Trump rewards loyalists with prestigious government jobs while preparing to leave White House

Prominent roles go to president’s close allies and advisers, just as he’s set to leave the White House

President Donald Trump has offered some of his close allies and key advisers distinguished government roles in the final days of his White House tenure, appointing his former aide and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway to the board of visitors of the US Air Force Academy.

Several other prominent names were featured in the more than two dozen appointments the White House announced this week, including Elaine Chao, the Trump administration’s transportation secretary and wife to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. She has been appointed to the board of trustees of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The president also appointed Pamella DeVos, sister-in-law to his Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, to the Kennedy Center board of trustees. The DeVos family has consistently served as an influential and major donor to both the Republican Party and GOP candidates nationwide.

Lynn Friess, whose billionaire husband. Foster Friess was endorsed in his failed Wyoming gubernatorial bid, was also appointed by the president to the board of trustees of the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, alongside Ms Chao.

The White House announced the “key administration posts” in an announcement just weeks before the president is set to exit the Oval Office for the incoming administration.

They included roles on boards like the National Cancer Advisory Board and Puerto Rico’s Financial Oversight and Management Board.

Matt Schlapp, who has served as chairman of the American Conservative Union, was appointed to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board.

It remains unclear whether President-elect Joe Biden intends to reverse any of Mr Trump’s last-minute appointments.