Article Link: https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/how-game-theory-explains-the-leaks-in-the-trump-white-house
The last few years have seen the Trump Administration littered with leaked information of various proportions. From the constant waves of firings and replacements among the staff, it is clear that there is significant instability within the Trump White House. As a result of this, officials do not necessarily trust each other and they have become more prone to leaks. Many have been highly publicized such as an official saying the respected late Senator John McCain’s opinions did not matter “because he was dying”. We can analyze the Trump Administration’s information security from a game theory perspective.
We can view the situation in the lens of conflict and cooperation. Cooperation usually leads to the best result where members of the White House team can successfully work together and trust each other. However, this ideal situation is clearly not the case with the Trump White House. The instability has created an environment that does not foster trust. As one White House correspondent said “Sensitive Oval Office conversations have leaked, and so have talks in cabinet meetings and the Situation Room. You name it, they leak it”.
The staffers in the White House can be viewed as prisoners in the famous Prisoner’s Dilemma. In many situations it is in everyone’s best interest to keep information secret as with the McCain remarks. This is similar to both prisoners refusing to talk. However, there is a critical difference in that prisoners could not communicate and these staffers can, although there is an obvious risk with communicating about leaking information. There were much fewer leaks in the Obama administration because there was less instability and more trust between staffers. On the other hand, some have described the Trump administration as a never-ending Mexican standoff between various officials. As these “prisoners” cannot trust each other, they often choose to leak information (akin to confessing). This has resulted in highly embarrassing public leaks.
There is no easy way to resolve this issue in any way other than fostering the development of trust. However, this does not to seem to be the path taken as there is still much instability with the recent resignation of the attorney general and the ever continuing leaks.