Earlier this month, Alina Habba—White House counselor and former personal attorney to President Donald Trump—sparked discussion with a statement about the potential direction of federal staffing under a future Trump administration.
Speaking during an interview on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, Habba responded to a question about the makeup of the Executive Branch. Hannity raised concerns about federal employees potentially working at odds with the goals of the administration, referencing past investigations and the topic of internal resistance.
In response, Habba emphasized the importance of aligning federal personnel with the vision of the sitting president. “If you were in charge, would you leave someone in place at the DOJ who didn’t support your direction? Probably not,” she said. “There were people who weren’t neutral. That created challenges and undermined efforts to deliver on priorities.”
Her comments reflect a growing conversation among some political leaders about restructuring parts of the federal bureaucracy. Supporters of this approach argue that elected officials should be able to choose personnel who will help carry out their policy goals. They contend it’s about accountability and ensuring the government reflects the administration’s agenda.
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