WASHINGTON — A prime intelligence appointment that President Trump is contemplating for a billionaire investor and outstanding supporter might be s
WASHINGTON — A prime intelligence appointment that President Trump is contemplating for a billionaire investor and outstanding supporter might be solely a short-term one, in accordance with folks aware of the matter.
Mr. Trump has lengthy thought of the investor Stephen A. Feinberg, whose firm owns a outstanding non-public navy contractor, for a senior position within the intelligence group, putting in a prime supporter right into a world the president views with deep skepticism. Though the trouble to discover a submit for him appeared to have foundered in latest weeks, it has regained momentum, in accordance with 4 of the folks.
Although the president may nominate Mr. Feinberg to the No. 2 submit on the Workplace of the Director of Nationwide Intelligence, an appearing appointment to a different senior job there that doesn’t require Senate affirmation is extra possible, in accordance with administration officers.
Nonetheless, any appointment might be temporary. Mr. Trump’s nominee to be the director of nationwide intelligence, Consultant John Ratcliffe of Texas, has been promised the latitude to place in his personal crew, and that might not embody Mr. Feinberg, in accordance with two folks briefed on Mr. Ratcliffe’s plans.
If the Senate rejects Mr. Ratcliffe’s nomination, or fails to behave on it as lawmakers navigate the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Feinberg may keep in an intelligence submit for longer, although appearing appointments are nonetheless time-limited below legislation.
For now, Mr. Feinberg, the chief govt of Cerberus Capital Administration, a non-public fairness agency, would almost definitely take a senior workers job below Richard Grenell, the appearing director of nationwide intelligence.
Mr. Feinberg has lengthy taken an curiosity in intelligence issues, and below Mr. Trump has led the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Apart from the contacts he has gained heading that group, Mr. Feinberg has little direct intelligence expertise, both in its assortment or in its use.
Nonetheless, Mr. Feinberg is seen as an excellent supervisor and a fast research, and has sturdy ties to the White Home, not solely due to his assist of Mr. Trump but additionally via his relationship with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser.
Mr. Feinberg’s intricate enterprise investments complicate any appointment.
Cerberus owns DynCorp, which offers non-public navy contracts to the US and different nations and likewise offers intelligence recommendation. DynCorp has been on the market since 2018, however so long as it’s owned by Cerberus it may require Mr. Feinberg to recuse himself from potential conflicts.
Even past DynCorp, Cerberus’s sprawling investments may create different potential moral conflicts. And the inventory market tumble amid the coronavirus pandemic has additionally made offloading companies troublesome, if Mr. Feinberg have been to attempt to promote a few of his holdings to remove any points.
Mr. Trump has made no ultimate choice about whether or not to carry Mr. Feinberg aboard, so no announcement is imminent, in accordance with two folks aware of the matter.
Nonetheless, Mr. Feinberg has instructed folks that he’s getting ready to take the job and an administration official stated that they have been making progress on the moral issues however declined to be extra particular.
Mr. Trump sought extra latitude this week to make recess appointments, threatening to adjourn Congress to do so. But the presidential power he mentioned has never been used and applies if the House and the Senate cannot agree on when to adjourn; there is no disagreement in play. The top Senate Republican, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, quickly made clear that Congress would not adjourn.
Mr. Trump has often considered Mr. Feinberg for roles in the intelligence community. Near the start of his term, the White House floated the possibility of Mr. Feinberg conducting a review of the intelligence agencies, which he has expressed interest in reducing. Key allies of Mr. Trump have long wanted to shrink the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and decrease its influence.
But Dan Coats, the president’s first director of national intelligence, blocked Mr. Feinberg’s review and instead administered his own internal look at the office, which prompted additional hires.
Mr. Grenell, since becoming the acting director, has begun his own effort to condense the office based in part on Mr. Coats’s review and other studies.
Mr. Trump did appoint Mr. Feinberg as the chairman of the Intelligence Advisory Board, which allowed him to keep a hand in intelligence matters. He has taken a keen interest in China, often raising concerns about Beijing’s domination of next-generation mobile networks and its theft of intellectual property from American companies. He is more interested in foreign threats and taking on China than on staff reductions, according to an intelligence official.
More recently Mr. Feinberg’s name was raised for a senior role, as reported by Axios, after Mr. Trump named Mr. Grenell, the American ambassador to Germany, to serve as the acting director of national intelligence.
Just before the 2016 election, Mr. Feinberg gave $1 million to a super PAC backing Mr. Trump, allowing for a last-minute advertising blitz.
Intelligence officials who have worked with Mr. Feinberg say he is not ideological, despite his fierce support for Mr. Trump. Instead he tackles national security problems like an investor, trying to suck up as much information as he can to make the best-informed decision, according to one intelligence official.
Michael S. Schmidt contributed reporting.