Trump's Cabinet is still very empty
A year-end purge of White House officials has left nearly half of President Trump's Cabinet working in an "acting" capacity. Yet weeks — and in some cases months — after these officials' departures, there's still no sign their replacements are coming anytime soon.
We're more than two and half months past former Attorney General Jeff Sessions' ouster and subsequent replacement by acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. The Trump loyalist was decried for his criticism of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, but his official replacement isn't faring much better. William Barr was nominated to his second stint as attorney general in early December and underwent confirmation hearings earlier this month. Yet on Tuesday, a vote on his confirmation was postponed amid Democrats' fears that he won't protect Mueller, The Washington Post reports.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley revealed her departure even earlier than Sessions, and Trump picked State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert for the job in early December. Despite still working for the State Department, officials tell CNN they haven't seen the nominee in "ages." Sources say she's preparing for her still-unscheduled confirmation hearing.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Meanwhile, acting EPA Chief Andrew Wheeler has held his supposedly temporary job since last July. He was second-in-command at the department until Scott Pruitt departed, and he faced a confirmation hearing earlier this month. No, there's still no Senate confirmation vote scheduled.
Confusingly, Mick Mulvaney is still serving as "acting" chief of staff, despite that role not needing Senate confirmation. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also departed with the start of the new year, and their replacements are nowhere in sight.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
4 ways to give back this holiday season
The Explainer If your budget is feeling squeezed, remember that money is not the only way you can be generous around the holidays
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
4 tips for hosting an ecofriendly Thanksgiving
The Week Recommends Coming together for the holidays typically produces a ton of waste, but with proper preparation, you can have an environmentally friendly gathering.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Global court issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu
Speed Read The International Criminal Court issued warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stand accused of war crimes
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz bows out, Trump pivots to Pam Bondi
Speed Read Gaetz withdrew from attorney generation consideration, making way for longtime Trump loyalist Pam Bondi
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published