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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBroken: Trump Begins Recycling Old Appointees to Fill New Positions
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Donald Trump Calls on Discredited Former Appointees to Fill Vacancies
After having no luck in finding qualified people to replace banished or fleeing Cabinet Level appointees, the President is turning to previous choices and inviting them back. Sources familiar with the matter say that Trump has approached Steve Bannon to step in as Temporary Acting Secretary of Labor to replace Alex Acosta, for example.
Also, after moving Gina Haspel up to become DCIA, Trump is reported to have chosen Gen. John F. Kelly to fill in as Deputy Director. He is said to also be considering naming Sebastian Gorka, once Deputy Assistant to the President, to fill an acting role that does not require a high security clearance. Apparently, Gorka's recent verbal attack on a journalist in the Rose Garden brought back pleasant memories for President Trump.
With an almost unlimited number of Presidential appointees jumping ship or being dismissed, calling on previously disgraced Executive Department officials may be Trump's only recourse. Reports say that every time Trump approaches someone to fill a vacant position, panicky laughter is the most common response.
One highly-qualified individual, speaking to us under conditions of anonymity, put it this way: "Yeah, Trump asked me to sign on for an Acting Director spot. I told him, 'Look, I have a family to support. I can't afford to never be able to work again after working for you. No way, Dude!'"