Two of the top administration officials long expected to be upgraded from "acting" capacity to permanent status are now almost certain to remain as "acting," White House sources told Newsmax on Monday.
Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff, is expected to stay in that status. The same is reportedly true for the occupant of his previous position, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought.
In March, White House sources insisted that Trump was ready to move up both Mulvaney and Vought. Since Mulvaney's position does not require Senate confirmation, making him permanent holder of the chief of staff position would require only the stroke of Trump's pen.
But the president has reportedly been upset with his acting chief of staff at several points during the impeachment inquiry — notably during his Oct. 17 appearance before the White House press corps when he said "Get over it – there's going to be political influence in foreign policy."
Vought, who worked for several conservative House members before joining the Trump team, would be subject to Senate confirmation if his nomination for permanent status at OMB were OK'd by the president.
Trump himself has repeatedly said he has no problem working with top officials who are on "acting" status and this gives him "more flexibility." Senators of both parties disagree, saying "acting" officials carry less authority than those who are permanent officials.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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