US President Donald Trump holds a Constitution Day Proclamation after speaking during the White House Conference on American History at the National Archives in Washington, DC, September 17, 2020. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States of America, has fired four of Biden’s appointees on his first day in office as president.
In a post made on his x account, he indicated that
“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.
Let this serve as official notice of dismissal for these 4 individuals, with many more coming soon.
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; and Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council -YOU’RE FIRED!
Per the post, more than one thousand appointees of Joe Biden, America’s 46th President, will be shown the exit in the coming days and weeks by the new administration led by Donald Trump.
Per the post, more than one thousand appointees of Joe Biden, America’s 46th President, will be shown the exit in the coming days and weeks by the new administration led by Donald Trump.
The authority for the President to make such decisions stems directly from the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution grants the President the power to nominate and, by extension, to remove individuals from various appointed positions. While the Constitution does not explicitly state the power to fire appointees, this power is inferred from the President’s ability to appoint officials. This interpretation has been upheld by judicial precedents which emphasize that the President has the prerogative to dismiss those who serve at his pleasure, particularly for non-Senate-confirmed positions or those where the law does not specify otherwise.
Additionally, the U.S. legal system has developed through case law and executive practice that most presidential appointees serve “at the pleasure of the President,” meaning they can be removed at any time without cause. This principle is notably applicable to positions within the executive branch, including advisory roles and councils where the individuals in question were appointed. However, for certain positions, like those that require Senate confirmation or have fixed terms, there might be additional legal considerations or protections, but these are not absolute and can be subject to presidential discretion, especially if they are viewed as hindering the execution of the President’s policy agenda.
This practice of a new administration replacing the previous one’s appointees is a common feature of transitions of power in the U.S., aimed at ensuring the administration can effectively implement its policies. The change in personnel often reflects a shift in political ideology, policy direction, and administrative philosophy. While this can lead to significant disruption, it is part of the democratic process where each administration seeks to align the government apparatus with its vision and goals, as exemplified by Trump’s stated intention to “make America great again.” This approach, though controversial, is legally grounded in the constitutional framework that grants wide latitude to the president in managing the executive branch.