Fired FEMA employee says instructions to skip Trump homes were part of ‘colossal avoidance’ policy
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supervisor fired for instructing subordinates to skip over houses with Trump signs and banners now says her actions were consistent with agency guidance and were not isolated to her team alone. The supervisor, Marn’i Washington, was fired by FEMA after outrage erupted that she had instructed disaster relief workers canvassing in Lake Placid, Florida, after Hurricane Milton to “avoid homes advertising Trump.” The Daily Wire first reported that government employees told the outlet at least 20 homes with Trump signs or flags were bypassed from the end of October into November due to “best practices” guidance from Washington. The houses were skipped over by the workers, who wrote messages such as “Trump sign no entry per leadership” in a government system, per the outlet. On Saturday, FEMA’s administrator on employee misconduct, Deanne Criswell, confirmed to Fox News Digital that Washington had been fired and called her actions “reprehensible” and a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of political affiliation. FEMA OFFICIAL SAID TO AVOID HOMES WITH TRUMP SIGNS: ‘TO SAY I WAS SURPRISED WOULD BE A LIE’ A FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Friday the agency was “deeply disturbed” by Washington’s actions but insisted it was an “isolated incident.” The spokesperson said “the employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes, and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.” Speaking on an episode of the “Roland Martin Unfiltered” podcast Monday, Washington said her instructions complied with FEMA protocol to avoid homes determined to be hostile or dangerous to workers. “They all allege that these actions were made in my own recognizance and that it was for my own political advances. However, if you look at the record, there is what we call a ‘community trend,’ and, unfortunately, it just so happened that the political hostility that was encountered by my team … they just so happened to have the Trump campaign signage,” said Washington. Washington claimed that her instructions were given after team members had been verbally and physically threatened by hurricane victims with signs in support of the former president. She said her instructions followed FEMA’s “avoidance” and de-escalation policy. ‘INSANE’: ‘FOX & FRIENDS WEEKEND’ CO-HOSTS REACT TO REPORT OF FEMA OFFICIAL’S POLITICAL BIAS In contrast to FEMA’s assertion the incident was isolated, Washington said there were similar “avoidance” protocols in place not only in Florida but also in North Carolina. “Senior leadership will lie to you and tell you that they do not know, but if you ask the DSA [disaster survivor assistance] crew leads and specialists what they are experiencing in the field, they will tell you,” she said. “FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation, so this is not isolated. This is a colossal event of avoidance not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.” Last week, Republican Rep. James Comer, chair of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, called for a hearing on the incident to be held Nov. 19. Washington said she would welcome an investigation by Republicans in Congress. “Please do [investigate]. They will find this is not isolated. I state this over and over again. This is colossal,” she said. “Demand for FEMA to give you those incident reports. They will substantiate what we are experiencing in the field.” FEMA responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by forwarding a Nov. 9 statement by Criswell condemning Washington’s actions. “One FEMA employee departed from these values to advise her survivor assistance team to not go to homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Trump,” Criswell said in the statement. “I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA, and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct.”
Senator-elect Jim Justice’s team clarifies report claiming famous pooch Babydog banned from Senate floor
Senator-elect Jim Justice’s team is clearing the air after it was reported earlier Tuesday that his famous pooch Babydog was banned from the Senate floor. “Even though I wasn’t in D.C. today, I got the most headlines,” said Babydog and her team in an exclusive statement to Fox News Digital. “However, I hope that we really focus on bringing the things to this nation to fix our problems.” Axios reported that Babydog Justice, the unofficial mascot of Justice’s campaign for Senate, was banned from the Senate floor. However, the Senator-elect has corrected the record. In their reporting, Axios claimed that Justice asked if he could bring his pup on the Senate floor. BABYDOG GOES TO WASHINGTON: WEST VIRGINIA’S JUSTICE FLIPS SENATE SEAT RED Justice’s office clarified in an email that “the Senator-Elect has never had any intention of asking about or attempting to bring Baby Dog to the floor of the Senate.” The confusion began over a well-meaning joke overheard during Tuesday’s Senate orientation between Senators-elect touring the Capitol grounds. One unidentified Senator-elect asked if children were allowed on the Senate floor. It was clarified that babies up to one year are allowed, in accordance with rules in the House of Representatives. According to Justice’s office, Senator-elect Moreno of Ohio then asked in jest if dogs were allowed to visit the Senate floor. Dogs are regularly allowed on Capitol premises, including elected officials’ offices, but not on the Senate floor. ALL ABOUT BABYDOG: THE GOVERNOR’S PET THAT STOLE THE SHOW AT THE RNC At no point during this interaction did Senator-elect Justice request to bring the popular pooch Babydog alongside him to the Senate floor, Justice’s office clarified. The celebrity hound first made waves on a national scale over the summer at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where she joined her dad, then-Governor Jim Justice, in a dog-sized chair on stage. “I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy,” said Justice. “So if Babydog could come on out here.” She has been a fixture in West Virginia politics since she was given to Justice by his children for Christmas in 2019. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Babydog will be with me frequently in Washington, and we welcome everyone to come by my office and say hello and meet Babydog when she is there,” said Senator-elect Justice in a release. “Just like she has loved and made so many people smile in West Virginia, she will do that in Washington too.”
Senator-elect Jim Justice’s famous pooch, Babydog, reportedly banned from Senate floor
It’s been a ruff day for Senator-elect Jim Justice of West Virginia and his famous pooch, Babydog. Babydog Justice, the unofficial mascot of Justice’s campaign for Senate, has reportedly been banned from the voting floor, according to reporting from Axios. Axios reports that dogs are not allowed on the Senate floor unless they are verifiable service animals, and even then require additional screening for potential allergies. Justice was reportedly informed of the decision during Tuesday’s orientation for Senators-elect at the Capitol Rotunda. Dogs are regularly allowed on Capitol premises, including elected officials’ offices. This ban appears to only apply to the Senate floor, where the legislative body votes. BABYDOG GOES TO WASHINGTON: WEST VIRGINIA’S JUSTICE FLIPS SENATE SEAT RED The celebrity hound first made waves on a national scale over the summer at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee where she joined her dad, then-Governor Jim Justice, in a dog-sized chair on stage. ALL ABOUT BABYDOG: THE GOVERNOR’S PET THAT STOLE THE SHOW AT THE RNC “I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy,” said Justice. “So if Babydog could come on out here.” She has been a fixture in West Virginia politics since she was given to Justice by his children for Christmas in 2019. “Since then, she has become a favorite among West Virginians across the state. Babydog travels with the Governor to nearly every stop and is the only one who rivals his popularity. She has truly become a mainstay in West Virginia politics,” a spokesperson for Justice said to Fox News Digital. It is unclear if any resolutions may pass to make an exception for Babydog Justice or other Senate pooches to make appearances on the floor. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Representatives for Senator-elect Jim Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Justice Alito plans to remain on Supreme Court, resisting pressure to step aside: report
Justice Samuel Alito has no plans to retire from the Supreme Court anytime soon, a source close to the justice told the Wall Street Journal, halting a flurry of speculation among some Republican leaders that Alito, 74, could vacate the bench to make room for a younger, more conservative jurist. Rumors about Alito’s retirement began swirling almost immediately after Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, which also saw Republicans set to take back control of the Senate and retain control of the House in January. ‘EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES’: NY JUDGE IN TRUMP CASE PAUSES ALL COURT DEADLINES, SENTENCING With no filibuster allowed on Supreme Court appointments, the GOP majority would allow Trump to face little if any resistance in confirming his picks for high court justices, should the court’s two oldest conservative justices, Alito and Clarence Thomas, retire. Alito, for his part, has made clear he has no plans to do so. “Despite what some people may think, this is a man who has never thought about this job from a political perspective,” a person close to Alito told the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news of his intention to remain on the bench. “The idea that he’s going to retire for political considerations is not consistent with who he is,” this person added. SUPREME COURT TEMPORARILY HALTS LOWER COURT RULING ORDERING 1,600 VOTERS BACK ON VIRGINIA VOTER ROLLS Alito was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2006 by President George W. Bush. At 74, Alito is the second-oldest justice on the bench behind Justice Clarence Thomas, 76, who was appointed to the court by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. Sonia Sotomayor, appointed by President Obama in 2009, is 70. But pressure for Alito and Thomas to step aside to make way for younger, Trump-picked candidates could prove to be deeply polarizing at a time when public approval of the Supreme Court is in the mid 40s, according to a Gallup survey in September. Conservatives currently hold a 6-3 majority on the Supreme Court. Trump named three justices to the Supreme Court during his first term, preserving its conservative majority. President Biden, for his part, most recently named Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the court in 2022 after the retirement of Justice Stephen Breyer. If Alito and Thomas were to retire from the bench, Trump could become the first president since Eisenhower, also a Republican, to name a majority of the justices of the Supreme Court.
Trump’s first Cabinet picks decidedly not isolationists: Ukraine, Israel breathe a sigh of relief
Despite his own isolationist musings, the first picks of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration hail from a decidedly more traditionalist wing of the Republican Party. On Tuesday, Trump formally announced that Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., would be his national security adviser. Sources have said Trump is set on tapping Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for secretary of state. Together with New York Rep. Elise Stefanik — set for the role of ambassador to the United Nations — the trio is expected to further a staunchly pro-Israel agenda. Ukrainian advocates are also somewhat relieved. “Kyiv looks at these appointments with some quiet relief — they clearly know there’s room for engagement,” one source familiar with Ukrainian operations told Fox News Digital. They added that after a Biden administration that they believe has been overly fearful of escalating U.S. involvement in the war with Russia, “a not insignificant number of senior Ukrainian officials are cautiously optimistic about what a change of pace might look like. Waltz, who once served as a counterterrorism adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney, is widely regarded as a hawk on China and Iran. He was vociferously opposed to President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. THESE ARE THE TOP NAMES IN CONTENTION FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY UNDER TRUMP “What no one can ever do for me, including this administration right now, is articulate a counterterrorism plan that’s realistic without us there,” Waltz said in an interview days after the withdrawal. The former Army Green Beret officer and ex-CEO of a defense contracting company introduced legislation during the first Trump administration that would have prevented a mass troop drawdown in Afghanistan unless the director of national intelligence certified that the Taliban would not associate with al-Qaeda. “I think we’re in for a long haul and I think our nation’s leadership needs to begin telling the American people, ‘I’m sorry. We don’t have a choice. We’re 15 years into what is going to be a multi-generational war because we’re talking about defeating an idea,’” Waltz said about Afghanistan at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2017. Waltz voted for keeping the Iraq War Authorization on the books in 2021 and voted against ending U.S. support for the Saudi war in Yemen. In an interview with NPR last week, Waltz said the war between Russia and Ukraine can end if the U.S. applies some leverage. GOP REP. MIKE WALTZ TAPPED TO BE TRUMP’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER Russia’s “war machine will dry up very quickly” with U.S. economic sanctions, Waltz said, as well as “taking the handcuffs off of the long-range weapons we provided Ukraine.” Biden has long refused to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike deep inside Russia. Last month, when Israel conducted a counterstrike on Iran’s military targets, Waltz bemoaned that it hadn’t gone after Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities. “Did Biden/Harris pressure Israel once again to do less than it should?” he questioned. Rubio, meanwhile, is a noted hawk on China, Iran and Venezuela, where he has been working to unseat dictator Nicolas Maduro. Rubio, at one time, supported U.S. aid to Ukraine, but when the matter came up again earlier this year, he was one of 15 Republicans to vote against a supplemental funding package, citing insufficient border provisions. He’s been a strong proponent of U.S. support for Taiwan. When Trump raised concerns about the U.S.’s support for Taiwan and suggested the island should pay the U.S. for its defense, Rubio predicted Trump would “continue to support Taiwan” if he reclaimed the White House. Like Trump, both Waltz and Rubio have been critical of NATO allies for not spending enough on defense. Rubio has insisted Europe should “take the lead” on its defense: “Germany, France, and the United Kingdom are more than capable of managing their relationship with the nuclear-armed belligerent to their east. But they’ll never take ownership so long as they can rely on America.” Rubio cosponsored legislation last year that would bar any president from pulling the U.S. from NATO without congressional approval, a measure that was seen as a precaution if Trump were to win the presidency and follow through with his frequent threats to abandon the alliance. His pick triggered some backlash from some Trump die-hards who view him as too hawkish. “Apparently there hasn’t been a SOS pick yet FYSA [for your situational awareness],” posted Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) late Monday on X, after news outlets began reporting Trump had settled on Rubio. Libertarian-minded comedian Dave Smith said Tuesday that Rubio is “a disaster.” “Might as well give Liz Cheney the State Department,” Smith wrote. “Awful sign.” Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said that Waltz and Rubio signal “above all, a hard line toward China not only on economics but across the board — on political, military, and ideological competition.” “The picks leave me wondering whether Trump will deliver on his sometimes restrained foreign policy promises, including his stated desire to end the war in Ukraine sooner rather than later and to see Israel wrap up its wars,” he said. “I’m getting flashbacks to the first Trump administration.” But, he added, “Rubio is no longer quite the Rubio many remember from 2016.” “Rubio seems to understand that the United States faces resource constraints and needs to set strategic priorities in an increasingly competitive world.” And some restraint-minded thinkers hold out cautious optimism. “If [Rubio] channels Trump’s approach rather than pursuing his own agenda, he could redefine the state department’s role in a way that is both respected and effective abroad. Rubio knows that his future prospects are tied to his ability to execute Trump’s policy, not personal ambitions,” said Jason Beardsley, senior coalitions adviser for Concerned Veterans for America. “Having worked closely with Waltz, I can vouch for his deep understanding of America’s strategic priorities. He’s passionate about reforming the DoD from within and ensuring national security without overextending our military in costly, unnecessary engagements.”
Trump’s picks so far: Here’s who will be advising the new president
Since winning the election last week, President-elect Trump has begun evaluating and rolling out his Cabinet picks, with dozens of people jockeying for about two dozen of the highest-level positions in government. So far, Trump has only confirmed three names, though others have been leaked to the media. Here’s a roundup of who will join Trump’s Cabinet: Wiles has been widely lauded for heading Trump’s successful campaign this year, having run Trump’s campaign operations in Florida in 2016 and 2020. She maintained close ties with the president-elect throughout the Biden administration and signed on as CEO of Trump’s Save America PAC in 2021. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” Trump said in a statement. THESE ARE THE TOP NAMES IN CONTENTION FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY UNDER TRUMP The New York Republican representative and current House GOP Conference Chair has been an attack dog for Trump in Congress. She is a staunch supporter of Israel, having made headlines for her combative lines of questioning of Ivy League university presidents over their handling of anti-Israel protests, some of which prompted the presidents to resign. On Tuesday, Trump announced the Florida Republican representative and former Army Green Beret would be his national security adviser. He’s decidedly a hawk on China and Iran. “Mike retired as a Colonel, and is a nationally recognized leader in National Security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, is a staunch supporter of Israel, prompted by his evangelical faith. “Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him”, a statement attached to Trump’s Truth Social post said. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!” Zeldin, a former House Republican from New York, had a notably strong, but unsuccessful, showing in the race for governor against Kathy Hochul in 2022. During that race, he called for New York to lift its ban on fracking. He also lost his House race for re-election in 2022 but has maintained ties with the Trump team. Sources tell Fox News Trump has settled on Rubio, another Iran and China hawk, to run the State Department. Rubio, a Republican from Florida and top GOP member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, ran for president in 2016 when he and Trump traded barbs, with Trump calling him “little Marco.” It’s all seemingly water under the bridge now. Rubio was reportedly on a short list for VP picks earlier this year. GOP REP. MIKE WALTZ TAPPED TO BE TRUMP’S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was an architect of Trump’s zero-tolerance policy during his first administration, one that led to backlash from family separations at the border. Homan has served under six administrations and presidents in both parties, dating back to the Reagan era, as a rank-and-file Border Patrol agent. He was appointed to the position of executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE under President Obama. While serving at a “czar” level rather than in an official Cabinet position, Homan will be in charge of “the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” Trump announced on Truth Social. “I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,” Trump wrote. “Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job.”
Fox News Politics: Administration of Allies
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump transition, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening… –House balance of power still undecided a week after Election Day, with Republicans needing 4 more seats -Trump likely to make several border security moves on first day, says expert -Trump confirms Mike Waltz as National Security Adviser pick President-elect Trump is quickly moving to assemble his second administration, and this time around, he does not appear to be searching for many outsiders to his political orbit. As he aims to turn Washington, D.C., upside down, the former and future president is turning to allies, loyalists and other supporters of his MAGA movement and America First agenda, many of whom are known commodities in the nation’s capital. Unlike eight years ago, when the first-time politician first took control of the White House, he is not in the market for establishment types or those who served in his first administration, but in his mind, proved disloyal…Read more ‘VERY BIG MANDATE’: Trump tells world leader election gives him a ‘very big mandate’…Read more COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT: Federal judge in Ohio rescinds retirement after Trump victory, with Biden yet to nominate a successor…Read more ‘FUNDAMENTAL FLAWS’: Biden supports bringing adversarial nations into new UN cyber crime alliance…Read more ‘DECEPTIVE’: Biden admin touts job well done replenishing oil reserves despite depleting them by half over last four years…Read more ‘$1 BILLION DISASTER’: Here’s what FEC filings show about Harris campaign’s 3 month spending spree…Read more MOVIN ON UP: Who could replace Elise Stefanik in House GOP leadership? What we know…Read more TRUMP’S NEXT TOP COP: Who’s who on Trump’s short list for attorney general…Read more FORMER GOVERNOR GETS NOM: Trump nominates Mike Huckabee for US ambassador to Israel…Read more NOEM ON THE SHORTLIST: Trump expected to choose South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Homeland Security secretary, source says…Read more MUSICAL CHAIRS: Tom Cotton likely to succeed Marco Rubio in top Intelligence Committee position…Read more ‘FANTASTIC PICK’: Ex-Trump official predicts ‘entire mindset change’ at southern border, hails ‘fantastic’ Noem pick for DHS…Read more ‘STRONG CHOICE’: Fetterman hails Rubio as ‘strong choice’ for secretary of state, says he will vote to confirm him…Read more LEADERSHIP JOCKEYING: These are the top names in contention for defense secretary under Trump…Read more CHANGE OF HEART: Schumer invites McCormick, Gallego to new-senator orientation…Read more THINNING THE HERD: Trump tapping 2 House Republicans for future admin fuels concerns about slim majority…Read more TAKING OVER: Trump expected to visit Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Mike Johnson says…Read more OUT OF LEFT FIELD: Tufts University accused of severing ties with House Democrat over trans athlete comments…Read more CALIFORNIA CONCESSION: California Republican congressman concedes competitive race to Democratic challenger…Read more HOUSE VACANCY: Who could run to replace Stefanik in the House?…Read more NON-CONCESSION STAND: Bob Casey refuses to concede PA Senate race, as Schumer welcomes Republican McCormick among new senators…Read more TICKET SPLITTERS: AOC bombarded with comments after asking followers why they supported her and Trump…Read more ‘CHAMPION OF LIBERTY’: Rand Paul backs Kat Cammack for House Republican Conference Chair, Rick Scott for Senate Majority Leader…Read more PRESSURE CAMPAIGN: Pressure campaign boosting Rick Scott could fall flat with Senate GOP colleagues, strategists say…Read more TO KEEP OR TO TOSS: New York Judge Merchan to decide whether to dismiss Trump guilty verdict in Bragg case after election win…Read more BROAD SWINGS: In election victory, Trump’s gains went beyond the battlegrounds…Read more 2028 PREVIEW: Vance in ‘catbird seat’ for 2028 GOP presidential nomination, but these Republicans may also run…Read more CARLOS DANGER RETURNS: Anthony Weiner mulls return. Disgraced ex-pol says New York City needs new leadership…Read more Get the latest updates on the Trump presidential transition, incoming Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
John Cornyn spent years preparing to run for Senate majority leader. Will it be enough?
John Cornyn is running to succeed Mitch McConnell after years waiting in his shadow. But the far-right, in Texas and Washington, are putting up a fight.
Texas lawmakers target property taxes, abortion in bills filed ahead of 2025 legislative session
Tuesday marked the first day lawmakers could file bills for next year’s legislative session.
Trump picking Cabinet at breakneck speed compared to 2016
President-elect Trump has hit the ground running on filling out his potential future cabinet, announcing names for key positions well before he did following his 2016 election win. Trump has announced six Cabinet picks in the week since winning the election, most recently tapping Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviser. “Mike is the first Green Beret to have been elected to Congress, and previously served in the White House and Pentagon. Mike served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years where he was deployed multiple times in combat for which he was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two with Valor,” Trump said on Truth Social Tuesday when announcing the selection. The announcement for Waltz came just a week after Election Day and well before Trump tapped former Army Gen. Mike Flynn to fill the same position after the 2016 election, having announced Flynn on Nov. 18, 10 days after the election. LOYALTY MATTERS: TRUMP PICKS ALLIES AND SUPPORTERS TO FILL OUT HIS ADMINISTRATION Trump has also made a quick announcement with his pick of Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The president-elect made that announcement on Nov. 11, nearly two weeks earlier than his Nov. 23 announcement in 2016 of then-Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina to fill that role. Haley went on to run unsuccessfully in 2024 for the GOP presidential nomination. “I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement following the pick of Stefanik. Two days earlier via a Truth Social post, Trump said of Haley that he would “not be inviting” her to join the new administration, although he added he “very much enjoyed and appreciated working with” her. Joining the flurry of Nov. 11 announcements was former New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a pick Trump didn’t make until Dec. 7, 2016, when he tapped Scott Pruitt to serve in the role. “He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” Trump said in a statement on the Zeldin selection. “He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.” Zeldin ran unsuccessfully for New York governor in 2022, losing to Democratic incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, but receiving praise from Republicans for a valiant effort that helped Republicans in the midterms. “Lee Zeldin probably helped save the House by bringing four new Republican congressmen-elect across the finish line,” wrote Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., in a Nov. 14, 2022 Facebook post. “We owe him a lot.” VANCE IS THE FRONT-RUNNER, BUT HERE’S WHO ELSE MAY RUN FOR THE 2028 GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION Trump also moved swiftly to announce longtime adviser Susie Wiles would serve as his chief of staff on Nov. 6, the day after the election. In 2016, Trump announced his choice of Reince Priebus for chief of staff on Nov. 13, five days after his victory at the polls. “Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,” Trump said after the selection of Wiles. Joining the group in the administration will be longtime Trump adviser Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy and former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan, who has served under six administrations and for presidents of both parties dating back to former President Ronald Reagan and will serve the Trump administration as “border czar.” “I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders. Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job,” Trump said of Homan, who was the executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE under former President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is reported to be in line to serve as secretary of state, while North Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is reported to be Trump’s pick to head the Department of Homeland Security, though Trump has yet to make either selection official. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.