Vanishing Act

The Disappearing Women of Trump’s Second Term 

What’s going on: President Donald Trump has been in office (this time) for only a year and change, and it’s already been a tough one for the girls. The Washington Post notes that more women in Cabinet and senior positions have left at this point in Trump’s second term compared to any previous administration. The departures have come in different forms: Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard stepped down, former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem were fired, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned. So far, they’ve all been replaced by men. Meanwhile, according to The Post’s tracker, only 14.53% of Trump’s nominees and confirmed political appointees have been women this term, compared to 52.5% under former President Joe Biden. Overall, one Brookings Institution analysis found this is the least diverse US government this century, with fewer people of color in power as well. 

Sounds like a giant step back: Doesn’t it? Trump has hired fewer women this time around than in his first administration. However, his team will tell you they’re proud to have some women in key senior staff spots. Exhibit A: Susie Wiles, the first woman chief of staff, who famously said she was neither an “enabler” nor a “b*tch.” Same, Susie. It’s true Wiles holds unprecedented power in the White House full of “Susie people.” But one woman (or even 14% of them) is not enough. Having women in power is key to advocating for critical legislation. We saw this with former US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s crusade to release the Epstein files and in women-led pushes for fertility and paid leave benefits — fights men might have lower on their lists, if they think about them at all. Guess this also adds fuel to the fire around this telling picture from Trump’s China visit. 

Related: How High-Power Women End Up on the “Glass Cliff” (USC)