President-elect Donald Trump announced on Sunday That he's appointing a “border czar,” former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director and immigration fanatic tom homanTo join his administration. However, Homan may not be the only such “czar” in the Trump administration.
“I am pleased to announce that former ICE Director, and border control veteran, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration to be in charge of our nation's borders (“The Border Czar”), including, But not limited to the southern border, northern border, all maritime and aviation security,” Trump wrote Truth on Social.
The term “czar” is short for a high-level executive branch official in charge of a specific policy focus.
They are not Senate confirmed positions.
The role of “Czar” is one that allows the President to supersede the onerous checks and balances of the three branches of government. “Czar” roles are not Senate-confirmed Cabinet positions, such as Secretary of State or Secretary of Health and Human Services. This means that a president can appoint that person to his or her administration without the Senate's input, and quickly.
Trump wants to get his people in place quickly, having experienced in his first term how congressional authority can derail an administration's plans. Trump said this in a social media post on Sunday.
“Sometimes votes can take two years or more,” Trump wrote Sunday. He said that he wants appointments on leave. “That's what they did four years ago, and we can't let it happen again. We need to fill the position immediately!”
Trump wouldn't be the first president to use “czar”
Trump wouldn't be the first president to use “czar.” Such zars have been appointed by presidents of both parties. Former President Barack Obama was, to some extent, the “King of Energy and the Environment,” “King of Afghanistan,” “King of Cars,” “King of Health” and “King of Auto Recovery.”
His use of these positions was so widespread that in 2009 the Senate Judiciary Committee held a meeting hearing On the History and Legitimacy of the Executive Branch Tsars. The committee noted that some of these policy czars were at one time confirmed by the Senate, while others held positions outside the White House that reported to the Senate-confirmed official. But a handful worked in the White House. The use of such “czar” sparked criticism from Republicans, and even some Democrats raised concerns about his authority.
But presidents before Obama also had “czars.” President Bill Clinton had a “Y2K czar”, and President George W. Bush had an “AIDS czar,” an “anti-terrorism czar” and a “reading czar.” Historians believe this role to be attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt, who rapidly expanded the size and role of the federal government.
Trump also had something of a “czar” in his first term. Moncef Slaoui, A former pharmaceutical executive oversaw Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration's initiative to fast-track COVID-19 vaccines.
During the Obama administration, Republicans criticized the growth of the administrative state and decisions made by unelected bureaucrats. And during the Trump administration, Trump supporters bemoaned the so-called “deep state” of unelected career officials.
Vice President Harris was sometimes dubbed the “border czar”, though not by President Biden himself, as the president had tasked her with dealing with the influx of migrants at the southern border. Harris fought against that label As the Democratic candidate.
A “Czar” designation could make room for controversial names such as RFK, Jr.
Republicans will control the Senate if Trump takes office. But Trump may still have trouble confirming some of the most controversial names, such as vaccine refuser Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to Senate-confirmed Cabinet positions.
Kennedy Several people are included in a short list released by some of Trump's allies to serve as the next head of the Department of Health and Human Services. President-Elect the campaign said. But it is also possible that Kennedy could take on a less formal role, such as “tsar”.
Where did the concept of “Tsar” originate?
According to the World History Encyclopedia, “Tsar” comes from the Russian word “tsar”, which is derived from the Latin word “caesar”. Specifically, the term Tsar refers to the rulers of Russia for hundreds of years. Ivan IV the Terrible was formally crowned “King of All the Russias” in 1547, and held the title until the Russian monarchy was overthrown in the Russian Revolution of 1917.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who greatly expanded the size and scope of the federal government, used “Tsar”. But even before his tenure, the phrase “Tsar” was likely first used in the United States. nicholas biddleClaimed to be President of the Bank of the United States during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. He was sometimes called “Tsar Nicholas”, coinciding with the reign of Czar Nicholas I of Russia.
Over time, the term came to be used informally in the US to refer to people selected by the President for prominent positions who do not undergo Senate scrutiny, investigation, or confirmation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of “Tsar”?
Critics of such roles have argued that “Tsar” mocks the system of checks and balances established by the ancients. The late Democratic Senator Robert Byrd criticized both Obama and Bush for creating such roles in their administrations.
“The rapid and easy accumulation of power by White House staff could jeopardize the constitutional system of checks and balances,” Byrd wrote in a publicized letter to Obama in 2009. This is the statutory responsibility of Senate-confirmed officials.”
Of course, the President may appoint the White House staff. Constitutional issues come into question when the President selects a principal who is not Senate-confirmed.
But for a president who wants to quickly appoint an aide, it is logistically much easier for a “tsar” to get into office than a Cabinet secretary.
How effective a “Czar” can actually be is debatable – especially since “Czars” generally do not control the budget.
Contributed to this report.