WHAT’S UP WITH TRUMP’S CABINET NOMINATIONS?

President-elect Donald Trump has been announcing picks for his cabinet. They are, for the most part, remarkably unqualified; they lack expertise and experience relevant to the agencies’ missions, as well as experience running any sort of large organization.

Many people are wondering why he is nominating such unqualified individuals. Although I certainly don’t understand Trump, I can think of a range of possible answers. It’s probably a combination of these reasons. Trump may be:

·         Trying to be outrageous to generate media and public attention.

·         Trying to see how far he can push Republicans in the Senate to confirm unqualified nominees. This would be an exercise to exert and demonstrate his power and dominance.

·         Setting up a negotiating strategy where the pressure to confirm some of his unqualified nominees grows after the most outrageous ones are rejected.

·         Concerned only about loyalty. His sole or main criterion may be individuals who will do whatever he asks regardless of legality, ethics, or precedents.

·         Engaged in psychological warfare. He may be trying to scare, terrorize, and traumatize people who are worrying about the effects of having these individuals running the agencies. Trump will engage in “a shock and awe presidency” where he “will bombard this nation with so many reprehensible actions in rapid succession [that] many may cower in a kind of shell-shocked inaction. We’ll still be recovering from one blow when the next one lands.” [1]

·         Trying to make government dysfunctional. Not only do Republicans want smaller, less effective government so regulation of for-profit corporations is reduced, they want to privatize government functions so private providers can profit off them (e.g., Medicare Advantage plans). They also want the public to distrust government and even democracy. What better way to accomplish all of this than to have blatant examples of government dysfunction.

·         Wanting to have the second-in-command individuals, who he can appoint without Senate confirmation, run the agencies. This strategy is included in the Project 2025 plan for the Trump presidency. If the top positions go unfilled (because the Senate won’t confirm or is slow in confirming his nominees), his next-in-line appointees will be in charge.

Whatever happens with Trump’s nominees, there will be significant damage to the agencies and the government. The Democrats need to point out specific examples of actions that hurt the public – and the mainstream media need to report them. For example, if Trump imposes tariffs that drive up prices, Democrats and the media need to highlight this inflation and that it’s caused by Trump’s tariffs. If Trump doesn’t protect consumers from price gouging by monopolistic corporations and abuses by financial institutions, Democrats and the media need to highlight this.

The Democrats also need to point out specific examples of actions that hurt workers and to counter Trump’s claims that he is standing up for workers. For example, if Trump doesn’t support an increase in the minimum wage, doesn’t support unions and efforts to unionize, opposes covering more workers under overtime pay rules, and doesn’t support banning non-compete provisions in contracts employees are required to sign (this is what right-to-work should really be about), Democrats and the media need to highlight this. And so forth.

We cannot allow ourselves to be stunned or overwhelmed into inaction. Every little action and bit of resistance makes a difference and is a contribution to a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. There are elections for the U.S. House and Senate coming up in 2026 that will determine control of both chambers. Needless to say, if Democrats could take back control of one or both chambers that would serve as a powerful check on Trump and his supporters in the federal government and in the judiciary.

The effort to communicate with voters about the differences between Democratic policies and Trump and Republican policies needs to begin now. And Democrats need to be clear and unequivocal that they are standing up for consumers, workers, and everyday Americans, NOT for wealthy corporations and individuals.

We, as believers in democracy, need to identify firewalls and hurdles to block or slow the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine democracy and elections, harm vulnerable people, and implement harmful policies (including on climate change). Legal action through lawsuits will be necessary. These can serve to slow implementation of bad programs and policies, even if, ultimately, they get to a politicized Supreme Court that sides with Trump. This is using the classic Trump technique of using the court system to delay action.

Ultimately, there may need to be big demonstrations and even, perhaps, a general strike. Although there haven’t been big demonstrations since the Women’s March in 2016 and although these are rare in recent times in the U.S., it may be time. The general strike is a tactic unheard of in recent times in the U.S. However, in France, there were huge, mass demonstrations and a general strike in 2023 over efforts to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. We face far more extreme political and policy changes than that, so perhaps we need to step up our level of engagement and action.

We need to monitor what Trump and his cronies are doing, but we shouldn’t let ourselves be unduly stressed by hypotheticals. We need to respond in ways that are effective and not waste time on minutia and tilting at windmills.

So, for starters, tell your Senators that you want a meaningful confirmation process for Trump’s nominees, who should be held to traditional criteria. Tell your Senators and Representative that you want them to stand up for democracy, for equality and fairness under the rule of law, for equal opportunity, for the Bill of Rights (including separation of church and state), and for government of, by, and for all the people – workers, families, and consumers – not just wealthy business people.

There’s much at risk: democracy, vulnerable people, and important policies, including addressing climate change, enforcing anti-trust laws to block abusive practices by monopolistic corporations, and ensuring free and fair elections where all citizens are encouraged to and facilitated in voting. I hope you agree. There’s much to be done and having all hands on deck will be important.

You can find contact information for your US Representative at  http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and for your US Senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm.

[1]      Graham, R., 11/24/24, “Disqualifying, extreme, and incompetent – Trump’s DEI Cabinet picks,” The Boston Globe