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You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition - January 25, 2017
Trump Administration (first term)  Vice President Mike Pence Cabinet • White House staff • Transition team • Trump's second term |
Domestic affairs: Abortion • Crime and justice • Education • Energy and the environment • Federal courts • Firearms policy • First Amendment • Healthcare • Immigration • Infrastructure • LGBTQ issues • Marijuana • Puerto Rico • Social welfare programs • Veterans • Voting issues Economic affairs and regulations: Agriculture and food policy • Budget • Financial regulation • Jobs • Social Security • Taxes • Trade Foreign affairs and national security: Afghanistan • Arab states of the Persian Gulf • China • Cuba • Iran • Iran nuclear deal • Islamic State and terrorism • Israel and Palestine • Latin America • Military • NATO • North Korea • Puerto Rico • Russia • Syria • Syrian refugees • Technology, privacy, and cybersecurity |
| Polling indexes: Opinion polling during the Trump administration |
This is the January 25, 2017, edition of an email sent from November 2016 to September 2017 that covered Donald Trump's presidential transition, cabinet appointees, and the different policy positions of those individuals who may have had an effect on the new administration. Previous editions of "You're Hired" can be found here.
Yesterday’s executive actions
Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL)
President Donald Trump signed a memorandum directing the secretary of the Army to “review and approve in an expedited manner, to the extent permitted by law and as warranted, and with such conditions as are necessary or appropriate, requests for approvals to construct and operate the DAPL.” His memo also ordered the reconsideration of the Army’s decision to halt the project in December 2016.
Keystone XL Pipeline
Trump also signed a memorandum inviting TransCanada, the corporation heading the stalled Keystone XL pipeline, “to promptly re-submit its application to the Department of State for a Presidential permit for the construction and operation of the Keystone XL Pipeline.” In addition, the executive memorandum ordered the secretaries of state, the Army, and the interior to review permits in an expedited manner.
Reaction from North Dakota’s congressional delegation:
- Sen. John Hoeven (R), in a press release: “Today’s decision takes us one step closer to a time when life can return to normal for the people who live and work in the pipeline area. To further that end, we have also asked for additional federal law enforcement resources and personnel to maintain peace and protect people and property. Pipelines like the Dakota Access Pipeline can be built safely and protect both the tribe and everyone living downstream. Going forward, we can work together to improve the permitting process. At this point, we look forward to working with the new administration to help create jobs, grow our economy and produce new opportunities for the American people.”
- Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D), in a press release on Dakota Access: “Everyone involved must renew their commitments to listening to each other and working together. Protesters have a right to lawfully and peacefully protest while guaranteeing the safety of law enforcement officers, residents, landowners, and tribal members in the area. … So far, North Dakota taxpayers have spent more than $22 million on law enforcement resources to make sure all North Dakotans are safe during the protests, and that includes having first responders spend weeks away from their families over the holidays to support the safety of our towns. The administration needs to provide those funds.”
- Rep. Kevin Cramer (R), in a press release: “Today’s executive orders affirm President Trump’s respect for the rule of law and his support for responsible infrastructure development, energy production and job creation … As it did when first proposed nearly a decade ago, the Keystone XL Pipeline holds the promise of new jobs and North American energy security. Also, as co-chair of the House Northern Border Caucus, I am particularly pleased the Keystone XL Pipeline offers the opportunity to do business with Canada, our longtime ally and oldest trading partner.”
Pipeline construction
In another memorandum, Trump ordered that further pipeline construction be done with products made in the United States. The memo read, in part, “The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with all relevant executive departments and agencies, shall develop a plan under which all new pipelines, as well as retrofitted, repaired, or expanded pipelines, inside the borders of the United States, including portions of pipelines, use materials and equipment produced in the United States, to the maximum extent possible and to the extent permitted by law.”
On September 22, 2016, Trump spoke of his energy plans and of regulations on the energy sector: “Billions of dollars in private infrastructure investment have been lost to the Obama-Clinton restriction agenda. … We will streamline the permitting process for all energy infrastructure projects, including the billions of dollars in projects held up by President Obama.”
Read more of Donald Trump’s comments on energy and environmental policy.
Expedited reviews for infrastructure projects and for manufacturing permits
In two separate memoranda, the president dealt with lowering regulations in infrastructure and manufacturing. For infrastructure, Trump’s memorandum ordered that environmental reviews on high-priority projects be expedited. In terms of domestic manufacturing permits, Trump ordered that, in consultation with the public, manufacturers, and heads of a number of government agencies, the secretary of commerce “shall submit a report to the President setting forth a plan to streamline Federal permitting processes for domestic manufacturing and to reduce regulatory burdens affecting domestic manufacturers.”
Today’s anticipated executive actions
Trump is expected to sign two executive orders today, both dealing with immigration. The first would call for a large physical barrier on the U.S. border with Mexico, while the second would alter immigration enforcement to require local law enforcement to turn illegal immigrants over to federal authorities, according to The Wall Street Journal. We will have more detail on Trump’s upcoming executive actions in our next edition of You’re Hired.
Hearings
Tom Price
Georgia Rep. Tom Price (R) was nominated to be the administration’s secretary of health and human services on November 28, 2016, and he had his initial hearing with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on January 18, 2017. Yesterday, he had a hearing with the Senate Finance Committee. Here’s what we learned from his hearing.
- On block grants to Medicaid. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) asked Price if block granting Medicaid to states—which would give each state a set amount to administer the program as it sees fit—meant that Medicaid would then no longer be a right but a possibility subject to funds granted to states. He questioned, “When you move to a block grant do you still have the right [to Medicaid if you qualify]?” Price responded, “No. I think it would be determined by how that is set up.”
- On Trump’s recent executive order on Obamacare. Last week, Trump issued an executive order that gave broad authority to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the heads of other executive offices and governmental departments, “to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the Act that would impose a fiscal burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of healthcare services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications.” When asked by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) if he would commit to “not implementing the order until the replacement plan is in place,” Price responded, “What I commit to you and what I commit to the American people is to keep patients at the center of healthcare. And what that means to me is making certain that every single American has access to affordable health coverage that will provide the highest quality healthcare the world can provide.”
Mick Mulvaney
South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R) was nominated to lead the office of management and budget on December 17, 2016. Mulvaney appeared before the Senate Budget Committee yesterday. The committee has 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats and is headed by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.). Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the highest ranking non-Republican member. Here’s what we learned from his hearing.
- On spending for military and defense. In a contentious line of questioning from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mulvaney was asked about his legislative record regarding military spending and if he would support increased defense spending. “The best possible route forward is to raise the top line defense number and to have corresponding reductions in the non-defense discretionary,” Mulvaney said.
- On $15,000 in unpaid nanny taxes. In reference to the unpaid nanny taxes Mulvaney told the committee, “In 2000, we had triplets. When they came home, we hired someone to help my wife take care of the children. In our minds, she was a babysitter. She did not live with us. She did not spend the night there. She did not cook. She did not clean. She did not educate the children, she helped my wife with the kids.” He said he took action to repay those taxes when he discovered the error during the transition.
Linda McMahon
Former professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon appeared before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Trump nominated McMahon to lead the Small Business Administration on December 7, 2016. The committee consists of 10 Republicans and nine Democrats and is chaired by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho). Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.) is the committee’s highest ranking Democrat. Here’s what we learned from her hearing.
- Recommendation from Chris Murphy. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who McMahon ran against for the Senate in 2012, recommended McMahon based on her experience. He said, “I'm here today to support Linda. Not because we have magically become of one mind on how we approaches every problem this country faces. I have confidence she is going to give good sound counsel to President Trump when it comes to policy affecting small businesses.”
- Disaster relief as first priority. During her confirmation hearing, McMahon identified improving the SBA’s disaster relief programs as her first priority. “Disasters don’t pick a time. They happen. And we need to be prepared for those disasters. I don’t know how effective they’ve been. I know that when Sandy hit a few years ago, Hurricane Sandy … it was a delay in time of response from the SBA. … We have to be ready for disaster relief. When our small businesses are put out of business for a while, the economy suffers,” she said.
Votes
Nikki Haley
Yesterday, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was confirmed by the Senate to be the next ambassador to the United Nations. Only four senators voted against Haley’s nomination—Chris Coons (D-Del.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tom Udall (D-N.M.).
Ben Carson
Former presidential candidate and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson had his nomination to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development advance to the Senate for a confirmation vote. The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs advanced Carson’s nomination with the nominee receiving support from the committee’s 12 Republicans as well as the backing of Sen. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), the committee’s highest ranking Democrat. In a statement, Brown said, “Dr. Carson is not the nominee I would have chosen to lead HUD, due to both his lack of experience and his often troubling public statements over the last three years. But despite my reservations, and my disagreements with some of his positions, I will give Dr. Carson the benefit of the doubt based on commitments he has made to me in person and to this Committee in his testimony and written responses.”
Elaine Chao
Trump’s nominee for secretary of transportation, Elaine Chao, was approved by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to proceed to the full Senate for a vote. Her confirmation vote was put on the executive calendar for Tuesday, January 31.
Wilbur Ross
On Tuesday, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the nomination of Wilbur Ross for secretary of commerce for a full vote in the Senate.
Rex Tillerson
On Monday afternoon, Rex Tillerson received recommendation from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a party line vote. Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, is scheduled to receive full consideration in the Senate on Monday, January 30.
See also
- You're Hired: Tracking the Trump Administration Transition
- Donald Trump presidential transition team
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