President Donald Trump has wasted no time acting on his pledge to “drain the swamp,” announcing a sweeping move on Monday to lay off “thousands” of White House employees he has accused of disloyalty to his administration. In a dramatic overnight post on Truth Social, the 47th president made it clear that this is just the beginning of his effort to dismantle remnants of the Biden-Harris administration and reshape the government in line with his “America First” agenda.
Trump’s Midnight Announcement
“Our first day in the White House is not over yet! My Presidential Personnel Office is actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again,” Trump wrote on Truth Social shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
Trump also named the first four individuals to face termination:
- Jose Andres, from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
- Mark Milley, from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.
- Brian Hook, from the Wilson Center for Scholars.
- Keisha Lance Bottoms, from the President’s Export Council.
“Let this serve as Official Notice of Dismissal for these four individuals, with many more coming soon,” Trump declared in his post, signaling that this was only the first wave of terminations.
Mark Milley Among the First Fired
Mark Milley, a former Trump military advisor who later headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was a notable figure on the list. Milley had served under Trump but became a vocal critic, even calling the former president a “total fascist” after leaving office. Milley was pardoned by President Joe Biden in his final hours as commander-in-chief, an attempt to shield members of his administration from Trump’s retribution.
Deep State Purge Underway
These firings represent Trump’s first significant action to fulfill his campaign promise to “clean out the deep state.” Insiders have suggested the purge will extend far beyond these initial terminations, with nearly all officials at the undersecretary and assistant secretary levels expected to face removal.
A report from The Washington Post on Monday revealed that John Bass, the State Department’s acting undersecretary for political affairs, has been asked to step aside, alongside numerous other high-ranking officials in the department. Career diplomats, who traditionally enjoy carryover between administrations, are reportedly no longer safe under Trump’s leadership.
“The State Department will have an America-First foreign policy,” a White House statement read, emphasizing the administration’s break from past policies.
Overhauling U.S. Diplomacy
The president’s actions indicate his intention to reshape the U.S. diplomatic corps in his own image, putting loyalty and alignment with his agenda above institutional experience. Among those set to depart are:
- Geoffrey Pyatt, a diplomat with over three decades of service under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
- Daniel Kritenbrink, the department’s top Asia expert.
Both Pyatt and Kritenbrink have served the U.S. in pivotal roles across multiple administrations, but their departures signal a clear shift in Trump’s approach to diplomacy.
Replacing Bass as the acting undersecretary is Lisa Kenna, a former executive secretary under Mike Pompeo during Trump’s first term.
Cabinet Reshuffling and Rubio’s Role
Trump also gained his first cabinet member shortly after being sworn in, with former Florida Senator Marco Rubio taking charge of the State Department. Rubio, during his Senate confirmation hearing, promised to amplify the voices of career department officials and give them greater access to leadership. However, Trump’s sweeping firings suggest potential friction between his vision and Rubio’s stated intentions.
Democratic Backlash
Democrats have expressed outrage at Trump’s late-night firings, accusing him of undermining decades of bipartisan expertise in critical roles.
“These non-partisan public servants have decades of experience under both Republican and Democratic administrations. They are critical to U.S. national security,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) wrote on social media.
The removals have also drawn criticism for disrupting the continuity of government operations, with some arguing that the firings prioritize political loyalty over national stability.
A Bold Start to Trump’s Term
President Trump’s first actions in his second term underscore his commitment to reshaping the federal government and fulfilling his campaign promises. While supporters hail his decisive approach as necessary to rid the government of entrenched bureaucracy, critics argue that the firings risk destabilizing institutions and undermining expertise.
As the Trump administration moves forward with this deep state purge, the ripple effects on both domestic governance and foreign policy are sure to be felt.