And creatures from the corporatist black lagoon just keep on coming.
In May, the Donald nominated Richard Ashooh to head up the Bureau of Industry and Security at the Commerce for Export Administration.
Heres a little background on Ashooh:
In 1995, Ashooh joined New Hampshire defense contractor Sanders, which manufactured electronics for the military, working his way up to be vice president of government relationsa lobbyist. Sanders was purchased by Lockheed, which later spun it off to BAE Systems, with Ashooh remaining with the company. In 2001, he was director of public affairs in BAE Systems North Americas Information and Electronic Warfare Systems division. In January 2003, he moved from New Hampshire to Maryland as BAEs vice president of legislative affairs to take advantage of his lobbying experience. Back in New Hampshire, he was the companys vice president of strategic relations and homeland security.
Remember Trumps lobbying ban?
That was then, this is now.
Back in April, Trump installed Benjamin Cassidy as assistant secretary for legislative affairs. Cassidy previously worked as a senior executive at Boeings international business sector and marketed Boeing military products abroad.
Then theres Jonathan Rath Hoffman, a member of the New Hampshire steering committee for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign. He was named assistant secretary for public affairs. Hoffman worked as a consultant to the Chertoff Group, the Homeland Security consulting firm. You can thank Chertoff the next time you go to the airport and are marched through a naked body radiation scanner. Hoffman is another Bush administration retread scooped up by Trump and crew. Hes connected to Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security, a death merchant lobbying group comprised of former officials from Raytheon, BAE Systems, SAIC, and other major defense contractors.
In March, Trump selected Pat Shanahan as deputy secretary of defense. Shanahan is a vice president at Boeing and formerly led the companys missile defense subsidiary.
Lets not forget former New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson. She worked as a consultant to a Lockheed Martin subsidiary. Then theres Elaine Duke, the nominee for deputy secretary of homeland security. She previously consulted for Booz Allen Hamilton, General Dynamics, and the Columbia Group.
Its one big happy death merchant family.