Trump Announces New Appointments While Withdrawing Key Nomination

On April 13, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump submitted a fresh array of nominations to the Senate, aiming to fill critical government roles and retracting a prior ambassadorial nomination. This announcement was made by The White House.

Notable among the nominations is Erin Browne from New York, appointed as Under Secretary of the Treasury, succeeding Jay Curtis Shambaugh who has resigned. Maryland's Brian Cavanaugh has also been nominated to take over as Under Secretary for Management at the Department of Homeland Security from Claire M. Grady.

In a move to extend his tenure, Thomas B. Chapman has been nominated for reappointment to the National Transportation Safety Board until 2028. David M. Prouty has received similar reappointment for the National Labor Relations Board, while James Macy is nominated for a new term on the board stretching to 2030.

On the diplomatic front, California's Michelle Steel has been nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, with Eric Wendt selected as Ambassador to Albania—positions crucial for enhancing U.S. foreign relations.

Additional nominations include Brock Dahl as the Legal Adviser at the State Department, Jason Holt as U.S. Marshal for Oklahoma’s Northern District, and Timothy VerHey as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. Also, Michael Tierney will serve as Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs, emphasizing accountability.

Finally, James Woodruff has been proposed to chair the Merit Systems Protection Board, which oversees federal employment regulations.

The administration is simultaneously retracting the nomination of Troy Edgar as U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador, with no reasons stated for this decision, which was previously submitted earlier this year.

Next, all nominations will undergo the Senate's confirmation process, where lawmakers will evaluate the candidates' qualifications before any final decisions are made. These developments underline the administration's ongoing efforts to solidify its leadership across various governmental sectors.