Trevor Potter

2 months ago | usnews.com | Max Stier |Ryan Bourne |Alex Nowrasteh |Trevor Potter

In his first two weeks in office, President Donald Trump has taken a sledgehammer to the foundations of our democratic system, tearing apart our apolitical and merit-based career civil service. The new administration has broken every norm, skirting and violating the law to root out non-political federal employees so he can replace them with political loyalists. I have never seen anything like it in my three decades dedicated to promoting an ethical and effective government.

Jan 18, 2025 | thehill.com | Trevor Potter

The president is not a dictator, not on “day one” (as Donald Trump has proclaimed) or on any other day. And voters did not elect Trump to be a dictator. He does not have a mandate to change the Constitution and override the other branches of government to pursue his agenda. In the coming months and years, there is no doubt our government’s system of checks and balances will be tested. But the system can withstand, so long as those who have the duty to check presidential overreach do their jobs.

Jan 17, 2025 | smallwarsjournal.com | Trevor Potter

In an era defined by artificial intelligence, cyberwarfare, and precision-guided munitions, the U.S. military faces increasingly complex challenges on the battlefield. These challenges are not solely tactical but also legal, ethical, and strategic. Recent comments by Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing—referring dismissively to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) as “JAG-offs”—risk undermining public understanding of the critical role military lawyers play in today’s armed forces.

Jan 7, 2025 | usnews.com | Ryan Bourne |Alex Nowrasteh |Trevor Potter

President-elect Donald Trump has garnered headlines for proposing a Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, to be run by tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. His proposal to slim down government has already garnered some surprising support across the political spectrum. Trump has said that he wants DOGE to dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures and restructure federal agencies. Independent Sen.

Dec 4, 2024 | usnews.com | Trevor Potter |Norman Ornstein |Gregory Treverton

One of President-elect Donald Trump’s most alarming threats to democratic norms in his second term – and potentially the most consequential – has gotten almost no attention: his plans to replace civil servants with political loyalists. As a Republican former chairman of the Federal Election Commission who served under Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, I have firsthand experience with how federal agencies respond and adapt to a change in leadership at the White House.