Appointee Update: January 22, 2025, Tom Homan and Russell Vought
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Former police officer and Border Patrol agent Tom Homan served as the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Donald Trump’s first term. During his three decades in law enforcement, he worked under six presidents, including President Obama as the executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE. Homan has confirmed his alignment with President Trump.
Tom Homan backed Trump’s family separation policy during his first term. He has also expressed his dismay towards sanctuary cities, claiming that sanctuary cities are welcome hosts to criminals. A vocal presence, Homan has often spoken out in interviews, at White House press conferences, and at Trump rallies to amplify the message that undocumented immigrants “should be afraid.” Homan dismissed concerns regarding the financial cost and social burden that the President's mass deportation plans could generate.
Impact on foreign relations, immigration, and PA
A “czar” holds a highly specialized executive branch position that skips around checks and balances. Though Czars bypass Senate confirmation in American politics, they still wield tremendous influence and authority. The “border czar” is unofficial, so Homan must coordinate and cooperate with agencies within the Homeland Security Department. If Kristi Noem is granted confirmation, Homan is expected to work well with her, as he has backed her nomination.
Homan intends to run the “biggest deportation this country’s ever seen” upon the president-elect’s return to the White House. He stated that the American public should expect “shock and awe” on day one of the Trump administration. However, this mass deportation plan is projected to hinder the agricultural sector across the country, for which over 40% of farm workers are undocumented. In Pennsylvania, the proportion of unauthorized farm workers is about 50%. The Pennsylvanian agricultural labor sector will theoretically be cut in half if Homan’s claims become a reality.
The incoming border czar has made clear that those in government who oppose the Trump administration’s actions to rinse the nation of sanctuary cities should “not impede” because “harbor[ing] and conceal[ing] an illegal alien from ICE authorities… is a crime, and we’ll prosecute those crimes.” And while Pennsylvania lawmakers do not report to Tom Homan, there is already a state House bill that would ban sanctuary cities in Pennsylvania if enacted, demonstrating that legislators at the state level align themselves with the president-elect’s priorities.
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Project 2025 co-architect Russell Vought was given the nomination to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought held this position during the first Trump Administration, as well as a platform policy director for the Republican National Committee. The president-elect referred to Vought as “an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator…across all Agencies” indicating that Vought is expected to help the president-elect to exert more executive power than previously. His goals include allowing Trump to gut spending programs without Congress, cutting protections for federal workers, and plant political appointees to federal positions. Additionally, Vought stated that he believes “the whole notion of an independent agency should be thrown out,” and that non-politically-appointed civil servants should be loyal to the president rather than the agency for which they work.
Impact on federal spending & regulation and PA
The Office of Management and Budget authors the president’s annual budget proposals and approves the spending decisions of the various federal agencies. The OMB also oversees the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews and implements executive branch regulations. Vought, if confirmed by the Senate, might attempt to prolong the process of moving the federal budget if the president-elect’s agenda is not achieved. Additionally, Pennsylvania farmers, small business owners, veterans, and any other citizens receiving government assistance are at risk of losing aid. If Vought is able to help the president-elect work around Congress to slash federal dollars that go to states, state governments will be left alone to find funding themselves.
Contributors:
Julie Platt & Brooke Wilford