In Washington, as President Donald Trump’s nominees prepared for their Senate confirmation, they offered assurances and commitments, some of which have since been renegotiated after taking their official posts. From discussions surrounding the FBI leadership to vaccine protocols and sanctions on Russia, here is a synopsis of their initial promises compared to their current stances.
Requests for further comments from the four relevant agencies about their respective leaders’ statements were not promptly returned as of Monday afternoon.
**Kash Patel, FBI Director**
**Initial Statement:** Prior to his appointment as FBI Director, Kash Patel reportedly assured Natalie Bara, president of the FBI Agents Association, that he supported the agency’s tradition of appointing a career agent to the role of deputy director. Bara communicated this agreement to members in an internal newsletter on February 23. Patel had concurred with the standards during a January meeting, stressing that a career agent would bring necessary operational expertise and earn trust.
**Actions Taken:** Contrary to his initial stance, Patel praised President Trump’s decision to appoint Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent-turned-pundit, as the deputy director. On February 24, Patel expressed his support for the appointment on social media, lauding Bongino’s potential contributions to American justice.
**Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary**
**Initial Statement:** During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy guaranteed that he would uphold the current immunization schedule, affirming to Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., his support for the CDC’s recommendations.
**Actions Taken:** However, in his inaugural address to Health and Human Services personnel on February 18, Kennedy indicated he intends to reevaluate the vaccination schedule for diseases like measles and polio. He also pledged to scrutinize other public health concerns including pesticides and electromagnetic waves.
**Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary**
**Initial Statement:** While undergoing Senate confirmation, Bessent suggested a need for tighter sanctions against Russia, critiquing the former President Joe Biden’s hesitancy and linking it to a fear of raising oil prices during elections.
**Actions Taken:** Reflecting the administration’s evolving view, Bessent later indicated a readiness to modify sanctions in response to Russia’s willingness to engage in peace negotiations. On February 20, he discussed the prospective easing or intensification of sanctions, contingent upon diplomatic developments, during an interview with Bloomberg Television.
**Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary**
**Initial Statement:** Rollins, in her January 23 confirmation hearing, committed to addressing avian flu outbreaks as a top priority by appointing a dedicated team.
**Actions Taken:** She later endorsed governmental collaboration by inviting the Department of Government Efficiency to engage with USDA, as announced on February 14. Following this, efforts were made on recruitment, aiming to restore the workforce needed to manage the ongoing bird flu crisis, despite previous staff reductions based on strategic recommendations.
