Opposition from Republican senators played a key role in ending Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, but now scrutiny turns toward other controversial senior picks, such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth. Derek Scissors explains why conservatives must continue to defend the Senate’s essential role in assessing the qualifications and character of presidential nominees, even as the president-elect chafes against this constitutional guardrail.
The incoming Trump administration has a significant opportunity to entrench and expand economic prosperity. AEI Economic Policy Director Michael R. Strain surveys the policies, including tax reform, that could launch an economic boom in the next four years. Donald Trump has also announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a “Department of Government Efficiency” to tackle government waste. Technology policy and regulatory expert Will Rinehart warns that its most grandiose goals may be unachievable but highlights opportunities for constructive reform. To enact their agenda, Trump and Republicans in Congress will have to navigate narrow majorities in both chambers. Milton Friedman Chair James C. Capretta previews how this constraint will shape ambitious legislation, such as the renewal of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. On November 18, election administration expert John C. Fortier hosted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for an AEI event on the state of election administration. Raffensperger assessed the system’s performance in 2024 and proposed further reforms that federal, state, and local governments can pursue to improve vote counting and public confidence. AEI This Week will be off next week but will resume on December 7. |
