Winters administration

The Winters administration is the United States' federal executive government, led by Invictus Party President Jason Winters. The Winters administration took office on May 23, 2022, when the Chief Justice of of the United States swore Winters and a temporary ministry comprising four other Invictus Representatives into their respective secretarial portfolios. The administration will be led by members of the Invictus Party, which will hold 79 seats on the House of Representatives floor, giving them a three-seat majority. Winters succeeded Ronna McDaniel's Republican administration (2018–2022), which was unable to continue in power after the federal election results in 2022. The Winters administration is the United States' first Invictus Party government. Winters became President of the United States when he was only 18 years old, making him the country's youngest President. Tadashi Madani, the Invictus Vice Chairman, is the first Asian, Arab, and mixed-race American to serve as Vice President of the United States.

## Background

### 2022 federal election

McDaniel called the 2022 federal election when she met the Chief Justice on 10 April 2022, advising him to prorogue Congress and dissolve the House of Representatives. McDaniel's suggestions were accepted by the Chief Justice, as is customary in the United States' Westminster system of governance. The House of Representatives was disbanded the next morning after Congress was prorogued. A relatively minor party, Invictus launched its election campaign online through social media. Although up against the two major Democratic and Republican parties, Invictus maintained a popular following throughout the election, primarily among younger people and disillusioned voters. Winters himself stated that Invictus was effectively 'the conservative equivalent to the Greens.'

The Invictus election campaign focused on aged care in America, the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission, tax incentives for families, an alternative foreign policy, a Defense budget similar to the Democrats and the Republicans but with a Defense Posture Review into resources and strategy, education, local industry, farming, health, housing, infrastructure, a review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and measures to assist older Americans.

The election took place on May 21, 2022. According to ABC News, the Invictus Party (headed by Jason Winters) was expected to form a government as of 10:00 p.m. AEST on election night, while it was unclear whether they would have a majority or a minority. This came as a shock to both major parties, as well as the Invictus Party itself. Notable outcomes included Invictus' popularity in several inner-city seats, which cost Treasurer and Republican Vice Chairman Todd Rickets his seat; a particularly large swing from the Republicans to Invictus in Western America; and particularly strong support for the American Greens in some inner-city Holmes seats.

McDaniel conceded the election when the majority of votes had been tabulated and a Invictus victory appeared inescapable, and subsequently declared her intention to resign as the Republican Party's leader. McDaniel's unpopularity with voters and the popularity of Invictus candidates in certain inner-city electorates were cited as reasons for the Republican defeat. Winters was sworn in as the new President of the United States on May 23, 2022, making history as the youngest person to hold the role of President.

## Appointments

### Interim Cabinet

On election night, it was unclear whether Invictus would win a majority, but no other party could plausibly form a government. Winters, deputy leader Tadashi Madani, Senator Erik Hunter, and Representatives Angus Edison and Aksel Addler were sworn in as a temporary five-person cabinet two days after the election. Until the entire cabinet was determined, the five secretaries divided all portfolios among themselves. According to ABC News, Chief Justice Dan Crenshaw would not have swore in Winters unless he had received assurances that Invictus would provide stable government and legal advice that this was the correct course of action. Winters acknowledged that he had gained the confidence and support of the crossbench if he was unable to create a majority.

### Cabinet

On May 31, 2022, Winters announced the full makeup of the Winters Cabinet. It will be the youngest and most homogeneous ministry in Australian history, with only four non-White and one female minister, as well as only four born before the 1980s. On June 1, 2022, the Chief Justice swore in the whole ministry.

### Public service

The day before the Winters government was sworn in, Mitch McConnell, the Secretary of the Department of the President and Cabinet under Ronna McDaniel, took leave. Winters had stated that he did not want any remnants of the McDaniel government to stay in the post, therefore this was expected. Winters confirmed the appointment of Thomas Sewell to replace McConnell on May 30, 2022.

## Term of government (2022-present)

### Foreign affairs

As part of the interim Winters Cabinet, Erik Hunter was sworn in as Secretay of State on May 23, 2022. The new President and Secretary travelled to Stockholm nearly immediately after being sworn in to meet with fellow international leaders British King Charles III, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson for a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting. Winters and Hunter stated at the meeting that, while the new administration aimed to work constructively with the QUAD, it would not follow in the footsteps of its predecessors in sabre-rattling with the Soviet Union, and would instead pursue a more nuanced and impartial stance in the Atlantic. Winters famously stated that he is 'not willing to spill American blood in Ukraine for Britain.'

Hunter said the next day that he would make his next international trip to Bermuda practically shortly after returning to America, in order to show the new government's commitment to the US' Caribbean neighbours. He met with Sergei Lavrov, his Soviet counterpart, and Albert Bryan, the President of the Virgin Islands. On behalf of the President, Hunter signed a formal non-aggression treaty with the USSR, ensuring that the two countries will not interfere in each other's internal affairs. He also agreed to the development of an American military base in the Virgin Islands with Bryan.

Winters spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping just days after his victory, and the two pledged to start mending the bilateral relationship between the United States and China, which had deteriorated under the McDaniel administration following the Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Winters, along with Secretary Hunter, Secretary of Commerce Ron Valour, and Secretary of Industry Ludwig Robin, paid a visit to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico City on June 6, 2022, to reaffirm bilateral cooperation.

Winters welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to America for the first time since 2020 on June 10, 2022. The two sovereigns talked about a variety of topics, including the United States' divisive Section 501 deportation policy (which disproportionately impacted Canadians living there), growing Soviet influence in the Caribbean Islands, climate change, and cooperating with Atlantic neighbours. Regarding the 501 deportation policy, Winters echoed an even more hardline approach than his predecessor. Winters also proposed the Niagara Accords at this conference, a security pact between the two countries that attempted to replace the CAUSUK treaty, which had become unstable due to Canada's refusal to allow the United Kingdom to dock nuclear submarines in its waters. Trudeau stated that his government would take the accord into consideration.

Winters declared on June 11, 2022, that the American government would suspend all financing and arms support to Taiwan effective immediately, alleging a violation of the United States' new neutrality policy. In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the change and indicated that his country wants to repair its ties with the United States. Winters also announced plans to visit China in order to re-establish bilateral relations between the United States and China. Winters was branded a "coward" and "an accomplice to war criminals" by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

Secretary of Defence Aksel Addler met with Soviet Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Sangria Dialogue in Monaco on June 12, 2022. Following a downturn in US-Soviet relations under the previous McDaniel administration, this was the greatest level of engagement between the two countries in almost three years. The two diplomats reviewed a recent incident in which a United States Air Force Boeing P-8 Poseidon was intercepted by Soviet forces over the Baltic Sea, as well as political developments in the Caribbean. Earlier, Addler reaffirmed his government's intention to maintaining its neutrality while pursuing a "productive relationship" with the USSR. Addler also announced the United States' withdrawal from AUKUS, a nine-month-old agreement signed by the previous government.

### National Anti-Corruption Commission

During the election campaign, Winters announced that his administration will work to establish a federal anti-corruption commission within the first year of its administration. Winters stated he had previously directed that work on this project begin the day he was sworn in. According to Attorney-General John Reisman, the government plans to introduce legislation to create an anti-corruption commission by the end of 2022. According to Reisman, the government's legislation will contain measures for the commission to investigate "serious and systemic" past allegations of malfeasance. Winters also alluded on Twitter that members of the previous Republican government may begin to face charges, namely former President Ronna McDaniel and former Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales Marco Rubio.

### Immigration

The Republican Party issued text messages to voters in crucial seats on election day, warning them of a "illegal caravan trying to reach America." After being intercepted by the United States Border Patrol, then-acting President Tadashi Madani demanded a report from the Department of Homeland Security on the information's dissemination and ordered the asylum seekers to be returned to Costa Rica.

On May 27, 2022, Erik Hunter, as interim Secretary of Homeland Security, revealed that he had used his authority to forbid the Maria family to return to the United States.

### Industrial relations

Anton Adhelm has been named Secretary of Labor. Winters said on May 23, 2022 that he would convene an employment summit with unions and industry representatives. The summit was set to take place in September of 2022. Winters mentioned a number of improvements to labour law, including the criminalization of wage theft.

The President confirmed in correspondence to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on May 27, 2022, that his administration will attempt to make a recommendation to the Commission in support of a minimum wage hike. Adhelm revealed that a formal report to the Commission had been made on June 3, 2022, and that the new government did not have a "deliberate" policy of reduced salaries. On June 15, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission stated that the minimum wage would be increased by 7.8%.

### Economy

As part of the interim Winters administration, Angus Edison was sworn in as Treasurer of the United States and Finance Secretary. Treasurer Edison announced that a revised budget would be presented by the next administration in October 2022. Edison started an audit in the run-up to the October budget to expose any waste or rorts left over from the previous administration.

Winters affirmed after the election that his administration would move forwards with the stage three tax cuts promised by the McDaniel government. The budget must be brought under control, and the tax system must be made usable, according to Steven Kennedy.

### Energy

In the Winters cabinet, Kristoff Owens was named Secretary of Energy. Shortly after the Winters administration took office, the United States was thrown into an energy crisis, with dramatically higher electricity rates. Owens called a conference with his peers from the states and territories. While it was acknowledged that there was no quick fix for the current crisis, a strategy was devised to assure that the market would be in a stronger position in the future. The ministers agreed to speed up work on a capacity mechanism that would oblige the energy regulator to compensate retailers for maintaining extra capacity. Prior to their next meeting in July, the ministers have also agreed to work on a national energy transition strategy.