According to Xinhua News Agency, citing U.S. media reports on the 2nd, U.S. President Trump expressed disappointment with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Dremer, and is considering further adjustments to the cabinet.
A Trump administration official told the US "Politics": "He (Trump) is very angry and plans to make personnel changes." The report said that the departures of Howard Lutnick and Lori Chavez-Dremer have not yet been finalized.
The report did not disclose the specific reasons for Trump’s dissatisfaction with the two ministers, but the analysis pointed out that if Trump carries out a larger cabinet reshuffle, it shows that “he is trying to make major adjustments to the government in the face of a severe political situation.”
According to a report by The Atlantic on the same day, sources revealed that the White House is "actively discussing" the dismissal of FBI Director Kash Patel, Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, Chavez-Dremer and many other senior officials. Trump has not yet made a final decision.
Trump announced on the 2nd that Pam Bondi would no longer serve as Attorney General. Bondi becomes the second Cabinet member to be fired during Trump's second presidential term.
Previously, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem had been fired.
According to China Business News, according to tracking data from the Brookings Institution, an American think tank, the turnover rate of senior government officials in the first year of Trump's second term was 29%, slightly lower than the 35% turnover rate in the first term. However, the logic of personnel changes behind the data has undergone profound evolution.
Analysts say that Trump’s personnel reorganization is aimed at completing a defensive layout before the midterm elections in November this year to prevent the Democratic Party from gaining power in the election, which will hinder the confirmation process of administrative appointments next year.
In addition, poll pressure is also an important driver. According to a survey conducted by the polling agency YouGov at the end of March 2026, Trump's net public approval rating has fallen to a new low of -23%. Currently, only 35% of Americans approve of his performance in office, while the proportion of opponents is as high as 58%. Officials said that the White House believes that by further adjusting the cabinet, there is an opportunity to regain lost ground on the most critical election issue.
At the same time, the Associated Press reported on the 3rd local time that US President Trump asked Congress to increase the defense budget to US$1.5 trillion. In the outline of Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal released by the White House on the 3rd, the Pentagon's related plans for 2027 were confirmed. The White House summary said Trump's proposal would cut non-defense spending by 10% by transferring some responsibilities to state and local governments. As early as the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iraq war at the end of February, Trump had expressed his hope to increase defense spending. In addition, the Pentagon in March separately proposed US$200 billion for war expenses and replenishing ammunition and supplies.
