White House Tells Defense Department Staff "Reappointment Decisions Based on Loyalty to Trump"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The White House in the United States is reportedly planning to verify the loyalty of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel to President Donald Trump and decide on their reappointment accordingly.

According to multiple current and former officials cited by the U.S. foreign affairs media outlet Foreign Policy on the 3rd (local time), interviews with political appointees within the DoD are scheduled to begin next week, and if their loyalty is deemed insufficient, it could lead to dismissal.

The White House sent emails to DoD political appointees on the 1st, arranging meetings with representatives from the White House Personnel Office (PPO). The email described the meetings as an opportunity to discuss their careers and interests since 2021, and Foreign Policy reported that the White House evaluated these meetings as a chance for political appointees to demonstrate their suitability for their roles should President Trump be re-elected.

Named "office calls," these meetings are expected to target political appointees who were either appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate over the coming weeks.

Jonathan Rath Hoffman, the DoD chief spokesperson, stated, "These meetings were arranged by the DoD," adding, "DoD political appointees will discuss whether they can continue to serve during the Trump administration."

Although the email suggests that all employees are subject to this, a DoD official clarified that high-ranking officials such as Secretary Mark Esper are not required to attend the meetings.

The White House is reportedly planning to conduct sequential interviews at the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies after the DoD process concludes.

Contrary to the DoD’s explanation, current and former DoD officials told the media outlet that the 30-minute interviews could be used to weed out those who do not show loyalty to President Trump.

This move comes after a series of high-level resignations following the so-called "Ukraine scandal," in which President Trump allegedly pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party in exchange for military aid. A former senior official of the Trump administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "It will be used as a way to either align with President Trump or leave."

While it is not unusual for the White House to unofficially review or replace DoD political appointees toward the end of an administration, a former DoD official noted that although evaluating political appointees is possible, assessing their political leanings at the end of a term is highly unusual.

A former senior State Department official claimed, "The White House’s reassessment of loyalty is likely connected to the recent George Floyd incident, during which high-ranking DoD officials, including the Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, openly opposed President Trump."

These officials opposed President Trump’s plan to deploy federal troops to Washington DC to suppress protests, which ultimately led to the president withdrawing the plan. On the other hand, some argue that the president has the right to pursue his policies and that this is a routine preparation for the next administration.