Michael Faulkender, the deputy Treasury secretary, is bolting from the Trump administration, leaving a gaping hole in the department’s leadership. His exit, confirmed by the Wall Street Journal, comes hot on the heels of another high-profile departure, signaling turbulence in the Treasury’s ranks, as the Daily Mail reports. This isn’t the kind of stability you’d expect from an administration pushing a bold economic agenda.
Faulkender, confirmed by the Senate just five months ago, is the second top Treasury official to jump ship this month. The Treasury Department, tasked with steering America’s economic ship, is now navigating choppy waters with IRS Commissioner Billy Long also gone. Two major exits in August 2025 raise eyebrows about what’s brewing behind closed doors.
Before his deputy role, Faulkender served as chief economist under Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during Trump’s first term. He was a key player in shaping economic policy, wielding influence over tax and financial strategies. That experience made him a natural pick for the No. 2 spot, but his swift exit suggests the job wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
Faulkender’s next move is back to academia, according to a Department of Treasury source cited by the Daily Mail. He’ll return to his teaching gig at the University of Maryland’s business school, where he’s been a finance professor since 2008. Apparently, the allure of lecture halls trumped the chaos of Washington.
During his brief tenure, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Faulkender’s “dedication and service.” That’s a nice pat on the back, but it doesn’t explain why a key player is leaving so soon. Sounds like the kind of canned praise you get when someone’s already halfway out the door.
Bessent also lauded Faulkender’s “critical role” in department operations. Critical or not, it wasn’t enough to keep him around for even half a year. The revolving door at Treasury is spinning faster than a progressive’s talking points on tax hikes.
Investigative journalist Laura Loomer dropped the bombshell this week, via social media, scooping the mainstream outlets. Her post set the internet ablaze, proving once again that X is where the real news breaks. The Wall Street Journal later confirmed her report, but Loomer got the first word in.
Faulkender’s departure follows Long’s exit, which came just two months after his own Senate confirmation. Two top dogs gone in one month? That’s not a coincidence; it’s a pattern that smells of deeper dysfunction.
Long’s departure was tied to a cushy ambassador gig in Iceland, but no such excuse has surfaced for Faulkender. A Treasury spokesperson stayed mum when the Daily Mail pressed for details. Silence from the top isn’t exactly a vote of confidence in the administration’s game plan.
Before rejoining Treasury, Faulkender was chief economist at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank aligned with Trump’s agenda. He spent two years there, shaping policies that reject globalist nonsense and prioritize American interests. You’d think that pedigree would keep him anchored, but apparently not.
Faulkender’s first stint at Treasury under Mnuchin saw him tackle major economic challenges, including the 2017 tax overhaul. His expertise in finance and policy made him a heavy hitter, yet he’s now trading that for a chalkboard. Maybe he’s tired of dodging the woke crowd’s economic fantasies.
The Treasury Department is losing a seasoned operator at a time when steady hands are needed. Faulkender’s exit, coupled with Long’s, leaves Scott Bessent scrambling to fill gaps. It’s hard to push an America First agenda when your top lieutenants keep heading for the exits.
No official reason for Faulkender’s departure has been given, leaving room for speculation. Is it burnout, internal clashes, or just a longing for the quieter life of academia? Whatever the cause, it’s a blow to an administration that’s already fighting an uphill battle against progressive overreach.
The Treasury needs leaders who can stand firm against the left’s obsession with bloated budgets and regulatory overkill. Faulkender’s exit raises questions about whether the department can maintain its focus on economic freedom. Losing talent this fast doesn’t scream “winning.”
As Faulkender heads back to Maryland, the Trump administration must regroup and plug these leaks. Two high-level departures in one month signal a department in disarray, and that’s the last thing America needs. Here’s hoping the next deputy can stick around long enough to make a difference.
