Candidates for top Trump administration jobs are increasingly frustrated by the high cost and huge time commitment required to meet the government’s ethics and conflict-of-interest rules, complicating White House efforts to fill hundreds of crucial posts.
At least a dozen people in line for top jobs in the Trump administration have dropped out, with many expressing irritation at requirements that they give up valuable assets to resolve perceived conflicts, according to lawyers and people closely tracking the nominations process, Politico reads.
“This is not the first administration that has had some nominees that have had challenges, but the difference in scale is quite large,” said Max Stier, president of the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, which has advised Trump’s team on nominations.
“This administration has nominated many more people with much more complex financial holdings that have problems than past administrations.”
As tempers flare, White House officials and potential candidates for jobs are blaming the White House Office of Government Ethics, the agency responsible for reviewing nominees’ ethics paperwork to ensure it complies with legal requirements.
The White House remains furious with newly resigned OGE Director Walter Shaub, who stepped down after clashing with the administration publicly and privately for months.
“The White House has worked well with OGE career staff, but clashed with Walt Shaub, who seemed more interested in creating false controversy for self-promotion than moving nominees though the process or working with the White House,” said White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters.
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