Executive Position. . .

(Executive Position. . .)

The Daytona 500 runs today. If President Trump was at his estate in Mar-A-Lago, it would be a short dive up north to attend. However, the President is in the White House so, if he is planning an appearance and even "start your engines," NASCAR is Trump country and Daytona the pinnacle. So, if Trump does show before a thrilled crowd, enjoy a hot dog Mr. President. One knows he does not drink beer.


While the President is in Daytona, the slew of newly minted Cabinet Secretaries is early in their postings. and how will the first day of work go ? Attorney General Pam Bondi has previous experience in that role but what about HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy ? Or Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ? Hegseth with his combat history made his role as Defense Secretary but the head of the Pentagon was a Fox News host only weeks previously. Sean Duffy, once a Wisconsin Congressman was also a host on Fox Business.


Department Secretaries are the public face of the Trump Administration but each institution has thousands of employees (un-less some took the buyouts). As ironic as it might seem, these heads of Departments have at the same time become heads of bureaucracies. That would be the work-force that keeps the organization running. Where the Secretaries have discretion is who comprises that work-force.


That does require executive instincts, however. A management style. How will Tulsi Gabbard manage National Intelligence. She will be working with new DCI (Director of Central Intelligence) John Ratcliffe. Radcliffe will also have his Deputy Directors, Intelligence (DDI) and Operations (DDO).


Each new Secretary has the confidence of the President and whatever agenda Trump is delegating, with sufficient independence to direct their departments as they determine, as long as there is no direct conflict with the White House. Their mandate is the President's, who never lets anyone forget that he won. By a lot. That in turn translates to those he has hired to run the country.

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