James Burnham is an attorney who served in the first Trump administration and as general counsel for Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency until June. Here’s why The Trump administration has shuttered, fired or targeted for resignation individuals, offices and agencies that could serve as a check on President Trump. Trump fired 2 of its members President Trump fired two Democratic appointees from the independent agency tasked with policing corporate America. He was investigating the Trump administration’s mass firings of probationary employees when Trump fired him on Feb. 7. How a distrust of experts is shaping government policy under Trump President Trump and members of his administration have often expressed a distrust of science and experts.