Political Appointees
‘Glaring violations’ of the Hatch Act by senior Trump officials have gone unpunished for months, good government group alleges
On Thursday, the Office of Special Counsel submitted disciplinary complaints against two federal employees over apparent Hatch Act violations.
Trump’s FDA pick faces questions about leading the agency
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who will oversee her confirmation, says Dr. Heidi Overton’s management experience and role in the administration’s vaccine policy raise concerns.
The CDC director’s job just got a lot more complicated
Dr. Erica Schwartz is taking over an agency facing a string of outbreaks, political pressure and deep workforce cuts. Her Senate confirmation gives Congress a new way to hold her accountable.
Todd Blanche is officially the nation’s top law enforcement official
Trump’s former personal attorney takes over the Justice Department after a contentious Senate confirmation vote.
Key oversight and federal workforce nominees confirmed by Senate
Several of the individuals will lead agencies that have been downsized or otherwise weakened by the Trump administration.
Calls for IG probe of Reflecting Pool renovation come amid questions over watchdog's independence
The former inspector general at Interior and a senior House lawmaker criticized the apparent appointment of a Project 2025 co-author at the watchdog office.
CDC gets a new chief as agency faces questions over its direction
The Senate narrowly confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following a confirmation fight centered on vaccines and the future of federal public health policy.
Blanche clears key hurdle in bid to lead Justice Department
A pair of Republican senators moved the acting attorney general's nomination forward after securing assurances about a controversial Trump-backed “anti-weaponization” fund.
CDC nominee clears key Senate hurdle despite vaccine scrutiny
Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination now heads to the full Senate after lawmakers pressed her on how she would handle political influence over the agency.
DOJ nominee faces confirmation hurdle over agency commitments
Todd Blanche’s confirmation faces a potential delay as senators seek written guarantees limiting Trump’s anti-weaponization fund and the scope of audit protections included in a Justice Department settlement agreement.
Attorney general nomination faces another week of scrutiny
The postponed Judiciary Committee vote gives senators more time to scrutinize Todd Blanche's record and leaves questions about key Republican support unresolved.
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USPS nominations test the future of bipartisan boards
Federal law requires that no more than five members of USPS’ Board of Governors be from the same political party. The Trump administration has only submitted Republican nominees so far.
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Trump appointees confirmed by the Senate are exiting their jobs in record numbers, report finds
The Partnership for Public Service also reported that the president is making a historically low number of nominations.
Federal oversight faces ‘structural conflict’ as political appointees enter IG offices
The 16 agencies that now have non-Senate-confirmed political staffers for the first time in 15 years include the IRS and Forest Service, according to a new report.
Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to step down amid misconduct allegations
The Labor Department’s inspector general is investigating claims involving inappropriate messages to staff and misuse of funds, as the White House names Keith Sonderling acting secretary.
As the number of political appointees surge and career SES ranks shrink, one nonprofit warns of ‘institutional consequences’
The Trump administration has sought to exert more political influence over the Senior Executive Service, which are the highest-ranking career civil servants.
Mullin confirmed to lead DHS as shutdown drags on and 100,000 employees remain unpaid
Trump's new DHS chief promises some reforms and renewed staffing efforts.
Trump's new DHS nominee promises some changes, adequate staffing amid shutdown-induced departures
DHS will be "adequately staffed" after the shutdown, Markwayne Mullin says, though he warns the ongoing shutdown could have significant mission impacts.
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Noem fired from DHS amid agency shutdown, Trump taps Mullin as successor
The controversial Homeland Security leader will end her tenure amid a budget shutdown of her agency and following bipartisan criticism in both houses of Congress.
Critics sound alarm over HHS plans to restructure evaluation office
A coalition of nonprofits, research institutions, child welfare advocates and more note that plans to push research out of the Administration for Children and Families and into the purview of political appointees jeopardize the credibility of that work.
