Summary
Donald Trump’s second-term cabinet is criticized as a disjointed team unified only by loyalty to him, rather than qualifications or ideology.
The picks include controversial figures like Pam Bondi as attorney general, Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for an environmental role, raising concerns about conflicts and competence.
While some selections, like Marco Rubio for secretary of state, appear conventional, others reflect Trump’s focus on personal fealty and populist goals, including mass deportations and deregulation.
Critics expect chaos and impulsive governance similar to his first term.
Someone noticed in a different thread that the people directly under Trump’s cabinet picks appear to be competent institutional people.
Which unfortunately is probably the perfect structure to break things efficiently - the people at the top with the most authority are those who will never question Trump’s will, and the person directly under is competent but can be easily replaced anytime they grow a spine.
Stephen Miller and Trump’s other ghoulish advisors aren’t letting this opportunity go to waste and I think we’re in for a rough ride.
It’s the opposite really
Heads serve at the pleasure of the president, they can be fired on a whim for zero reason.
Everyone else though, well, it’s really fucking hard to fire a federal employee after the first year or two.
Even to just lateral them to a different position is a pain. Getting rid of a number isn’t just saying “you’re fired” like with an agency head.
And also:
If they’re in the federal government and don’t agree with trump they already have a backbone. The ones who didn’t are the ones getting out now and letting maga concentrate.
For fucks sake, why does everyone act like beurcrats can’t slow shit down intentionally?
That’s why one of the big parts of Project 2025 is reclassifying a ton of government employees so that they also are just appointed by the president
Hats… Why they are called beurocrats.
But the ones who are leaving are largely close to retirement and would rather not deal with bullshit to their own job, and I respect that. The ones who aren’t leaving probably see this as a great stepping stone for their career, as they get to enforce rules most previous position holders were unaware of.
Federal government is just like corporate jobs in that there is a game to play - the game is fundamentally different in that it’s based on law and office mission, rather than profit and deceit.