Key Takeaways
- The federal government announced a series of senior‑level appointments and acting roles across defense, homeland security, labor, the Federal Trade Commission, the State Department, the Treasury, and FEMA.
- Many of the new positions require Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation (PAS), underscoring the administration’s focus on filling key policy and oversight posts.
- Several appointees bring extensive private‑sector experience (e.g., Moelis & Company, UBS Asset Management, LongView International Technology Solutions) to government leadership roles.
- Acting designations are being used to ensure continuity while formal confirmation processes proceed, particularly at the Treasury and Homeland Security.
- The appointments reflect priority areas such as cybersecurity, Arctic affairs, economic policy, budget and financial management, international affairs, and emergency management.
Overview of Recent Federal Personnel Changes
In mid‑2026 the federal government rolled out a batch of high‑profile personnel moves, many of which were announced through Leadership Connect and reported by Federal News Network. The changes span civilian leadership positions within the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Federal Trade Commission, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. While some appointees are career senior executives moving into new billets, others are presidential nominees awaiting Senate confirmation or already confirmed and preparing to be sworn in. The following sections break down each notable change, highlighting the individual’s new title, agency, and recent background.
Kerianne N. Tobitsch – New General Counsel at NSA/CSS
Kerianne N. Tobitsch has been appointed General Counsel for the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, operating under the Office of the Secretary of Defense within the Department of Defense. She serves in the Career Senior Executive Service (CA/SES). Prior to this role, Tobitsch was Deputy General Counsel at the Office of the General Counsel for the Office of the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, a position she held from 2025 to 2026. Her background in legal counsel across two major security agencies positions her to advise on complex national‑security legal matters, oversight, and compliance at the NSA/CSS.
Muhammad Ali Butt, CISSP, PMP – Acting Director, Cyber Security and CISO at DOL
Muhammad Ali Butt, who holds CISSP and PMP certifications, has been named Acting Director of Cyber Security and Chief Information Security Officer within the Cybersecurity Directorate of the Office of the Chief Information Officer at the Department of Labor. He remains in the Career Senior Executive Service (CA/SES). Before this appointment, Butt served as Division Director of Information Security Policy & Planning in the same directorate from 2018 to 2025. His extensive experience in cybersecurity policy and infrastructure equips him to lead DOL’s cyber‑risk management and incident response efforts during the acting period.
Ian Mason – Chief Technology Officer at the FTC
Ian Mason has been appointed Chief Technology Officer for the Office of Technology at the Federal Trade Commission, serving in the Non‑Career Senior Executive Service (NA/SES). He previously acted in the same role from 2025 to 2026, providing continuity as the FTC seeks to modernize its technological capabilities. Mason’s background likely includes oversight of IT infrastructure, data analytics, and emerging‑technology initiatives that support the FTC’s consumer protection and competition missions.
Dr. Julia Nesheiwat – Ambassador‑at‑Large for the Arctic (Designate)
Dr. Julia Nesheiwat has been designated Ambassador‑at‑Large for the Arctic, a presidential appointment requiring Senate confirmation, situated in the Office of the Secretary at the Department of State. Her most recent role was a Visiting Fellow at the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, spanning 2026. The Arctic ambassadorial post underscores the administration’s emphasis on polar affairs, climate change, and international cooperation in the region, pending her formal confirmation and swearing‑in.
Sriprakash Kothari – Incoming Assistant Secretary for Economic Policy at Treasury
Sriprakash Kothari has been named Assistant Secretary (Incoming) at the Office of Economic Policy within the Office of the Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Treasury, a PAS position. The Senate confirmed his nomination on August 7 2026, though his swear‑in date is still under review. Prior to this appointment, Kothari served as Director and Chief Economist at the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from 2019 to 2021. His expertise in economic analysis and financial regulation is expected to shape Treasury’s domestic and international economic policy agenda.
Edward “Ed” Eppler – Incoming Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs & CFO at DOT
Edward “Ed” Eppler has been appointed Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer (Incoming) at the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, located in the Office of the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Transportation, also a PAS role. The Senate confirmed his nomination on August 7 2026, with the swear‑in date pending. Before joining DOT, Eppler was a Managing Director at Moelis & Company, bringing substantial private‑sector experience in financial advisory and capital markets to oversee the department’s budgeting, financial management, and program execution.
Erin Browne – Incoming Under Secretary for International Affairs at Treasury
Erin Browne has been named Under Secretary (Incoming) at the Office of International Affairs within the Office of the Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Treasury, a PAS appointment. Her nomination was confirmed by the Senate on August 7 2026, and her swear‑in date is forthcoming. Browne most recently served as Managing Director and Head of Asset Allocation at UBS Asset Management, part of UBS Group AG. Her background in global asset allocation and investment strategy is poised to inform Treasury’s international financial engagements and policy coordination.
George Hunter McMaster II – Incoming Assistant Secretary for Financial Markets at Treasury
George Hunter McMaster II has been appointed Assistant Secretary (Incoming) at the Office of Financial Markets, Office of Domestic Finance, within the Department of the Treasury, also a PAS position. The Senate confirmed his nomination on August 7 2026; the exact swear‑in date is still being researched. Prior to this, McMaster served as Acting Assistant Secretary in the same office from 2025 to 2026, providing continuity in oversight of domestic financial markets, regulatory policy, and market stability initiatives.
Francis John Brooke Jr. – Acting Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
Francis John Brooke Jr. has been named Deputy Secretary (Acting) at the Office of the Deputy Secretary, Office of the Secretary, within the Department of the Treasury, a PAS role. His nomination was confirmed by the Senate on August 7 2026, and he is currently serving in an acting capacity while the formal swear‑in process concludes. Brooke Jr. previously acted as Under Secretary at the Office of International Affairs, Office of the Deputy Secretary, Treasury, from 2026 to 2026. His acting deputy secretary position places him at the forefront of Treasury’s overall management and interagency coordination.
Cameron “Cam” Hamilton – Administrator of FEMA
Cameron “Cam” Hamilton has been appointed Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, located within the Office of the Administrator at FEMA, part of the Department of Homeland Security. This is a PAS appointment. Before joining FEMA, Hamilton was Vice President, Division 4 at LongView International Technology Solutions Inc., serving from 2025 to 2026. His experience leading technology‑focused divisions equips him to steer FEMA’s operational readiness, disaster response modernization, and intergovernmental cooperation efforts.
Conclusion
These personnel shifts illustrate the administration’s strategy of blending career civil servants with private‑sector experts and policy specialists to fill critical leadership roles across national security, economic policy, cybersecurity, international affairs, and emergency management. The reliance on Presidential Appointment with Senate Confirmation for many of the posts highlights the administration’s intent to secure Senate‑vetted authority for high‑impact positions, while acting appointments ensure continuity during confirmation delays. Collectively, the changes aim to strengthen the federal government’s capacity to address emerging challenges ranging from Arctic geopolitics and financial market regulation to cyber threat mitigation and disaster resilience.