GRAPHICS

Donald Trump

Details on Trump's Cabinet picks: A look at the familiar (and controversial) nominees

USA TODAY

Nov. 19, 2024Updated Nov. 27, 2024, 9:28 a.m. ET

President-elect Donald Trump has named his Cabinet choices for his second term in office, including a few controversial candidates who could face opposition in Senate confirmations.

Candidate Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration as attorney general on Nov. 21. Trump named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to fill the position.

Trump’s nominees, all of them allies, are drawing national scrutiny because Cabinet members run major federal agencies, oversee billions of dollars in funding, and advise the president on major issues.

Recess appointments: How Trump could use them for controversial candidates.

They can also influence their departments by altering priorities, promoting one program over another, and shaping political policy.

All nominees are vetted with background checks. The Senate controls the approval process, including hearings for high-level candidates. The vice president and White House chief of staff aren’t subject to Senate approval.

Here are Trump's Cabinet and department nominees:

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Brooke Rollins | Secretary of Agriculture

Who: Brooke Rollins is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative, non-profit, pro-Trump think tank she formed in 2021, USA TODAY reported.
When: Nov. 23
More: Rollins was chief of Trump's Domestic Policy Council in his first administration.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? Agriculture oversees programs on food supply, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and others. Its budget was $437.2 billion in 2024. About 70% of the department's budget covers programs such as free school lunches and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Washington Post reported.

Scott Bessent | Secretary of the Treasury

Who: Scott Bessent is a hedge fund manager and the former chief investment officer of Soros Fund Management.
When: Nov. 22.
More: Bessent has supported Trump’s economic policy of deregulation, increasing domestic energy production and tax cuts, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? Treasury is responsible for maintaining the economy and managing the government's finances.

Russell Vought | Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Who: Russell Vought is a co-author of the conservative Project 2025 who has pushed for strong presidential powers to limit the federal bureaucracy.
When: Nov. 22.
More: Vought was budget director during Trump's first term in office. He has a list of executive orders the next president should take, including reinstating Trump's orders on the regulatory process that President Joe Biden overturned, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The OMB oversees federal agencies and manages the federal budget.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer | Secretary of Labor

Who: Lori Chavez-DeRemer a Republican, is the U.S. representative for the 5th congressional district of Oregon. She lost her bid for reelection in November.
When: Nov. 22.
More: Chavez-DeRemer was endorsed by the largest federal employees union and numerous public safety unions, as well as United Food and Commercial Workers In her 2024 race, USA TODAY reported. She's one of three Republican House cosponsors of a sweeping pro-union bill called the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does department do? Labor oversees manages job safety rules, wage and hour standards and unemployment insurance benefits.

Janette Nesheiwat | US Surgeon General

Who: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat is a Fox News medical contributor. She's a Medical Director at CityMD, a network of urgent care centers in New York and New Jersey, USA TODAY reported, and was a physician at Washington Regional Medical Center and at Northwest Medical Hospital.
When: Nov. 22.
More: Nesheiwat hosted an educational medical television show entitled Family Health Today as well as Health Minute with Dr. Janette on KNWA-TV, an NBC affiliate in Northwest Arkansas, according to her bio listed on Fox News website.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the surgeon general do? The Surgeon General is the chief medical doctor and health educator for the U.S.

Scott Turner | Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Who: Scott Turner is a former NFL player and state representative of the 33rd district in Texas.
When: Nov. 22.
More: Turner served as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in Trump’s first administration, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? HUD oversees programs for housing needs of low and moderate-income families and access to homeownership. It also handles housing discrimination cases.

Pam Bondi: Attorney general

Who: Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019. She was Florida's first female state attorney general.
When: Nov. 21.
More: Bondi served as one of Trump's defense attorneys during the first of his two impeachment trials. Trump was acquitted. She was among a group of Republicans who attended Trump's hush-money trial in New York earlier this year in support of Trump, USA TODAY reported. The New York Times reported Bondi supported Trump's claims of a fraudulent 2020 election. In 2013, the Trump Foundation donated $25,000 to a political action committee backing Bondi, a potential violation of a federal ban on charities aiding political candidates, Reuters reported, when Bondi was deciding whether to investigate Trump University, a for-profit venture teaching business. Bondi declined to investigate but Trump later paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty for violating tax laws in making the contribution, the Washington Post reported. Aides later said the donation was a mistake.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do?The DOJ enforces federal laws, including those for civil rights, and for public safety.

Linda McMahon: Secretary of Education

Who: Linda McMahon, former professional wrestling executive and former head of the Small Business Administration, was named by Trump to lead the Department of Education.
When: Nov. 19.
More: McMahon was administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term from 2017 to 2019. She ran as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Connecticut but lost to current Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal in 2010.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? Education provides some funding for public schools, administers federal student aid programs, and collects data on US education. Trump has said he wants to close the department.

Howard Lutnick: Secretary of Commerce

Who:Howard Lutnick was named by Trump to head the Department of Commerce.
When: Nov. 19.
More: Lutnick is CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and the co-chair of Trump's transition team, assisting in filling 4,000 political positions in the federal government, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? Commerce oversees conditions for job creation and economic growth.

Sean Duffy: Secretary of Transportation

Who: Sean Duffy was named by Trump to head the Department of Transportation.
When: Nov. 18.
More: Duffy is a co-host of "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business and served as a congressman for Wisconsin's 7th congressional district in the northwest part of the state from 2011 to 2019, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The DOT regulates all major types of transportation in the U.S.

Chris Wright: Secretary of Energy

Who:Chris Wright was named by Trump to head the Department of Energy.
When: Nov. 16.
More: Wright is CEO of Liberty Energy, based in Colorado. In addition to Energy, Wright will be a member of Trump's newly formed Council of National Energy. He's also disputed global warming, saying, "There is no climate crisis and we're not in the midst of an energy transition either," reported USA TODAY.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The Energy Department oversees the nation's energy policy, manages nuclear plants and reactors and is responsible for the security of nuclear weapons.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Secretary of Health and Human Services

Who:Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was named by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
When: Nov. 14.
More: Kennedy has spread conspiracy theories about vaccines, the COVID-19 pandemic and more.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The HHS oversees the health of Americans with food and drug safety programs, public health services, and health insurance.

Doug Burgum: Secretary of the Interior

Who: Gov. Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota since 2016, was named by Trump to become the Secretary of the Interior on Nov. 14. Trump said the announcement would be official the following day.
When: Nov. 15.
More: Burgum is a wealthy software executive who ran unsuccessfully against Trump for the Republican nomination in 2023 before dropping out. He later became a Trump supporter.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The Interior Department oversees federal land, including national parks and monuments, and administers programs involving native tribes.

Doug Collins: Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs

Who: Doug Collins, a former Republican congressman from Georgia's 9th district.
When: Nov. 14.
More: Collins is a chaplain of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command. He served in the Iraq War in 2008.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do?The Veterans Affairs operates support programs for veterans and their families.

Matt Gaetz: Attorney General (withdrawn Nov. 21)

Who:Rep. Matt Gaetz, U.S. congressman from Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017.
When: Nov. 13; withdrew on Nov. 21.
More: Gaetz withdrew from consideration following allegations of sexual misconduct. He announced his resignation from Congress after being nominated. The House Ethics Committee has investigated Gaetz following accusations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do?The DOJ enforces federal laws, including those for civil rights, and for public safety.

Marco Rubio: Secretary of State

Who: Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a Senate member since 2011.
When: Nov. 13.
More: Rubio serves on the Senate Intelligence and Senate Foreign Relations committees.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The State Department is responsible for the nation's foreign policy and international relations.

Tulsi Gabbard: Director of National Intelligence

Who: Tulsi Gabbard is a former Democratic U.S. representative from Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021. She ran for president in 2020 but left the Democratic Party and became an Independent in 2022. She switched to the Republican Party in 2024.
When: Nov. 13.
More: Gabbard served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait, according to military.com. She joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 2021 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel, Scripps News reported. She was a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security for two years, but doesn't have extensive experience in intelligence operations.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department director do? The National Intelligence director leads the nation's intelligence community and advises the president on national security.

Pete Hegseth: Secretary of Defense

Who: Pete Hegseth is a Fox News host and an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When: Nov. 12.
More: Though he's served in combat, Hegseth is seen as a Pentagon outsider, USA TODAY reports. He favors firing "woke" generals, eliminating combat roles for women and easing restrictions on troop conduct in combat.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The Defense Department supervises the U.S. Armed Forces and agencies related to national security.

Kristi Noem: Secretary of Homeland Security

Who: Gov. Kristi Noem has been South Dakota's governor since 2019. Before that, she was a state representative.
When: Nov. 12.
More: Trump has praised Noem for sending the South Dakota National Guard to the southern border. She was criticized for disclosing in a memoir that she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog for being "untrainable."
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? Homeland Security is responsible for public safety and security.

John Ratcliffe: Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

Who: John Ratcliffe served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump's first administration. He was the Republican House member for the 4th District of Texas from 2015-2020.
When: Nov. 12.
More: Trump first nominated Ratcliffe for the Intelligence job in 2019 to replace the retiring Dan Coats. But he withdrew after lawmakers from both parties questioned his qualifications for the sensitive post, USA TODAY reported. Trump nominated Ratcliffe again in 2020, and that time the Senate confirmed him.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The CIA collects, analyzes, and shares intelligence information to protect national security.

Elise Stefanik: US Ambassador to the United Nations

Who: Rep. Elise Stefanik, representative of New York's 21st congressional district.
When: Nov. 11.
More: Stefanik chaired the House Republican Conference since 2021 and was the fourth-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. She was reportedly on Trump's list of potential 2024 running mates.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the ambassador do? The ambassador represents the U.S. at the United Nations.

Lee Zeldin: Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Who: Former Rep. Lee Zeldin represented New York's 1st congressional district in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023
When: Nov. 11.
More: Zeldin is expected to help roll back many of Biden-era climate regulations as Trump pushes an expansion of fossil-fuel energy.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the agency do? The EPA protects human health and the environment with efforts including anti-pollution regulations, research and clean-up operations.

Mike Waltz: National Security Adviser

Who: Rep. Mike Waltz has represented Florida's 6th District since 2019. He was a member of the House Armed Services Committee and served in civilian roles at the Pentagon. He's a decorated Green Beret combat veteran.
When: Nov. 11.
More: In Congress, Waltz demanded more defense spending from NATO allies and questioned the United States’ “blank check” for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
Senate confirmation required? No.
What does the adviser do? The national security adviser is a principal foreign policy aide for the president.

Other Trump nominees

Alex Wong, a former State Department official in the first Trump administration, was named as deputy national security adviser on Nov. 22. Senate confirmation is not required.

Sebastian Gorka, a conservative commentator who was a staffer in Trump's first administration, was named as White House senior director for counterterrorism on Nov. 22. Senate confirmation is not required.

Dave Weldon, a doctor and former Florida Republican congressman, was named as director for the Centers for Disease Control on Nov. 22. Senate confirmation is not required.

Marty Makary, a surgeon and author, was named as Food and Drug Administration commissioner on Nov. 22. Senate confirmation is required.

Matthew Whitaker, who was acting attorney general in Trump's first administration, was named as the U.S. ambassador to NATO on Nov. 20. Senate confirmation is required.

Dr. Mehmet Oz, a TV show host who ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, was named as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Nov. 19. Senate confirmation is required.

Steven Cheung, who was Trump's communications director for the 2024 campaign, was named director of communications by Trump on Nov. 15. Senate confirmation is not required.

Todd Blanche, an attorney who represented Trump in his New York hush money trial, was named as deputy attorney general, the No. 2 official at the Justice Department, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.

Emil Bove, another Trump attorney in the hush money case, will be nominated for principal associate deputy attorney general, the Justice Department’s No. 3 official, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is not required.

D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's successful immunity case before the Supreme Court, will be nominated as U.S. Solicitor General, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.

Jay Clayton, the former chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump's first term, was named as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, were named by Trump to lead his new Department of Government Efficiency on Nov. 12. The new department would require an act of Congress to be created, USA TODAY reported.

Mike Huckabee, former Republican governor of Arkansas, was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Israel on Nov. 12. Senate confirmation is required.

William McGinley, an attorney who worked as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first term, was nominated as White House counsel on Nov. 12. Senate confirmation is not required.

Thomas Homan, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency during Trump’s first term, was nominated to the new position of Border Czar on Nov. 11. Senate confirmation is not required.

Stephen Miller, longtime Trump adviser, was named deputy chief of staff for policy on Nov. 11. Senate confirmation is not required.

Susie Wiles, Trump campaign adviser, was named White House chief of staff on Nov. 7. Senate confirmation is not required.

CONTRIBUTING Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Anthony Robledo, Kinsey Crowley, Francesca Chambers, Joey Garrison, James Powell, Tom Vanden Brook, David Jackson, Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY

SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; whitehouse.org; constitutioncenter.org

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