Trump Likes “Acting” Cabinet Secretaries

Donald Trump stated he’s “in no hurry” to appoint replacements for his “acting” cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and staff. “My actings are doing all great.” He said “acting’ secretaries give him “more flexibility.”

Currently, Defense, Attorney General, Interior, UN Ambassador and Chief of Staff are acting.

There are many benefits for Trump:

• As Trump recently explained, he knows more than most of his generals (Mattis) and secretaries (Tillerson). He also essentially runs the government from the White House, his ad hoc press briefings (shouted questions, etc.) and his Twitter feed.
• He avoids the Senate confirmation process on most of them, eliminating the Article One oversight.
• “Acting” makes it easier to fire them and it will produce less criticism.

Another anomaly for a future Congress to address.

President Trump speaks beside David Bernhardt, acting U.S. Secretary of Interior (L), and Patrick Shanahan, acting U.S. Secretary of Defense, during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Jan. 2, 2019 | Al Drago/Pool via CNP