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“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” he wrote last year in a text message group chat with Republican strategists and influencers.

Regardless, at least at the time of publication, Ingrassia remains the White House’s liaison with the Department of Homeland Security after being moved in February from the Department of Justice following problems with Attorney General Pam Bondi’s chief of staff. The White House did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.

Ingrassia’s withdrawal — Trump’s 49th this year — comes after the hiring, firing, and rehiring of Marko Elez, the Department of Government Efficiency staffer under Elon Musk who had administrator-level access to U.S. Treasury payment systems that dispersed more than $5.45 trillion last fiscal year before he was terminated.

“I would not mind at all if Gaza and Israel were both wiped off the face of the Earth,” Elez wrote in 2024 on a now-deleted anonymous social media account. “Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool.”

Elez was reinstated a day later after Vice President JD Vance defended him on his own social media account, despite Elez also saying, “Normalize Indian hate.” Notably, Vance’s wife, Usha Vance, is the country’s first Asian American and Hindu American second lady. Trump expressed his support for Elez in a later press conference.

Republican strategist Charlie Black conceded that Trump keeping Ingrassia in the White House has created a political optics problem for his administration. “But they don’t mind taking heat for their loyalists,” the founding chairman of Prime Policy Group told the Washington Examiner. “[They] are already under pressure from the press.”

To that end, Republican strategist Alex Conant contended that if Democrats continued to underscore Ingrassia, “eventually the president might be annoyed by the distraction and make a change.”

“But the Democrats haven’t shown any ability to keep sustained attention on anything since Trump’s term began,” the former communications director for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign told the Washington Examiner. “Between the shutdown, upcoming elections, and Trump’s daily announcements, it seems unlikely that this will stay at the top of the news for long.”

Republican strategist Doug Heye was similarly uncertain whether Trump would relent to pressure related to Ingrassia; however, he had concerns about the White House’s employment process. “It sure seems, ‘Have you ever praised the Nazis?’ now has to be a part of the political job application process,” the former Republican National Committee communications director told the Washington Examiner.

Democratic strategist Jim Manley said, “In any other administration, someone like this would have a less than zero chance of continuing to serve after withdrawing his name from consideration to be confirmed by the Senate.”

“But the Trump folks don’t play by the same rules as everyone else, and they sure as heck don’t care about the optics of a guy like Ingrassia continuing to serve the president,” the former communications director for the late Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) told the Washington Examiner. “I mean, they have a real problem here — if they fire him for holding extremist views, then a whole bunch of others are going to come under fire as well for holding the same extremist views.”

Vance just last week defended the Young Republicans New York chapter’s group chat — which involved state leaders and at least one Trump administration aide — that included questionable comments such as, “I love Hitler.”

“The reality is that kids do stupid things, especially young boys,” Vance said during an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show taped at the White House after Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “They tell edgy, offensive jokes. That’s what kids do. And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke — telling a very offensive, stupid joke — is cause to ruin their lives.”

The other optics issue created for Trump by Ingrassia’s withdrawal is the administration’s recent embrace of cancel culture. Vance, for example, last month implored people to report anyone welcoming Kirk’s death to their respective employers. The State Department has canceled visas for the same reason as well.

At the same time, President Ronald Reagan biographer Craig Shirley compared Ingrassia to the Democratic nominee to become Virginia’s next attorney general, Jay Jones. Jones sent text messages in 2022 to a Virginia Republican lawmaker about shooting then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert and wishing death upon his children.

“The despicable and actionable comments of Jones in the VA AG race gives political cover to almost everybody,” the former Republican strategist told the Washington Examiner. “The Left is losing at everything, and deep down they know our ideas are better than their ideas, which has led to their mindlessness, including opposing everybody and everything, regardless.”

Democrats have simultaneously encountered another optics issue, this one with Maine Democratic U.S. Senate primary candidate Graham Platner, who has had to cover up a Nazi symbol tattoo.

Ingrassia’s withdrawal also comes after Trump has found administration positions for other nominees whom the Senate would not have confirmed.

Ed Martin, Trump’s former interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, is another nominee who did not have enough support to be confirmed by the Senate, withdrawing his candidacy in May after Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced he would not endorse him over comments regarding Jan. 6. Days later, Martin announced he would become the Justice Department’s pardon attorney, a position through which he has investigated the Biden administration’s pardons and former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen.

The day before Martin’s withdrawal, Trump’s original nominee to become the U.S. Surgeon General, Janette Nesheiwat, withdrew her candidacy after conservative activist Laura Loomer emphasized discrepancies with her medical education. Nesheiwat claimed to have been educated at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, instead of the American University of the Caribbean.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/3860139/senate-confirmation-scarred-trump-nominees-other-homes-administration/

**List of Officers’ Children Given Important Postings**

A recently released list of transfers reveals that children of several senior officers have been assigned important postings. For instance, the son of an IPS officer, despite being junior, has secured a significant position in the state’s commercial capital.

Similarly, an IAS officer who had been posted in a tribal area for a long time was taken out and given an important role. The son-in-law of a senior IAS officer was also posted in the business capital of the state, a decision made by government higher-ups some time ago.

In another case, the son of a late IAS officer has been transferred to another city and given an important post. His father, popular among bureaucrats, had died in an accident. Now, his son, an MP-cadre IAS officer, is following in his footsteps.

This time, the government has assigned young IAS officers to urban bodies, the industries department, and other key places. Against this backdrop, these three officers have been given crucial positions.

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**New Homes for Senior Bureaucrats**

A few senior bureaucrats in the state have been allotted new homes by the government. After a long period, the head of the state bureaucracy has chosen a bungalow for himself. He will move into the house formerly occupied by a retired Director General of Police (DGP), which will be vacated during Navratri.

As the head of the state bureaucracy is expected to hold his position for at least one more year, he plans to shift to the new house soon, having spent the past year in a small house.

Similarly, new bungalows have been allotted to a senior IPS officer and a senior IAS officer. However, two houses remain unallotted. One bungalow, belonging to a retired officer who may be taking up new responsibilities, has been kept vacant. Another large bungalow, intended for the head of the state bureaucracy, remains empty as it did not meet his approval. Several politicians and officers have shown interest in this property.

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**Efforts to Transfer a Principal Secretary**

There are ongoing attempts by certain individuals to remove a Principal Secretary (PS) from his department. These people wish to control the department themselves but have been hindered by the PS’s presence.

An organisation was recently allowed entry into the department for some work. While initial relations were smooth, tensions have since surfaced between the organisation’s members and the PS. The organisation has made demands that the department finds difficult to meet and is applying pressure on higher authorities.

The PS is currently conducting investigations before fulfilling these demands, which has further strained relations and angered the organisation. They are now lobbying the government to remove the PS, who is mentally prepared for the possibility.

Despite the pressure, none of the officers are willing to concede to the organisation’s demands.

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**Conflict with Additional Chief Secretary**

Two officers within a department are currently at odds. The additional chief secretary (ACS), known for his quick wit, has caused friction with an IAS officer posted in an important position.

When this IAS officer was posted, another ACS headed the department and enjoyed strong support from senior government officials, often influencing decisions.

However, with the arrival of the new ACS, who has cordial relations with top officials, the officer’s influence has waned. While once his views were widely accepted, they are now frequently opposed. The ACS has even reprimanded him on certain occasions, which has led to the officer’s dissatisfaction.

Recent changes in top leadership have further dampened his enthusiasm. Observers believe the officer may not remain in the department for much longer, with the possibility of his transfer and replacement looming.

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**Delhi Deputation Remains Elusive**

For some state officers, a transfer to Delhi remains a distant goal. Two commissioner-rank officers have applied for deputation to the Centre but are yet to receive clearance.

Dissatisfied with their current state postings, these officers are seeking opportunities in the Central Government. Despite one having political connections, both have faced hurdles in obtaining approval.

Under the current system, an officer’s performance is evaluated comprehensively for deputation consideration. Both officers have encountered issues during this 360-degree assessment.

Additionally, another IAS officer has been seeking a deputation to the Centre for one and a half years but has faced obstacles related to the specific post he desires. Meanwhile, the state government is not fully utilizing his talents.

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**Efforts to Secure Important Posting**

A promotee IAS officer, who has been in the loop line for over two years, is eager to rejoin an important department. Known for his significant social connections, he has previously held key positions.

During the elections, he was transferred to the loop line and has remained there since. To return to mainstream administration, he has approached influential officers and even met with a powerful politician. However, the politician candidly informed him that his transfer recommendations would not secure a posting.

This officer, a former collector, hopes to serve as a collector again before retirement. He counts on support from senior officers with whom he previously worked, anticipating they may help him return to a prominent role.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/overheard-in-bhopal-new-homes-efforts-for-transfer-efforts-for-posting-more

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Category Archives: administration

Senate confirmation-scarred Trump nominees find other homes in the administration

Overheard In Bhopal: New Homes, Efforts For Transfer, Efforts For Posting & More