Trump has appointed Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney as Acting White House Chief of Staff.
Mulvaney was Trump’s go-to person to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when then-Director Richard Cordray resigned to run for governor in Ohio. Cordray lost that race. His departure set up a power struggle between Mulvaney and Leandra English, who filed suit to block the appointment. The courts ruledin the Trump administration’s favor, though there was a reported rebel groupwithin the agency; they communicated using encrypted devices. They called themselves Dumbledore’s Army…because liberals have only read one book. It was totally off the rails
Mulvaney remained as acting director until December 11 when Kathleen Kraninger was confirmed to takeover full time. Now, he’s off to occupy one of the most powerful positions in government. A source told The New York Times that there would be no timetable as to when Mulvaney will move on from this post:
Mr. Mulvaney, a hard-line conservative and former congressman from South Carolina, is a fiscal hawk who has produced budgets that cut federal spending only to see congressional Republicans and Democrats ignore them.
He was more successful in a rare, dual-hatted role that Mr. Trump had given him, overseeing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where he scaled back the mission, and in many ways neutered its influence, in keeping with the president’s view of the agency.
Still, unlike the two others who have served as Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, he brings an understanding of the intersection between the White House and Congress.
Mr. Mulvaney emerged as the president’s choice for a position that, in other administrations, has been akin to the chief operating officer of the country, after high-profile announcements from others that they were not interested in the job to replace John F. Kelly. Mr. Kelly is set to leave the position by the end of the year.
On Friday, a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition on anonymity, said there would be no end date to Mr. Mulvaney’s role despite his “acting” title.
I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018
....I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018