Sheldon Metz: Trump's early picks are as feared
A few of Trump's cabinet selections have been made. The better-educated political minority feared it and expected it. One restrictionist after another. The EPA will be headed by Lee Zeldin, a climate-change denier. Air and climate gains by Biden will be reversed. He will eliminate the IRA and challenge California's autonomy to enforce environmental standards more stringent than those set by the federal government. California's standards have been adopted by more than a dozen other blue states. It will be mandatory in all states under Trump. Where are the states' rights?
In a statement, Trump said, "He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions (increasing oil and coal use and regulations against dumping into our rivers) that will unleash the power of American businesses, while maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet." How?
He wants to "... restore U.S. energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the U.S. the global leader in AI (We ARE). We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water." We protected those under Biden. HOW will he?
Zeldin once opposed efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, fearing disastrous oil spills and toxic chemicals, declaring his top priority was to "safeguard our environment."
But he was convinced to support Trump.
Trump also includes Tom Homan, former ICE head, as "Border Czar" (Department of Homeland Security). Homan, a major Project 2025 contributor, is an antisemite who created family separation. He supports mass deportation, "zero tolerance" (separation of families), "Show me your papers," and said, "There's nothing wrong with arresting someone who looks foreign. Who knows?" He said he would prioritize deporting immigrants in the U.S. illegally who posed safety and security threats as well as those working at job sites, taking jobs away from Americans" — especially our young people, who won't do that work (wash dishes, pick fruit).
Elise Stefanik will become our face to the rest of the world. She was also a major proponent of U.S. withdrawal from NATO. She somehow promises to end the Russia/Ukraine war and Israel's war in Gaza fairly.
The role of ambassador requires little diplomatic or foreign policy experience beyond Stefanik's membership in House national security committees, where she rarely sat.
She supports Israel no matter what and won't compromise on a ceasefire.
Marco Rubio will become Secretary of State, removed from the Senate to make his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a senator, ensuring more control. Trump will make sure she wins. This raises some questions about just how legitimate these elections actually were. In fact, he did say, "You'll never have to vote again." That may indeed be the case.
Michael Waltz becomes National Security Advisor. He's anti-China, pro-Taiwan, pro-America First, and anti-immigration.
Mike Huckabee will be Ambassador to Israel. A strong supporter of Israel (Evangelical Apocalypse and all), he rejects any settlement with Hamas or Hezbollah.
Kristy Noem will become Homeland Security Secretary to help with Trump's mass deportations, which she vigorously favors, and FEMA budget reductions, her biggest issue.
John Ratcliffe was appointed CIA Director. As Trump's DNI, Ratcliffe was accused by former intelligence officials of rushing the declassification of intelligence for use by Trump and his Republican allies. This was to attack political opponents. No investigation.
Other names on the list appear to support Trump's reduction of democratic values and ideology. The party of small government is leaning toward greater government control of our lives, with one feeble man making all decisions for us. Instead of the freedoms we deserve and were granted by the Founding Fathers (avg. age, 44; James Monroe, 18; Aaron Burr, 20; Alexander Hamilton, 25; Thomas Jefferson, 33; George Washington, 40, etc.), we will live a life dictated by today's grandfathers.
(Senate average age 64; Charles Grassley 91; Bernie Sanders 83; Mitch McConnell 83, etc. — House average age 58; Grace Napolitano 88; Eleanor Norton 88; Maxine Waters 87; Nancy Pelosi 84; Virginia Foxx 81, etc.)
Sheldon Metz is a Tucson resident and a political and historical researcher.
Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community.
