Transition to Governing, 4

The day the wheels came off: Hegseth, Gaetz, Gabbard, Musk/Ramaswamy

In this post:

1. The antithesis of this column

2. SecDef is not an entry-level job

3. Gaetz is a shockingly bad pick

4. Gabbard as DNI

5. Elon and Vivek join the long line of business geniuses who will solve government

(If you missed the previous posts: Transition to Governing 1, 2, 3)

Anti-Governing

In the sections below, I discuss several of Trump’s recent choices separately. But I have to say something about this group as a whole. We can’t miss the forest for the trees.

Collectively, these choices are irresponsible. Governing is serious business, It comes with enormous power—power that can do a lot of damage if used poorly. Governing well at the highest levels requires experience. It also demands judgment and character. Officials have to be trusted to make terribly difficult decisions—decisions involving police powers, state secrets, weapons, billions of dollars. Leaders need to have prudence and wisdom when faced with crises and unexpected developments. Presidents need to understand all of this when they are hiring.

America’s system of governing is a gift that’s been handed down generation after generation for nearly 250 years. We have a stewardship responsibility. This column is about the importance of governing, of our democratic-republican tradition, of the people handed public authority. As I’ve said many times here, this is not a place for politics, campaigns, polling, or messaging. It’s a place for governing. And these choices, taken together, undermine American governing.

Prepared for Preeminent Pentagon Post?

Yesterday, I noted that Trump’s picks had a pleasantly-surprising amount of governing experience. I contrasted that with his choices during his first term when he inexplicably favored governing beginners. I sounded a note of cautious optimism, suggesting that this could mean that the once and future president is more serious about governing seriously. But this is not our first rodeo with Mr. Trump. So about this new trend I twice wrote “so far” and once wrote “That might change at any moment, of course..”

As if on cue, Mr. Trump then announced his intention to nominate media personality Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Others can talk about his views. Here I’m interested in governing experience. And he has none. Despite being the president’s choice to run the largest department in the federal government. The defense budget is more than $800 billion. It employs more than 3 million individuals. It commands the most powerful force that has ever existed on earth.

Mr. Hegeth served out country with distinction, and for that he deserves our thanks and our respect. I’m sure he loves America, cares deeply about our military, and wants the president to succeed. All of that is admirable. But none of it qualifies him for this enormous role. In a world full of actors who want to do this nation harm, defense secretary is not an entry-level governing job.