A Cabinet member in President Donald Trump's administration reportedly took advantage of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles' absence to secure a high-ranking appointment for a longtime associate, according to a report by Tom Latchem of PunchUp.

Wiles, who exercises considerable control over access to the president, reportedly learned of the nomination of Richard "Lance" Schroyer to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the same way the general public did — through a post on Truth Social.

ICE, an agency within the Department of Homeland Security with approximately 20,000 personnel, is responsible for immigration enforcement within the United States, including the identification, apprehension, detention, and removal of individuals who violate federal immigration law. The agency has been central to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement agenda, making its leadership a focal point of broader policy debates over border security and interior enforcement.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin visited the president on Saturday, June 27, while senior White House staff were away. According to Latchem's reporting, Wiles was in Charlottesville, Virginia, attending her daughter Caroline's wedding that day. White House adviser Stephen Miller, who leads Trump's immigration policy efforts, and border czar Tom Homan were also absent.

Mullin used the opportunity to personally advocate for Schroyer, his longtime associate and current senior adviser, to lead ICE. Trump announced Schroyer's nomination on Truth Social later that day, a move that multiple senior officials described as "blindsiding," as they learned of the decision through social media rather than through internal administration channels.

Schroyer, 54, has drawn significant scrutiny since the announcement, with critics questioning his qualifications to lead a federal agency of ICE's size and scope. Reports indicate that he was selected largely on the basis of his longstanding personal relationship with Mullin rather than relevant professional credentials. Concerns have also been raised about his resume and alleged past disputes over child support obligations.

A White House spokesperson pushed back against the characterization that the senior team had been caught off guard. The spokesperson stated that Trump "has always been the decision maker on who he nominates for vacancies in the Administration."

Schroyer remains unconfirmed. The House is currently in recess, and no confirmation hearing date has been scheduled. Trump's formal nomination paperwork was submitted to the Senate on July 20. If confirmed, Schroyer would replace Todd Lyons, who departed the agency in May. No ICE director has received Senate confirmation since 2017, a gap that has persisted across two administrations and left the agency under acting or interim leadership.

Source: PunchUp / Tom Latchem