In a significant move that places a unique figure at the helm of America's entry gates, former President Donald Trump has appointed Mora Namdar as the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. This critical role puts her directly in charge of the massive machinery that issues US passports and approves visas, granting her substantial authority over who gets to enter or stay in the United States. The appointment comes at a time when immigration and travel regulations are once again a central, heated focus of the administration.
Who Is Mora Namdar? A Profile of the New Visa Chief
Mora Namdar is a US attorney and government official with deep roots in Texas and a background that sets her apart from typical diplomatic appointees. She is the daughter of Iranian immigrants and is fluent in Persian. Her career has been heavily focused on US foreign policy, with years of experience dealing with issues related to the Middle East and North Africa. This is not her first time leading the consular bureau; she previously served as the acting Assistant Secretary in the same role back in 2020 during Trump's first term.
Before this latest promotion, Namdar held several senior positions within the State Department, including work in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. She also served in legal and compliance roles at the US Agency for Global Media. Parallel to her public service, she was the founder of her own law firm, though she recently stated the firm is no longer actively operating as she dedicates herself fully to her government duties.
An Unconventional Background: The Beauty Salon Business
Outside the corridors of power in Washington, Mora Namdar is known for a decidedly different venture. She is the owner of a mini-chain of beauty salons in Texas operating under the brand name 'Bam'. These salons specialise in blowouts, professional makeup, hair extensions, and styling for special events.
In past interviews, Namdar described her beauty brand as "fun and cheeky," revealing that the original salon was inspired by friends asking her to do their makeup for weddings. She has expressed a philosophy of treating beauty and styling as an art form rather than just a routine service. For years, she managed to balance running these salons with her demanding legal and government work—a dual career path that has now sparked considerable public discussion following her elevation to one of the State Department's most powerful operational posts.
The Power of the Role and Links to Project 2025
The position of Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs is one of immense influence. The bureau oversees millions of passport applications every year and is central to every decision on who receives, keeps, or loses a US visa. Consular officers under Namdar's leadership have the authority to deny or revoke visas on grounds ranging from national security concerns to broader foreign policy objectives. In Senate testimony, Namdar herself has framed visa adjudication as a critical national security function, advocating for broad US discretion to refuse entry to individuals deemed detrimental to American interests.
Namdar's appointment also draws attention due to her connection with Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative agenda shaping Trump's second term. She contributed to this project by authoring a section sharply critical of the US Agency for Global Media. In her contribution, she accused the agency of mismanagement and security risks and called for major reforms or even its closure. Although Trump attempted to distance himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, the appointment of many of its contributors, like Namdar, to senior roles suggests its priorities are being implemented through key personnel choices.
This appointment underscores the administration's focus on placing trusted allies in positions with direct control over immigration—a perennial hot-button issue. Namdar's blend of consular experience, legal acumen, policy work, and an unconventional private-sector background makes her one of the most distinctive figures to assume this powerful role in recent memory.
