s administration. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Duke University in 2007. Miller began his career as a press secretary for U.S. Representatives Michele Bachmann and John Shadegg, and later served as communications director for Senator Jeff Sessions, focusing on immigration and national security issues. In 2016, he joined Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as a senior policy advisor and speechwriter. Following Trump’s election, he became a senior advisor for policy and White House director of speechwriting, playing a key role in crafting the administration’s immigration policies, including the travel ban affecting several Muslim-majority countries.

Out of all of the future Trump administration officials few cause the raw disgust in me that Stephen Miller does. Lets run through a list of his controversies here to start:

• Promotion of White Nationalist Literature: In 2019, leaked emails revealed that Miller recommended “The Camp of the Saints,” a French novel popular among white nationalists, to editors at Breitbart News. The novel depicts a dystopian scenario of mass migration leading to the downfall of Western civilization, aligning with the “white genocide” conspiracy theory.
• Family Separation Policy: As a senior advisor in the Trump administration, Miller was a key architect of the “zero tolerance” immigration policy, which led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border. This policy faced widespread condemnation for its humanitarian impact and was eventually halted.
• Muslim Travel Ban: Miller played a pivotal role in formulating the executive order that restricted travel from several Muslim-majority countries, commonly referred to as the “Muslim ban.” Critics argued that the policy was discriminatory and undermined America’s commitment to religious freedom.

I want to specifically call out this portion from the Southern Poverty Law Center:

In response to seeing photos of children being separated from their parents at the U.S. border with Mexico as a result of the zero-tolerance policy, an external White House adviser, in a Vanity Fair report, said, “Stephen actually enjoys seeing those pictures at the border.”  According to Miller, the administration’s decision to institute the policy was “a simple decision.”

So, what does the Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy do?

• Policy Development: Leading the creation of strategic policies that align with the organization’s goals and objectives.
• Advising Leadership: Providing counsel to senior executives or officials on policy matters, ensuring informed decision-making.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness of implemented policies and recommending adjustments as necessary.
• Coordination: Facilitating collaboration among various departments to ensure cohesive policy execution.

Is Stephen Miller qualified?

I think the answer to this question depends on how you feel about White Supremacy baked into the policies of the US government. Miller is a clear white supremacist who will put forth white supremacist policies, its as simple as that. Nothing says empathy quite like enjoying pictures of immigrant children in cages.

Border Czar: Tom Homan

Thomas D. Homan is a law enforcement professional with over 30 years in immigration enforcement. Starting as a police officer in West Carthage, New York, he joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1984. He held roles as a Border Patrol agent, investigator, and supervisor, eventually becoming the Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations at ICE in 2013. In 2017, President Trump appointed him as Acting Director of ICE, where he strongly advocated for strict immigration policies, including family separation. Post-retirement, Homan has remained active in immigration discussions, contributing to Fox News and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.

What does a Border Czar do?

• Policy Coordination: Aligning strategies among various agencies involved in border security, such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Operational Oversight: Supervising initiatives aimed at preventing illegal immigration, human trafficking, and smuggling activities along the nation’s borders.
• International Engagement: Working with neighboring countries to address cross-border issues and enhance mutual security measures.
• Public Communication: Serving as a spokesperson to inform the public about border security policies and enforcement actions.

Concerns with Tom Homan?

Tom Homan is listed as one of the contributors to Project 2025, the “definitely not Trump’s plan. Wink, wink.” So lets talk about what specifically the portion of 2025 relating to the border says. I have broken out the key ideas from the relevant section below.

• Dismantling DHS: The primary recommendation advocates for dismantling DHS, as it has not unified effectively across its various components. The proposal includes reallocating these components to other federal departments to streamline missions and reduce bureaucratic overhead.
• Restructuring Key DHS Components:
  • CBP and ICE: The recommendation suggests consolidating U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into a single border and immigration agency to better enforce immigration laws and secure the border.
  • CISA: Moving the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and refocusing it exclusively on protecting cyber and critical infrastructure.
  • FEMA: Suggests transferring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Department of the Interior or potentially combining it with CISA under DOT for a focused emergency response.
• Reducing Bureaucratic Expansion: DHS components that duplicate functions already covered by other departments or agencies are recommended for removal. For example:
  • Privatization of TSA: The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) screening functions should be privatized.
  • Dismantling Smaller Offices: Removing unnecessary offices within DHS that do not directly contribute to its core mission.
• Immigration and Border Enforcement:
  • Establishing a more stringent immigration system that emphasizes detention and deportation of illegal entrants.
  • Reducing asylum opportunities and focusing on quick processing for asylum claims.
  • Combining CBP and ICE functions to streamline enforcement.
• Cost Reductions and Budget Reallocation: Significant budget reductions are recommended by cutting grants and federal assistance programs deemed unnecessary or excessive. The document emphasizes that DHS resources should focus on operational needs rather than broad financial programs, advocating that most funding should be redirected toward direct border security efforts.
• Shifting FEMA’s Role: FEMA should play a more restrained role, emphasizing federal responses only in the most severe national disasters and reducing dependency on federal disaster funds. It also calls for a gradual phasing out of FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program in favor of private insurance.
• Emphasis on National Security and Defense in USCG and CISA:
  • USCG: The U.S. Coast Guard is recommended to focus on defending U.S. waters, particularly against Chinese threats, and potentially shifting Arctic operations to the Navy.
  • CISA’s Cybersecurity Role: Return CISA’s role to cyber hygiene and critical infrastructure defense, avoiding involvement in content monitoring and election security.
• Enhanced Oversight of DHS Operations: Establishing accountability mechanisms to ensure that DHS operations align with its mission. Recommendations include a dedicated political team to handle appointments and streamline decision-making, reducing Senate confirmation requirements for some leadership roles.

Un Ambassador: Elise Stefanik

Elise Stefanik, born July 2, 1984, in Albany, New York, is a Republican congresswoman representing New York’s 21st Congressional District since 2015. At the time of her first election, she was the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. Initially known for her moderate and bipartisan approach, Stefanik’s political trajectory shifted as she became a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, defending him during his first impeachment and objecting to the certification of Pennsylvania’s electoral votes after the 2020 election. In May 2021, she was elected Chair of the House Republican Conference, making her the third-ranking House Republican. Stefanik has been instrumental in recruiting and supporting Republican women candidates through her leadership PAC, Elevate PAC (E-PAC). Her expertise spans national security, education, and economic policy, reflecting her committee assignments and legislative initiatives.

What does the UN Ambassador do?

• Representing National Interests: Articulating and advocating for their nation’s policies and positions during UN meetings, including sessions of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
• Engaging in Diplomacy: Participating in negotiations, building coalitions, and working to influence international resolutions and decisions that align with their country’s interests.
• Providing Policy Insights: Offering critical insights and recommendations to their home government regarding international developments and the implications of UN actions.
• Navigating Multilateral Environments: Demonstrating a deep understanding of global issues and the ability to operate effectively within complex multilateral settings.

What experience did past UN Ambassador’s have?

Lets compare Stefanik’s experience to that of prior Ambassador’s.

• Madeleine Albright (1993–1997): Before serving as the first female Secretary of State, Albright was the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, where she played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Clinton administration.
• Bill Richardson (1997–1998): Prior to his UN role, Richardson served as a U.S. Congressman and later as Secretary of Energy. His tenure at the UN was marked by efforts to negotiate the release of hostages and address international conflicts.
• Richard Holbrooke (1999–2001): Renowned for brokering the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian War, Holbrooke’s UN ambassadorship focused on reforming the organization and addressing global crises.
• ohn Negroponte (2001–2004): With extensive diplomatic experience, including ambassadorships in Honduras, Mexico, and the Philippines, Negroponte’s UN tenure coincided with significant events such as the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War.
• John Danforth (2004–2005): A former U.S. Senator and ordained Episcopal minister, Danforth’s brief tenure emphasized peace initiatives, notably in Sudan.
• John Bolton (2005–2006): Known for his strong conservative views, Bolton’s tenure was marked by his advocacy for U.S. interests and skepticism towards multilateral institutions.
• Zalmay Khalilzad (2007–2009): Born in Afghanistan, Khalilzad previously served as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq. At the UN, he focused on Middle East issues and UN reform.
• Susan Rice (2009–2013): Prior to her role as National Security Advisor, Rice served as UN Ambassador, focusing on issues such as human rights and international security.
• Samantha Power (2013–2017): A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and human rights advocate, Power focused on issues such as genocide prevention and the promotion of human rights during her tenure.
• Nikki Haley (2017–2018): The former Governor of South Carolina, Haley emphasized reforming the UN and addressing global human rights concerns during her tenure.
• Kelly Craft (2019–2021): Prior to her UN role, Craft served as U.S. Ambassador to Canada. At the UN, she addressed issues such as international security and humanitarian crises.
• Linda Thomas-Greenfield (2021–present): A career diplomat with extensive experience in African affairs, Thomas-Greenfield has focused on multilateral diplomacy and rebuilding alliances.

How does she compare?

Compared to highly prepared ambassadors of the past like Holbrooke, Negroponte, Rice, Power, Khalilzad Stefanik is notably less experienced. Stefanik has comparable legislative leadership as representatives Haley, Craft, and Danforth but without the direct diplomatic exposure all three of these ambassador’s held. Of the list, only Richardson comes close to the inexperience of Stefanik.

Is it any surprise that Trump appointed someone unqualified to the United Nations? He has never like the body or its role in global affairs.

Conclusion

Well, for now we will have to see who else in on the list for cabinet positions but I can say with some confidence that this far things are not looking up for progressive values or maintaining the existing systems. I am most worried about Stephen Miller’s continued role in the administration as well as the continued dominance of Project 2025 contributors to run the government in the way that the dystopian plan lays out.