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Report Alleges Trump Administration Appointed Numerous Wealthy Donors to Key Government Positions

Report Alleges Trump Administration Appointed Numerous Wealthy Donors to Key Government Positions

A new analysis by Public Citizen reveals that the Trump administration has appointed at least 57 individuals with assets of $100 million or more to senior government roles or as U.S. ambassadors. This figure includes eight billionaires. The report highlights a significant increase in ultra-wealthy individuals in government compared to previous administrations, with the Trump administration having over 1,000% more such individuals than the Bush or Biden administrations. These appointments span various federal agencies, including the Departments of Commerce, Treasury, Education, and State, as well as organizations like NASA and the Social Security Administration. The analysis also points to a strong correlation between large financial contributions to President Trump's political campaigns and subsequent appointments to high-level positions. Specifically, 30 of these 57 individuals contributed over $65 million to Trump-affiliated political committees during the 2024 Presidential election cycle.
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Representative Mike Quigley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Restore Endangered Species Act Habitat Protections

Representative Mike Quigley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Restore Endangered Species Act Habitat Protections

Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, has co-introduced the bipartisan Safeguarding Endangered Species Act (H.R. 9901) with Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). This legislation aims to reinstate the longstanding definition of 'harm' within the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was recently altered by a rule finalized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries. The new rule, set to take effect on September 14, removes habitat destruction from the definition of harm, a principle that has been recognized since 1975 and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995. Friends of Animals, an advocacy group, has opposed this rollback, emphasizing that habitat destruction is a primary driver of extinction and a key reason for the ESA's original enactment. Representative Quigley stated that the bill seeks to prevent any administration from undermining this landmark law and to continue protecting wildlife and endangered species.
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President Trump's Second White House Features Record Number of Ultra-Wealthy Appointees

President Trump's Second White House Features Record Number of Ultra-Wealthy Appointees

A report from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen indicates that President Trump's second administration has appointed a significantly higher number of ultra-wealthy individuals compared to his predecessors. The report, published on Monday, reveals that 57 Trump officials are worth at least $100 million, including 17 ambassadors and 40 individuals in senior executive branch positions. This figure is more than four times the combined total of ultra-rich appointees under the three previous presidents. Notably, eight of the 23 Cabinet members meet this criterion, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, both billionaires. Other prominent wealthy appointees include Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg and Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, who are billionaires, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special envoy Steve Witkoff, both with hundreds of millions of dollars in net worth. President Trump, himself a billionaire, has o...
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Watchdog calls for US import ban as forced labor persists in Dominican sugarcane fields

Watchdog calls for US import ban as forced labor persists in Dominican sugarcane fields

A human rights group says that forced labor persists on massive sugarcane plantations across the Dominican Republic
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Trump dwarfs his predecessors in the number of ultra-rich in his second White House, report shows

Trump dwarfs his predecessors in the number of ultra-rich in his second White House, report shows

The number of people worth more than $100 million whom President Donald Trump has appointed to his administration is more than four times the combined total of the three previous presidents
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US proposes seabed mining auction off Northern Mariana Islands

US proposes seabed mining auction off Northern Mariana Islands

Aug 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department on Monday proposed a sale this year of deep-sea mining leases in U.S. waters surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands, the latest step in President Donald Trump's push to expand domestic supplies of critical minerals.
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Public Citizen Report Reveals President Trump's Administration Appointed Four Times More Ultra-Wealthy Officials Than Predecessors

Public Citizen Report Reveals President Trump's Administration Appointed Four Times More Ultra-Wealthy Officials Than Predecessors

A new report from the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen indicates that President Trump's second administration has appointed significantly more ultra-wealthy individuals than the three preceding presidencies combined. The report, published on Monday, identifies 57 Trump officials with a net worth of at least $100 million. This figure includes 17 ambassadors and 40 individuals in senior executive branch positions. Notably, eight of the 23 Cabinet members meet this criterion, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, both billionaires. By contrast, the administrations of Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Joe Biden each had five officials worth $100 million or more, while Democrat Barack Obama's administration had three. President Trump, himself a billionaire, has often justified his appointments of wealthy individuals by citing their financial success and perceived competence.
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Carney and Trump speak again as tariff deadline looms

Carney and Trump speak again as tariff deadline looms

By Promit Mukherjee and Maria Cheng OTTAWA, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon, Carney's office said, as Canada tries to hash out a last-minute deal to avert new 50% tariffs from taking effect at midnight.
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Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools

Whistleblower alleges political pressure, lack of evidence in antisemitism probes targeting schools

A whistleblower is alleging that a Trump administration task force created to combat antisemitism pushed for settlements with Ivy League universities
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President Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imported Unmanned Aircraft Systems Citing National Security Concerns

President Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imported Unmanned Aircraft Systems Citing National Security Concerns

On August 13, 2026, President Trump issued a new proclamation under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, implementing tariffs on certain imported unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their components. The Administration's decision stems from a conclusion that the United States' reliance on foreign-manufactured UAS and critical components poses a threat to national security by weakening the domestic industrial base and creating vulnerabilities in supply chains. A Section 232 investigation by the Department of Commerce found that imports have outpaced domestic production, leading to heavy reliance on foreign suppliers. Concerns regarding cybersecurity and unreliable supply chains were also cited. The new tariff framework varies based on the type of UAS and, in some cases, the country of origin. Tariffs on UAS will take effect on September 3, 2026, while tariffs on components will be implemented on February 9, 2027. Reduced tariff rates are available for imports from allied trading partners such as Japan, K...