Trump appoints allies to boards
Conway tapped to serve on Air Force Academy panel
His time in the White House rapidly ending, President Donald Trump is rewarding supporters and allies with the perks and prestige that come with serving on federal advisory boards and commissions.
On Thursday, Trump announced his intention to nominate two authors who wrote books that flattered him to a board that makes recommendations on education research. Another author who helped write a favorable book about the president was chosen for the same board.
On Wednesday, the Department of Defense announced China hawk Michael Pillsbury would become chair of a board that gives Pentagon leadership advice on how to enhance national security. Pillsbury has served as an adviser to the president on China.
And on Tuesday, Trump said he would appoint his former counselor and 2016 campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, to serve on the board of visitors to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Going to the same board will be Heidi Stirrup, an ally of Trump adviser Stephen Miller. She served as a White House liaison at the Justice Department and was told to vacate the building when department officials learned of her efforts to collect inside information about cases and the department’s work on election fraud.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was among the appointees to the board of trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She’s married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-KY.
Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union and a perpetuator of Trump’s false claims of election fraud, will become a member of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board.