Donald Trump’s second-term Cabinet nominations reflect a focus on alignment with his policy priorities and loyalty. I will name a few of them here: For Attorney General, he selected Pam Bondi, a staunch ally, emphasizing reform of the Justice Department. Marco Rubio, a vocal supporter of Israel and opponent of Iran, was selected as Secretary of State. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democrat, was named Director of National Intelligence. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., also a former Democrat, was selected for Health and Human Services. Doug Burgum, a proponent of fossil fuels, was selected as Secretary of the Interior. Howard Lutnick, aligned with Trump’s trade policies, was tapped for Commerce. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, known for her pro-labor stance, was chosen for Labor. Scott Bessent, a hedge fund CEO, was chosen as Treasury Secretary.
Members of the Senate have signaled their displeasure as several of the choices and indications are that they will try to stop some of Trump’s nominees from taking office.
Our first President, George Washington, selected the men for his Cabinet (then only four—Attorney General, Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of War), drawing upon his own judgment of their expertise, loyalty, qualifications, and trustworthiness. Washington had the constitutional authority to appoint officials, subject to the Senate’s confirmation. And so they were confirmed. The same is true of Abraham Lincoln and his Cabinet (which included the aforementioned plus Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of the Navy, and Postmaster General). Lincoln put together a “Team of Rivals.” His picks were controversial and many opposed them for one reason or another. But they were confirmed and together led the nation through the Civil War.
The belief that these posts—and all the other offices that would be created afterwards—should be relatively autonomous of the Executive reflects the emergence of the Administrative State and the notion of agency independence guided by progressivism, a philosophy alien to democratic-republicanism and the liberalism that founded the American Republic and the ethic of self-governance. This philosophy became entrenched in our system of governance with the emergence of the corporate state—the hijacking of democracy by the power elite, the technocratic apparatus, and the drive for globalization. Uprooting this anti-American philosophy will take decades. This requires keeping progressives away from power for a generation or more and reestablishing American nationalism as the organizational philosophy of United States.
Resistance to Donald Trump’s picks for his Cabinet marks the presence of those who wish to continue the anti-American corporate state paradigm. Pay attention to what’s happening during Senate confirmation and call your Senators to let them know that you support these nominees. Demand that the Senate follow the will of the people and confirm them. November 5 was only the first moment of putting the team in place that is to guide our nation out of the darkness. The team is being assembled and must be confirmed to begin the real work ahead. Democrats and establishment Republicans are going to try to stand in the way. It’s up to us to push them aside.
freedom and reason 