Trump’s Cabinet reshuffle part of a presidential tradition

With the departure of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, we’ve now reached what can be called an actual Cabinet shakeup. Over the past six weeks, we’ve seen the resignation of Kristi Noem from the Department of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi from the Department of Justice, and Lori Chavez-DeRemer from the Department of Labor. When we include the departure of Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary and Secretary of the Navy (once a Cabinet-level position) John Phelan, it is clear the Trump administration is in the midst of an appointee overhaul.

Cabinet shakeups don’t come around often. They are risky because they are often interpreted as a sign of political desperation, but that is not always the case.

In the 1829-31 Petticoat Affair during President Andrew Jackson’s administration, Vice President John Calhoun inspired a Cabinet rebellion against Jackson over disapproval of Secretary of War John Eaton’s wife, Peggy. It was a