Overview

• George E. Bogden, executive director of the Office of Trade Relations at Customs and Border Protection, was asked to resign over alleged ties to Miles Taylor, author of the 2018 anonymous op-ed critical of Trump.
• The dismissal was reportedly based on a Facebook photo showing Bogden attending Taylor’s 2019 wedding, though sources indicate the two men were not close and few were aware of Taylor's role in the op-ed at the time.
• President Trump has maintained a years-long fixation on the op-ed, directing the Justice Department to investigate Taylor and others, including Bogden, and revoking their security clearances.
• Bogden’s removal marks the first high-level ousting tied to the op-ed saga and raises concerns about the politicization of security clearances and loyalty tests within the administration.
• His departure is seen as a significant setback for the administration's tariff team, potentially complicating the implementation of new trade policies.