President
Donald Trump has weaponized the revolving door by appointing defense
contractors and their lobbyists to key government positions as he
seeks to rapidly expand the military budget and homeland security
programs.
Two
Department of Homeland Security appointments Trump announced Tuesday
morning are perfect examples.
Benjamin
Cassidy, installed by Trump as assistant secretary for legislative
affairs, previously worked as a senior executive at Boeing’s
international business sector, marketing Boeing military products
abroad.
Jonathan
Rath Hoffman, named assistant secretary for public affairs,
previously worked as a consultant to the Chertoff Group, the
sprawling homeland security consulting firm founded by former
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff. The firm has come
under fire for advising a variety of firms seeking government
contracts, including for full-body scanners deemed invasive by
privacy activists. Hoffman also led a state chapter of a
neoconservative military-contractor advocacy organization during the
2016 presidential campaign. Neither position requires Senate
confirmation.
Personnel
from major defense companies now occupy the highest ranks of the
administration including cabinet members and political appointees
charged with implementing the Trump agenda.
At least 15
officials with financial ties to defense contractors have been either
nominated or appointed so far, with potentially more industry names
on the way as Trump has yet to nominate a variety of roles in the
government, including Army and Navy secretaries.
Full
report:
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