Watchdog Declares Trump’s White House Open for Business with New Chief of Staff Choice
A watchdog organization expressed concerns this Friday that President-elect Donald Trump is making it clear that his administration will be heavily influenced by corporate interests. This comes after his appointment of Susie Wiles, a seasoned Republican strategist and former lobbyist for various contentious sectors including the tobacco industry, as his White House Chief of Staff.
According to a recent report by Public Citizen, Wiles has lobbied for at least 42 clients from 2017 to 2024 as a federal government lobbyist, activities she continued even while managing Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
Public Citizen’s investigation reveals that Wiles’ client roster included:
- A waste disposal firm opposing the removal of nuclear waste from its site;
- An international mining corporation eager to sidestep federal resistance to its plans for a large mine in an untouched watershed;
- A tobacco firm fighting federal health regulations on its flavored cigars, which are popular among children according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA);
- An overseas news outlet whose proprietor faces charges of money laundering;
- An international mining investment company seeking permission to establish an open-pit gold mine on federal lands.
The role of White House Chief of Staff, which does not require Senate confirmation, is influential. Wiles will oversee the management of information and access to the President, as well as handle the administration’s personnel.
Trump’s choice of Wiles directly contradicts his earlier commitment to “drain the swamp” and his recent condemnation of the outsized influence that lobbyists have in Washington, D.C.
“Lobbyists are indeed making a lot of money,” Trump conceded during an August interview on the “This Past Weekend” podcast with comedian Theo Von. He suggested that prohibiting government officials from lobbying after their service could be a solution.
“You have to stop paying attention to lobbyists,” Trump remarked. “Personally, I was never keen on lobbyists.”
However, as reported by ProPublica, the first Trump administration employed over 280 lobbyists, averaging one lobbyist for every 14 political appointments.
In 2021, OpenSecrets noted that Ballard Partners, the lobbying firm owned by Wiles, saw its revenue increase each year during Trump’s presidency, reaching $24.4 million in 2020.
“The list of Wiles’ lobbying clients is extensive and filled with controversial figures likely to gain from having their former lobbyist in a pivotal White House position.”
The influence of corporations in Trump’s second administration is expected to grow even stronger with figures like Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual and a significant recipient of government contracts. Earlier this week, Trump appointed Musk and biotech magnate Vivek Ramaswamy to co-chair a commission aimed at proposing major reductions in federal spending and regulations.
Labeling this move as “the ultimate corporate corruption,” Public Citizen criticized Trump’s decision to establish the commission and appoint Musk to lead it.
In its report, Public Citizen argued that Wiles, with her extensive lobbying background, is an inappropriate choice for White House Chief of Staff.
Should Wiles assume the position in January, Public Citizen urged her to disclose the specifics of her lobbying activities, including the identities of the individuals she lobbied, her requests to them, and the outcomes of her lobbying efforts; to recuse herself from any decisions involving her former clients and the federal agencies affecting them; and to commit to not lobby the federal government after her tenure at the White House.
“The extensive and controversial nature of Wiles’ client list, who stand to benefit from her position, raises significant conflict of interest concerns that must be addressed before Inauguration Day,” Public Citizen stated on Friday.
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