Trump Turns Cabinet Trips Into Competitive Campaign Challenge
The White House has launched a points contest that rewards cabinet members for traveling to swing districts to campaign for Republicans before the midterms.
A new internal competition dubbed the Cabinet Travel Competition incentivizes members of the president's cabinet to campaign in swing states and tight congressional races ahead of the November 5 midterms. Points are awarded for each campaign visit, and the leading official is said to receive a dinner with the president, though some officials claim only bragging rights are at stake. Calculations show Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler has made the most trips, totaling 18 between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy trailing.
Duffy’s fourth-place ranking is notable given his family-focused YouTube road-trip series. The initiative raises questions about compliance with the 1939 Hatch Act, which limits partisan activities by federal appointees, echoing earlier controversies involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics expressed doubt that legal compliance is a priority in this competitive setting.
Why it matters
The contest blurs lines between official duties and partisan campaigning, potentially violating federal ethics rules.
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