President Donald Trump has elevated a Texas attorney and part-time salon owner to a senior diplomatic post with significant power over who can enter the United States. Mora Namdar, whose parents are Iranian immigrants, was sworn in this week as the State Department's new assistant secretary for the Bureau of Consular Affairs.
From Beauty Bar to Bureau Chief: An Unconventional Appointment
The 46-year-old's new role, confirmed on Friday 26 December 2025, places her in charge of visa approvals, passport issuance, and the welfare of American citizens abroad. Before this political appointment, Namdar ran her own law firm, Namdar Law, and founded a beauty business called Bam Beauty Bar, with several salons across Texas. The State Department's biography highlights her diverse background, noting she is an attorney licensed in Texas and Washington D.C., and previously worked for a Fortune 500 company.
Her law firm announced on Instagram it would cease operations following her promotion. Namdar's career also includes work on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa within the State Department.
Policy Stance and Project 2025 Background
Namdar's testimony before a Senate committee in October suggests her new role could directly impact migrants who have criticised the Trump administration. She stated she remains "steadfast" in ensuring U.S. visas are granted only to those who meet qualifications and that individuals who violate visa terms or U.S. laws will lose that privilege.
In her Senate statement, she aligned herself with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signalling a shared view that criticism of Israel and pro-Palestinian advocacy could be considered a threat to U.S. interests. This stance could lead to visa denials or revocations. She quoted Rubio, emphasising consular officers' responsibility to refuse visas to those who might undermine foreign policy.
Notably, Namdar contributed to the Project 2025 blueprint, a 900-page document outlining a potential conservative administration agenda. She authored a section on the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees news networks in regions with limited press freedom. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, she accused the agency of "espionage-related security risks" and called for its reform or complete shutdown. Her section also labelled media and academia as a "centre of Leftist power."
Potential Implications for Visa Applicants
This appointment places a political figure with clearly stated ideological positions in charge of a bureau that makes millions of individual decisions each year. Her public statements indicate a strict approach to visa adjudication, where political criticism could become a significant factor. The role's influence extends to the potential revocation of existing visas for those deemed to have violated terms or engaged in activities contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests as defined by the administration.
The move underscores the Trump administration's continued focus on aligning immigration and consular functions with its broader political objectives, potentially affecting students, workers, and travellers seeking entry to the United States.
