Donald Trump Jr. is reportedly heading up a new loyalty-driven vetting operation, assembling a list of people who would be barred from serving in a second Trump administration. According to insiders, the list targets first-term officials who resigned over the January 6th riots, figures linked to conservative policy group Project 2025, and anyone perceived as insufficiently loyal to Trump.
This ambitious project recalls Nixon-era tactics, when political opponents were cataloged in an “enemies list” that led to a culture of isolation and intense scrutiny within the administration. Trump’s team, however, sees this as a preemptive move to avoid the internal leaks and dissent that plagued his first term. Don Jr., the honorary chair of Trump’s transition team, stressed the goal is to “keep the bad actors out,” explaining, “There’s a lot of people that put the R next to their name, but then they do whatever the swamp wants.”
Key Republican allies have voiced support for this blacklist-style approach. Myron Ebell, who managed Trump’s 2016 EPA transition, suggested a loyalty-based list would have prevented “soft green Republicans” from interfering with Trump’s policies. Ebell sees the current strategy as a “good idea,” aimed at ensuring only staunch Trump allies get in the door. The stakes are high—any returning administration must appoint around 4,000 officials to federal posts, underscoring the vast reach such a list could have on the federal landscape.
Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the transition team’s emphasis on loyalty, saying they will “choose the best people for his Cabinet.” However, questions remain over whether excluding figures associated with Project 2025 is feasible. The project boasts support from over 100 conservative organizations, signaling potential backlash if many allies are shut out.
While the “loyalty-first” vetting process may resonate with Trump’s base, it raises questions about governance under a second Trump term.
