Challenges for Trump's new administration

US President-elect Donald Trump continues to put together his incoming administration while some of his nominations are likely to face scrutiny from within his own Republican Party.

Tough media leadership

President-elect Trump has announced his choice of Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the incoming administration, calling him a "free speech warrior," according to Reuters.

Mr. Trump at the arena in New York on November 16.

Photo: AFP

The FCC is an independent agency that regulates media and licenses television and radio stations. Mr. Carr, 45, was a senior member of the FCC, and shares Mr. Trump's views on the "political bias" of broadcasters and accuses technology giants such as Facebook, Google, Apple and Microsoft of being "censorship corporations." "We must dismantle the censorship corporation and restore freedom of speech to the American people," Mr. Carr wrote on social media after being nominated. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump is said to be considering a series of names for the position of finance minister, notably CEO Howard Lutnick of Cantor Fitzgerald Bank and investor Scott Bessent. Mr. Lutnick is co-chair of Mr. Trump's transition team and is supported by two close allies of the president-elect, billionaire Elon Musk and Mr. Robert Kennedy Jr. According to the Financial Times, Mr. Trump's advisers are making a demand to candidates that the finance minister must commit to the president-elect's tax plan.

The test is not easy

So far, Mr. Trump has announced a series of nominations for national security, judicial, health and energy positions but has not made a decision on economic positions. Most of the important positions will have to be approved by the US Senate. Some of them are facing opposition, especially the nominee for Attorney General Matt Gaetz. The politician was accused of sleeping with an underage woman but he denied the accusation. The House Ethics Committee has investigated but because Mr. Gaetz resigned as a congressman, the report will not be released, although some Republican senators have requested to review it. Republican Senator John Thune, who is about to become the majority leader in the Senate, admitted that approving Mr. Trump's nominations "will not be easy," according to The Hill . The US Constitution allows the president to appoint federal officials without Senate approval in the event of a long recess, currently at least 10 days. Mr Trump has urged Republican leaders in the legislature to do so to help him appoint cabinet members. But Mr Thune acknowledged that there may not be enough votes to call a long recess because of potential opposition from lawmakers who disagree with the nominations. Republicans have regained control of the Senate and are expected to hold at least 52 of the 100 seats in the new term.

Risk of government shutdown

The US government is facing the risk of a shutdown if it fails to pass a budget bill or a temporary funding resolution by the December 20 deadline. House Speaker Mike Johnson hopes the outgoing Congress can pass a new budget for the entire 2025 fiscal year (ending at the end of September 2025), but if not, he is still confident in the second possibility, according to AFP.

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