Trump "Reshuffles" Cabinet: After Homeland Security Secretary and Attorney General Change, Is Commerce Secretary Lutnick Next?

Trump is brewing a new round of cabinet reshuffling. After Attorney General Pam Bondi was dismissed, Commerce Secretary Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer have both entered Trump's scrutiny. If this adjustment materializes, it will constitute the largest personnel reshuffle since this administration took office, spanning 15 months. According to Xinhua News Agency, Politico reported on the 2nd that sources revealed the White House is "actively discussing" the dismissal of several high-ranking officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Currently, US President Trump has not made a final decision. According to Politico's report on Thursday, a government official familiar with the developments stated that Trump is "very angry and will make personnel adjustments." Bondi was removed from her position as Attorney General on Thursday, and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem departed last month. The White House has not yet made a final decision regarding Lutnick and Chavez-DeRemer, but sources familiar with the matter revealed that both are in precarious situations. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers stated in a press release that Chavez-DeRemer and Lutnick "are performing their duties excellently for American workers and continue to receive the President's full support." However, this statement shows a clear disconnect from the descriptions of multiple informed sources, who bluntly stated that Lutnick is "walking on thin ice." Background of the Reshuffle: Political Pressure and Midterm Election Anxiety According to Politico, citing two senior officials, the core logic behind this potential personnel change is to remove cabinet members whom Trump considers "underperforming or attracting too much negative attention." A person close to the White House pointed out that Trump is eager to complete personnel arrangements before the midterm elections, partly out of concern that if Democrats expand their seats in the November elections, the Senate confirmation process for executive nominations will become increasingly difficult. This means the reshuffle is not only an accountability measure for current officials but also a strategic consideration to secure personnel positions before the political window narrows. The White House also admitted that this adjustment has a proactive political intent – to signal a "reinvigoration of the economy" to voters through personnel changes. An official stated frankly that removing Lutnick from his position would help the president "declare that he is taking action on economic issues." Lutnick: Wall Street Background Fails to Conceal Internal Friction Lutnick's fate has been a long-standing topic of discussion in Washington's political circles. Although he is an old friend of Trump, this Wall Street heavyweight has few allies in the cabinet and has long been the subject of rumors about his potential dismissal. Critics describe him as a tough, polarizing figure who tends to present immature proposals to the president, leaving others to clean up the mess afterward. According to Politico's report in February this year, Trump himself had expressed dissatisfaction with the Lutnick family leveraging government connections for profit. Lutnick's son's employer, Cantor Fitzgerald, denied any conflict of interest but acknowledged that the company achieved a "record-breaking performance year." Furthermore, Lutnick's name appeared in documents related to Epstein earlier this year, leading to joint calls for his resignation from lawmakers of both parties, although he himself has not been accused of any involvement in Epstein's criminal activities. A senior White House official stated that Trump had considered dismissing Lutnick multiple times before but ultimately did not act, "the President has repeatedly weighed and abandoned this idea." Labor Secretary: Clouded by Internal Investigation Chavez-DeRemer is also facing pressure. The Department of Labor's Inspector General is investigating her, with accusations including drinking during work hours, an improper relationship with a security official, and her staff allegedly using official activities for personal travel arrangements. Chavez-DeRemer denies any wrongdoing, and the White House had previously vouched for her. A senior official stated that Chavez-DeRemer's fate is "under discussion," but there is still no conclusion. Following Bondi's departure, Trump appointed Todd Blanche as Acting Attorney General on Thursday. A government official called Blanche a "frontrunner." Meanwhile, according to a White House insider familiar with the discussions, Trump met with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday to discuss the California wildfires and explore the possibility of Zeldin taking over as Attorney General.