Nominees need hard scrutiny

President Trump’s revolving door keeps spinning.

On Friday, he announced his intention to fill two important positions in his administration, each questionable. For U.S. Attorney General, he’ll nominate William Barr. Meanwhile, Heather Nauert is getting the nod for United Nations Ambassador.

The nominations are very different — Barr is a respected litigator who served as attorney general during the George H.W. Bush presidency, while Nauert was a Fox News television anchor before becoming the State Department’s spokeswoman in 2017.

Yet both picks are in keeping with Trump’s unorthodox style. Their selections were followed by this weekend’s announcement of the impending departure of John Kelly, the retired Marine general who was brought in to bring discipline and gravitas to a White House that notably lacked either. They also come at a time when the president’s legal exposure appears to be mounting.

It’s a fraught moment for the Trump administration.

There is no question that Barr’s has the requisite knowledge and experience for the position. But Barr is also a well-known supporter of executive power who’s raised eyebrows for his criticism of the Russia investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He’s also defended Trump’s calls for a new investigation into Hillary Clinton.

With his transactional approach to governance, it’s easy to imagine Trump eyeing these missteps as qualifications.

Nauert is a more typical Trumpian pick — heavy on loyalty to the president, light on experience for the position.

She’s worked in government for less than two years, and she has never specialized in international relations or diplomacy. Trump reportedly appreciates her television skills and is looking to her to “sell” the global public on his policies.

The Senate needs to question both of these nominees thoroughly about their beliefs, positions and experience during their confirmation hearings.