Trump has withdrawn 62 nominees. White House officials blame his impulsive nominations.
President Trump's party has controlled the Senate for his entire term in office, and without a filibuster, most of the people he's nominated for federal jobs have been confirmed — though some just barely. But Trump has also withdrawn 62 nominations, Politico reports, citing figures from the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service. That's more than twice the 30 nominees former President Barack Obama had withdrawn at this point in his first term, and the 62 failed nominations don't even include people Trump never formally nominated, like Federal Reserve picks Stephen Moore and Herman Cain.
One reason for the high failure rate is weak and sloppy vetting, according to people involved in the process. "Past administrations have historically spent weeks or even months trying to identify potentially damaging information about candidates for administration jobs — long before their nominations are announced," Politico reports. In the most recent case, "many in the administration were unaware of some of Moore's past writings."
The White House's vetting operation has improved, but Trump "sometimes undermines that process by making major staffing decisions on his own, with little consultation and with little notice," Politico reports, citing current and former administration officials. One former senior White House official told Politico that Trump is "impatient and impulsive,'' adding: "When he makes a decision, he wants to move forward. There aren't any people around him urging caution."
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.
Trump's choice of friends, family, associates, people who looked the part, and people he saw on TV worked while Senate Republicans were freer with the green light, but they have recently started quashing more nominees. Trump has instead started relying more heavily on "acting" officials who don't need Senate confirmation. Besides, "compared to all of the stuff Trump is dealing with, this stuff barely registers," a former administration official tells Politico. "Is anybody going to remember Steve Moore in three months?"
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published