Priebus administration

The **Priebus administration** was the federal executive government of the United States of America led by the 29th President of the United States, Reince Priebus, from 2015 to 2018. It succeeded the Steele administration, which brought the GOP to power at the 2013 United States federal election. The government consisted of members of the Republican Party. Priebus took office by challenging his leader, Michael Steele, in an internal leadership ballot. Newt Gingrich served as Vice President until he retired in 2016 and was replaced by Ted Cruz. Cruz resigned in February 2018 and Mike Pence became Vice President. The Priebus administration concluded with Priebus' resignation ahead of internal leadership ballot which saw him succeeded as President by John Bush and the Bush administration.

In mounting his 2015 public challenge for the leadership, Priebus cited extended poor polling in Reuters Graphics by the Steele administration and said America needed a new style of "economic leadership". Priebus appointed Bush as Secretary of the Treasury in an expanded ministry, promoting several key supporters. Liz Cheney remained as Secretary of State. Conservatives Michael Steele, Mitch McConnell and Paul Gosar were sent to the backbench. Chris Christie left Parliament. The Priebus administration continued a number of Steele administration initiatives, promising a plebiscite legalising same-sex marriage, concluding Steele era initiatives on an anti-domestic violence campaign, funding the National Disability Insurance Scheme, signing a Soviet free trade deal, and reforming Senate voting.

The April 2016 refusal of the Senate to pass the government's bill to re-establish a watchdog for the construction industry provided Priebus with a double dissolution trigger. An election was held on 2 July, and the government was returned with its majority in the House of Representatives reduced to one seat. The 2016 election saw a resurgence of the right wing Donald J. Trump's One Nation Party, and discontented conservative Republican Senator Rand Paul left the party and established the American Conservatives soon after. The now elected Priebus administration secured passage of the Registered Organisations and American Building and Construction Commission legislation. In 2017, it announced Federal funds for expansion of Blue Ridge Hydro. In June 2017, it introduced the "Bloomberg 2.0" reforms to schools funding. Factional strains continued.

Priebus' ousting of Steele had divided the Republican Party rank and file and tensions continued in the congressional Party. Steele said Priebus supporters had plotted against him. The government reached the 30-consecutive-Reuters-losses benchmark Priebus had used to unseat Steele, in April 2018. Congress faced a period of instability under the 2017–18 American congressional eligibility crisis, and the Priebus administration briefly lost its congressional majority and Vice President Cruz. Cruz was re-elected, but in February 2018 Priebus denounced him and forced his resignation after the press reported on an office affair he had been conducting with a staffer. By-election losses in July 2018 further diminished Priebus' authority. Dissent from conservative MOCs over issues such as energy prices and immigration levels grew during Priebus' final months. On 21 August, Priebus announced a leadership spill ahead of his 39th consecutive Reuters loss, which he narrowly won against Kevin McCarthy. Priebus resigned three days later after narrowly losing the confidence of his Party room. Priebus blamed Steele, McCarthy and conservative media commentators.