Baldwin calls on Trump to explain appointees to key drug-policy posts

Following reports that a 24-year-old with no relevant work experience served as deputy chief of staff for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin joined her colleagues in calling on President Trump to provide information on all political appointees serving in key drug policy positions.

The letter, which was led by Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., additionally called on the president to identify, nominate and confirm qualified leadership to ONDCP and the Drug Enforcement Administration with an urgency that matches the current crisis.

Additional signers include Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Richard Blumenthal, D-Ct., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

“As troubled as we are by (Taylor) Weyeneth’s appointment, your delay in nominating qualified leaders for ONDCP and the Drug Enforcement Administration is even more concerning," the senators wrote. "Both agencies have been without permanent, Senate-confirmed leadership since you took office — and you have not presented the Senate with qualified candidates for these positions."

They added, “You have claimed that that the opioid epidemic is a top priority for your administration, but the personnel you have staffing these key agencies — and the lack of nominees to head them — is cause for deep concern. This crisis knows no bounds, and we are committed to working across party lines with anyone who is serious about addressing this devastating epidemic.” 

The full letter is available here