Special Poll
Trump’s Use of Czars Highlights His Strategy to Centralize Policy Leadership
President-elect Donald Trump is signaling a strong preference for appointing “czars” to lead key policy initiatives, particularly in areas like immigration, energy production, and emerging technologies. These appointments consolidate authority within the White House and allow Trump to bypass some of the traditional bureaucratic channels for implementing his agenda.
One of Trump’s first moves after his November election victory was naming Tom Homan, a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official, as border czar. Shortly after, Trump announced that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum would serve as both Interior Secretary and energy czar, and Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Sacks would take on responsibilities as a czar for artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency.
The reliance on czars reflects Trump’s intent to emphasize his priorities while reducing dependence on sprawling federal agencies or Senate-confirmed officials. Mitch Sollenberger, a political science professor and author of The President’s Czars: Undermining Congress and the Constitution, explains that czar appointments send a political signal to the public and the media that specific issues, like immigration and energy, are high on the administration’s agenda.
Homan’s appointment as border czar underscores Trump’s commitment to his campaign promises on immigration, including mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Homan has already made frequent appearances in media, discussing border security and meeting with local officials. Trump has promised to begin deportations on his first day in office, though such actions are expected to face logistical and financial hurdles.
Energy policy is another central pillar of Trump’s platform, with a focus on lowering energy costs through increased drilling and deregulation. Burgum’s dual role as Interior Secretary and energy czar positions him to lead a new National Energy Council, which will oversee the production, distribution, and regulation of all forms of American energy. Trump has described this council as a critical step toward achieving energy independence.
In the realm of AI and cryptocurrency, Trump has tapped David Sacks to guide policy development. Sacks will chair the Presidential Council of Advisors for Science and Technology while also addressing the largely unregulated fields of AI and digital currencies. Trump’s administration has shown increasing interest in cryptocurrency, even launching its own digital currency, and Sacks’ role is expected to shape guidelines for these industries moving forward.
The use of czars is not unique to Trump. Past presidents have used similar appointments to address pressing issues. For instance, George H.W. Bush appointed William Bennett as the “drug czar,” Barack Obama had an “Ebola czar,” and Trump himself named Dr. Moncef Slaoui as the coronavirus vaccine czar during Operation Warp Speed in 2020.
Critics argue that czars consolidate power within the White House, reducing the influence of Cabinet officials and complicating congressional oversight. Czars often lack the transparency and accountability of Senate-confirmed appointees, which can limit lawmakers’ ability to scrutinize their roles.
As Sollenberger notes, the czar model allows a president to manage policy and politics simultaneously, providing a direct line of communication with the executive branch while avoiding some of the traditional checks and balances. For older Americans who have witnessed decades of political shifts, Trump’s approach may feel like a continuation of a long-standing trend toward centralizing executive power. Whether this strategy proves effective or controversial remains to be seen.