President Donald Trump has appointed an attorney who also owns a chain of beauty salons to one of the most powerful roles in U.S. immigration policy — overseeing who is allowed to enter the country.
The State Department announced that Mora Namdar has been promoted to assistant secretary for consular affairs, a post responsible for passport services, visa approvals, and visa revocations worldwide. The position gives its holder sweeping authority over foreign travel to the United States.
Namdar previously served in the role on an interim basis during Trump’s first term in 2020 and was most recently working on U.S. foreign policy related to the Middle East and North Africa.
A Rare Career Mix
Alongside her government work, Namdar is the owner of Bam, a small chain of beauty salons in Texas with locations in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Plano. The salons offer hairstyling, makeup services, and events, and have expanded into extensions, bridal services, and off-site beauty experiences.
In past interviews, Namdar described the original salon as a creative space inspired by Parisian design and built from friends asking her to do makeup for weddings. At the same time, she ran a solo law practice, which she announced on Christmas Day is no longer active.
Influence Over Immigration and Media Policy
Namdar’s elevation follows her involvement in Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint that has shaped parts of Trump’s second-term agenda. According to reporting by the Columbia Journalism Review, she authored a section focused on the U.S. Agency for Global Media, sharply criticizing the federal body that oversees outlets such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe and calling for major reforms or closure.
Her Senate confirmation earlier this month places her at the helm of a bureau that directly controls visa adjudications — a function she described during her confirmation hearing as central to national security. Namdar said consular officers have the authority to revoke visas from individuals deemed to undermine U.S. foreign policy.
Scrutiny and Defense
Reports from multiple outlets have said Namdar’s earlier interim leadership role sparked internal concerns within the State Department about morale and management. Her new appointment comes as the administration expands restrictions on foreign nationals entering the U.S., including recent actions targeting individuals accused of censoring American viewpoints on social media.
The State Department pushed back strongly against criticism of her background. Deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott called portrayals of Namdar’s career “sexist,” describing her as a qualified lawyer, business owner, and public servant.
Part of a Broader Strategy
While Trump sought to distance himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, analysts note that many of its goals have been implemented through key personnel appointments. Similar attention has been drawn to Brendan Carr, another Project 2025 contributor now leading a major federal agency.
Together, these appointments underscore the administration’s belief that staffing decisions are central to reshaping policy — particularly in areas touching immigration, media regulation, and national security.