President Trump is accelerating his push to appoint loyalists to key administration posts, as he seeks to assert greater control over the federal government and move forward with his agenda.
The rapid pace of staff moves, and the rationale behind them, has fueled concerns among some in Washington who worry the personnel changes could take a toll on operations and hurt the integrity of government institutions.
Trump’s efforts reached a crescendo on Sunday when he ousted Kirstjen Nielsen as Homeland Security secretary just days after blindsiding her by withdrawing his nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Trump last week said he wanted leaders who will take his border security policies in a “tougher direction” amid a spike of migrant families crossing into the U.S. through Mexico. Possible permanent replacements for Nielsen include vocal Trump allies like Energy Secretary Rick Perry, former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
Nielsen’s dismissal was followed the next day by the exit of Randolph Alles as Secret Service director, generating speculation about a broader purge at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Both Nielsen and Alles were close with former White House chief of staff John Kelly, who left his post at the end of 2018.
The president has also announced his intent to nominate Stephen Moore and Herman Cain — two staunch conservatives — to the Federal Reserve Board, despite concerns about their qualifications.
Trump has long been critical of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s decision to raise interest rates, arguing the moves have restrained economic growth. Adding Cain and Moore could allow the White House to wield greater influence over Fed decisions, which are traditionally made independent of political pressure.
Sources close to the White House say the moves are borne out of the president’s frustration over issues related to immigration and the economy, two areas that are critical to his reelection prospects.
“The president is a businessman and he expects results,” said a former campaign official, who requested anonymity to describe Trump’s thinking. “Previous presidents tolerated failure because they were politicians. He’s 72 years old and he’s racing against time and he wants to do as much as possible.”
Trump’s latest moves fit into a larger pattern of installing people who will do his bidding, oftentimes replacing officials who pushed back against drastic proposals or provoked his anger because they did not implement them.
While Nielsen emerged as the face of Trump’s child-separation policy and supported his national emergency declaration, their relationship reportedly soured in part because she repeatedly told him that certain proposals, such as refusing entry to migrants seeking asylum, would violate federal law.
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former national security adviser H.R. McMaster, former Defense Secretary James Mattis and Kelly all had similar clashes with Trump.
Trump supporters argue the president deserves to surround himself with like-minded people who will carry out his agenda.
“It’s less about loyalty and more about finding people who align with his views,” said Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist and former White House official.
