Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Acting Director Mick Mulvaney was rumored to be in the running to become President Donald Trump’s next chief of staff, however that job may have just fallen through the cracks.
Back in February, reports surfaced that Trump was asking advisers what they think of Mulvaney as a replacement for current Chief of Staff John Kelly. Then, rumors began to circle that Kelly could announce his departure in July, leaving Mulvaney as the frontrunner for the position.
But July came and went, without any departure announcement. Now, Kelly declared he’s not going anywhere, and committed to stick around the White House at least through the 2020 presidential election.
According to an article by Nancy Cook and Christopher Cadelago for Politico, Trump had even begun asking other members of the White House staff, “What do we think about Mick?”
However, Trump and Kelly’s relationship has returned to more stable grounds in recent weeks, and the president asked him to stay on as chief of staff for a while longer.
Previously, just before the June 22 deadline, the White House nominated Kathy Kraninger as the next permanent director of the CFPB. The Senate Banking Committee is set to vote on her nomination Thursday.
If confirmed, Mulvaney would go back to having just one job as head the Office of Management and Budget. Of course, if Kraninger is rejected by the Senate, Mulvaney will continue as the CFPB’s acting director for at least another 210 days, or until the White House nominates and the Senate confirms the next director.
Of course, the president could always change his mind, especially if there are any shifts in power after the midterm elections. Only time will tell.
