One Man, Many Hats: Here Is How Trump Officials Are Juggling Multiple Jobs

As US President Donald Trump pushes forward with a leaner federal government in his second term, an unusual governance trend has emerged—senior officials doubling and even tripling up on top-level roles. According to a report by The New York Times, six key Trump appointees are currently juggling multiple high-powered positions, a move the administration defends as efficient and cost-saving. But critics are sounding alarms over risks of mismanagement, burnout, and potential conflicts of interest.

Here are the six key figures juggling multiple roles in the Donald Trump administration:

Marco Rubio:
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also serving as interim National Security Adviser, Acting Director of USAID, and even the Acting Archivist of the National Archives. 

(Image Source: Reuters)

That’s four major hats, each requiring full-time leadership. Rubio, a former presidential contender and senator, is now in charge of everything from global diplomacy to safeguarding America's historical records—raising questions about divided attention and blurred institutional boundaries.

Sean Duffy:
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has unexpectedly added NASA Administrator to his portfolio after Jared Isaacman’s nomination was withdrawn. 

(Image Source: Reuters)

Duffy, whose expertise is rooted in domestic infrastructure, now leads the nation’s space exploration agency. Observers question whether he can realistically manage both ground transport and orbital missions, especially given NASA’s complex scientific and technological demands.

Douglas A. Collins:
Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas A. Collins has reportedly taken on advisory roles outside his department, including involvement in unrelated agency planning.

(Image Source: Reuters)

While Collins has focused on improving healthcare for veterans, his expansion into other domains is seen by critics as mission creep without accountability.

Ed Martin:
Denied Senate confirmation as US Attorney for Washington, D.C., Ed Martin now holds three significant roles within the Justice Department—all positions that don’t require Senate approval. Critics say the administration is using loopholes to bypass public scrutiny and stack the DOJ with political loyalists.

Jamieson Greer:
Greer is simultaneously acting as US Trade Representative and head of the Office of Government Ethics—a combination watchdogs say is inherently conflicted.

(Image Source: Reuters)

Promoting trade deals while enforcing ethical standards across federal agencies creates a “fox guarding the henhouse” dynamic, experts warn.

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Keith Sonderling:
Labour Secretary Keith Sonderling now also runs the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Though both are federal agencies, their missions are vastly different. Governance experts argue that this split responsibility risks diluting focus and undercutting effectiveness in both domains.

The White House argues that this strategy reflects a dynamic, loyal, and streamlined team. “President Trump's cabinet is second to none and has met the moment... harnessing its expertise,” said Deputy Press Secretary Harrison Fields.

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But critics, including Max Stier of the Partnership for Public Service, describe the practice as “horrible management” that undermines organizational structure and performance. Pete Piraino, a former ATF agent, noted that critical agencies like ATF and FEMA require full-time attention, not part-time oversight. Experts also raise red flags about potential conflicts of interest, especially where oversight bodies like the Office of Government Ethics are headed by individuals simultaneously negotiating trade or justice matters.