Political Appointees in the Trump Administration

With just two weeks remaining before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, a wave of employment offer letters is expected to be sent out to political appointees in his new administration. The Trump transition team had initially aimed to bring on as many as 2,000 political appointees on January 20th, the first day of the administration. However, they are falling short of that target, with only around 1,200 political appointees currently in place.

The delay in hiring is attributed to several factors. Candidates for senior management positions are hesitant to leave their private sector jobs without official hiring letters from the transition team. Additionally, Trump has been meticulous in selecting his Cabinet and top management positions, wanting to ensure that everyone is fully aligned with his "America First" agenda. This has left the decisions about mid- and lower-level positions to the heads of departments and agencies.

Another factor affecting the hiring process is the number of candidates being considered for the same Senate-confirmed post or other senior-level jobs. Trump applicants have also been going through a multi-step process, including background checks, interviews with subject-matter experts, and an interview with the head of their department.

Despite the delays, the Trump transition team remains confident in their ability to fill the administration with qualified individuals who believe in the "America First" agenda. Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's Cabinet picks are scheduled to begin next week.