Candidates for national security roles must answer a political loyalty test, which asks questions such as whether January 6 was an “inside job” and whether the 2020 election was “stolen.” Those who do not answer “yes” are discarded.
These questions are politicizing intelligence and law enforcement, violating the principle that these institutions should operate neutrally. According to historians, the only similar precedent was with Nixon, who wanted “personal” intelligence. Now, Trump and Elon Musk, with their plan to reform government, seem to want to turn security apparatuses into instruments of political allegiance. Based on the answers being given by the respondents Trump would decide who should be appointed to high-level government positions. Trump continues to describe many of his supporters involved in the Jan. 6 attack as “patriots” and this attitude is reflected in the selection of candidates for various roles.
As the New York Post reports, some anonymous sources familiar with the process have reported that already several current and former officials in high-level positions have been questioned about the outcome of the 2020 elections and the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill uprising, and again according to the same source, the White House has declined to comment on this matter. Both individuals did not answer with a clear “yes” to these questions and were not selected for the assignments. However, different factors may have influenced the hiring decisions.
John Bellinger III, who served as senior counsel at the White House National Security Council during the Bush administration, said “It is normal for new administrations to check whether appointees align with their policies. But conditioning jobs in intelligence or law enforcement on partisan views is inappropriate. We need officers who can interpret intelligence and enforce laws without political bias.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s deputy press secretary Anna Kelly, defended the president’s approach saying, “It is entirely appropriate for candidates for national security positions in the Trump administration to align with President Trump’s agenda to put America first.”
