Biographies

Secretary of Homeland Security - Kristi Noem 

• Kristi Noem, a strong Trump supporter and former VP contender, sent South Dakota National Guard troops to the southwest border at least five times during her tenure as governor, aligning with Trump’s aggressive rhetoric on the issue. If confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate, she will have a wide mandate to implement the comprehensive crackdown he pledged on the campaign trail, including mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, increased hiring of border agents, and the expansion of detention facilities. 

Secretary of State - Marco Rubio 

• Marco Rubio has been a prominent voice in GOP foreign policy since joining the Senate in 2011. He could introduce more traditional Republican perspectives as Secretary of State in Trump’s administration. Rubio takes a hard-line stance on issues like Iran and Cuba but supports maintaining international alliances, such as NATO, which Trump has questioned. His confirmation is expected to proceed smoothly, likely without opposition.

Environmental Protection Agency - Lee Zelden

• Lee Zeldin, former New York Representative is perhaps best known for his unexpectedly strong 2022 gubernatorial race against Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, where he advocated for lifting the state’s ban on natural gas fracking. A U.S. Army veteran, Zeldin served seven terms in Congress, where he was one of only two Jewish Republicans and sat on both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Financial Services Committee. He ultimately lost his bid for reelection in 2022.

Secretary of Agriculture - Brooke Rollins

• Brooke Rollins, who served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term, has since co-founded and led the America First Policy Institute, a think tank often described as Trump’s "White House in waiting" for its influential role in the transition. Raised on a farm, Rollins secured the role over candidates with more extensive agriculture policy experience on Trump’s shortlist.

Ambassador to the United Nations - Elise Stefanik 

• Elise Stefanik, a steadfast supporter of Israel and outspoken critic of the United Nations, has represented New York in Congress since 2015. A former aide to George W. Bush, Stefanik rose to national attention through her passionate defenses of the president-elect during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2019 and her assertive questioning of university presidents regarding Gaza protests last spring. As chair of the House Republican Conference and with strong connections across Congress, her nomination is expected to face minimal resistance from Senate Republicans. 

Director of the CIA - John Ratcliffe 

• John Ratcliffe, a former attorney and four-term Republican lawmaker from Texas, served as Trump’s director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021, solidifying his standing as a strong presidential ally and vocal critic of U.S. intelligence agencies. Although his confirmation to the DNI role was narrowly secured by the Senate four years ago, he may face a smoother process in next year's GOP-controlled Senate.

Secretary of Defense - Pete Hegseth

• Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host for the past eight years and an Army veteran with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, is somewhat of an outsider, lacking Pentagon or government experience beyond his military background. Though an unexpected choice, Hegseth was an early supporter of Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign, at a time when many leading Republicans were critical of the New York billionaire. He was previously considered for a role in Trump’s first administration but was ultimately not selected.

Director of National Intelligence - Tulsi Gabbard

• Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, left the party in 2022 and joined the Republican Party in October after endorsing Trump earlier that year. Her selection is expected to face opposition in the Senate, as she lacks experience in intelligence matters and has been critical of U.S. interventions in Ukraine and Syria, often suggesting that the U.S. provoked Russia into adopting aggressive policies.

Attorney General - Pam Bondi

• Pam Bondi, played a key role in defending Donald Trump during his first impeachment in 2019 and joined him on the campaign trail in the final days of the 2024 election. While serving as Florida’s attorney general, Bondi received a $25,000 donation from a political action committee supporting her reelection, funded by Trump. The timing of the donation drew scrutiny, as her office had indicated it was reviewing New York’s legal actions against Trump University for fraud. Like many vying for positions in a potential second Trump administration, Bondi attended Trump’s criminal trial in New York and frequently appeared on TV to criticize the proceedings, particularly the gag order imposed by the presiding judge.

Secretary of the Interior - Doug Burgum

• Doug Burgum, North Dakota's governor and a former software executive, was floated as a potential running mate for Donald Trump in 2024. North Dakota ranks as the third-largest oil-producing state in the U.S. and has over 4 million acres of federally managed land. During his tenure, Burgum has been an advocate for carbon capture technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel production and other industrial operations.

Secretary of Commerce - Howard Lutnick

• Howard Lutnick, a longtime friend of Donald Trump and CEO of the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is a prominent figure on Wall Street who has been co-leading Trump’s transition efforts in recent months. He has spearheaded the vetting process for candidates to fill key administration positions, prioritizing loyalty and business expertise. Lutnick was also a significant financial supporter of Trump’s campaign, contributing and raising tens of millions of dollars.

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

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ended his independent presidential campaign in August and endorsed Donald Trump, who praised him in his victory speech, stating that Kennedy would "help make America healthy again." Kennedy is a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement and has a history of promoting debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, along with other conspiracy theories. His controversial record has raised significant concerns among health officials and could pose challenges to securing Senate confirmation for any potential role.

Secretary of Transportation - Sean Duffy

• Sean Duffy, who most recently served as a Fox News contributor, has held various roles throughout his career. He represented Wisconsin in Congress from 2011 to 2019 and chose not to run for governor in 2022, despite encouragement from Donald Trump. Earlier in his career, Duffy appeared on MTV’s Real World: Boston in the 1990s, worked as a district attorney, and served as an ESPN color commentator. Though aligned with Trump in recent years, Duffy has previously criticized him, calling a 2017 debt ceiling deal Trump made with Democrats "bad" and "foolish" during an interview with Fox News.

Secretary of Energy - Chris Wright

• Chris Wright, CEO of Denver-based fracking company Liberty Energy, is a Republican fundraiser whose potential nomination to lead the Department of Energy has been championed by Harold Hamm, a prominent oil executive and energy advisor to Donald Trump. If appointed, Wright would be tasked with advancing Trump’s campaign pledge to roll back billions of dollars in funding tied to the Biden administration’s climate and energy initiatives. He would also oversee the resumption of natural gas export permits, which President Joe Biden had paused earlier this year.

Secretary of Education - Linda McMahon

• Linda McMahon, rose to prominence as a key figure in transforming World Wrestling Entertainment into a multibillion-dollar enterprise before serving as head of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term. Currently one of two co-chairs of Trump’s 2024 transition team, she also serves as board chair of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank with strong ties to Trump allies. However, McMahon has limited experience in education policy; she briefly served on the Connecticut State Board of Education before resigning in 2010 to focus on an unsuccessful Senate campaign.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Doug Collins

• Doug Collins, a loyal Trump ally and regular Fox News guest, represented a Georgia district in Congress from 2013 to 2021. He was one of eight House Republicans who served on Trump’s defense team during his first Senate impeachment trial. Collins also has a military background, serving as an Air Force Reserve chaplain and completing a deployment in Iraq.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget - Russ Vought

• Russ Vought, who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, is reportedly a leading candidate to return to the role, according to three individuals familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Vought contributed a chapter to Project 2025 focused on reforming the executive branch and, if appointed, is expected to collaborate closely with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s government efficiency panel. Two sources noted that Vought is scheduled to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday to discuss the position.

Secretary of the Treasury - Scott Bessent

• Scott Bessent, a former associate of George Soros and a proponent of MAGAnomics with strong Wall Street ties has been selected for Treasury Secretary. During confirmation, the Senate Finance Committee will likely question him on his evolving views on tariffs, while Democrats may probe his recent investment losses. If confirmed, Bessent would be the first openly gay Treasury Secretary.

Secretary of the Labor - Lori Chavez-DeRemer

• Chavez-DeRemer, who lost her House seat this month, stands out for her openly pro-union stance and co-sponsorship of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a major priority for Democrats and organized labor. Backed by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, she interviewed with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and was immediately offered the position. Some Republican Senators have expressed their confusion by the President-elect’s choice.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Scott Turner

• Scott Turner has been tapped by Trump. He is a little-known former executive director of his White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. He’s a former NFL cornerback, motivational speaker and Texas state legislator, and he currently serves as “chief visionary officer” for a Texas housing developer, but his selection was met with some befuddlement in the housing industry.

Director of the Centers for Disease Control - Dave Weldon

• Former Rep. Dave Weldon has been a medical doctor for 40 years and is an army veteran. He is a conservative leader on fiscal and social issues, and served on the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, working for Accountability on HHS and CDC Policy and Budgeting. Trump believes Weldon will be a crucial part of his Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

Director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Mehmet Oz

• Mehmet Oz will lead CMS. Oz has previously expressed support for an option that could lead to more Medicare privatization. Although Oz has not revealed his views on Medicaid, some Republicans in Congress have expressed support for changes that would slash the budget of the program. hen making his CMS nomination announcement, Trump said Oz “will also cut waste and fraud within our country’s most expensive government agency.”

Positions That Do Not Require the Confirmation of Senate

Susie Wiles, a seasoned strategist who began her career in Republican politics as a scheduler in the Reagan White House, managed Trump’s winning Florida campaigns in both 2016 and 2020. In early 2021, she became CEO of Trump’s Save America PAC, taking charge of his operations at Mar-a-Lago following his election loss. Wiles has earned Trump’s confidence for her unwavering support after his presidency and is highly regarded by campaign staff and members of Congress alike.

Though not a formal cabinet role, Rep. Mike Waltz has been selected by Trump as National Security Advisor, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. Waltz, a former Army Green Beret and longtime Trump ally, has become a prominent voice in Congress critiquing China. Since his 2018 election, he has led initiatives to reduce U.S. dependency on Chinese critical minerals and protect American universities from potential Chinese espionage. 

Trump is also anticipated to formally appoint Stephen Miller as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Previously a senior adviser and lead speechwriter during Trump’s first term, Miller has been a prominent advocate for stricter immigration policies and is expected to play an expanded role in the president-elect’s second term. Actively involved in Trump’s transition process, Miller will also be influential in upcoming staffing decisions. 

Trump picked former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee to serve as US ambassador to Israel. Huckabee’s daughter and current Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders served as Trump’s press secretary during his first administration. Mike Huckabee has been a strong defender of Israel throughout the course of his career – including what he says is the country’s claims to the West Bank. His selection will come as a welcome culmination of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long mission to shore up ties to American Evangelical Christians.

In an interesting pairing, Trump has tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new 'Department of Government Efficiency.' Trump said the commission will "provide advice and guidance from outside of government," partnering with the White House and Office of Management and Budget "to drive large-scale structural reform" throughout the federal government. He said the team's work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026.

Dan Scavino will be returning to the White House as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff. He was a Trump Campaign Senior Advisor and remains one of Trump's longest serving advisors. 

Stephen Miller will be returning to the White House as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor. 

James Blair will be returning to the White House as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs. Blair was the Trump Campaign and Republican National Committee Political Director, managing hundreds of staff and overseeing a wide portfolio of political operations. 

Taylor Budowich will serve as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel. Prior to joining the Trump Campaign, he served in a senior position in Trump’s leadership PAC, Save America, and as CEO of the pro-Trump Super PAC, MAGA Inc. 

Tom Homan will serve as the President’s border czar. His responsibilities will include overseeing the Southern Border, Northern Border, and all Maritime and Aviation Security. Trump said "There’s nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders," and emphasized that Homan would lead efforts to deport undocumented immigrants to their countries of origin. Homan, who previously served as acting ICE director, also contributed to Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative policy framework for the next Republican administration.

Dr. Marty Makary will head up the FDA under Trump. Makary is a surgeon on Johns Hopkins University and has, like RFK Jr., been a vocal critic of FDA vaccine protocols. He also served in leadership at the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, which is part of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. He's also served as a public adviser to Paragon Health Institute, a conservative health care think tank, and regularly appears on Fox News.

Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News medical contributor, got the nod for the role of Surgeon General. The Office of the Surgeon General is responsible for providing Americans with scientific information about health care options, reducing the risk of illness, and issuing warnings on products like cigarettes.

Kevin Hassett, a fixture of conservative economic circles for two decades, Hassett previously served as a senior adviser to Trump and the chair of the Council of Economic Advisers during the president-elect’s first administration, and he vigorously defended the Republican’s signature tax policies. He also backs the Republican’s slate of tariff proposals.

Jamieson Greer, Greer’s selection highlights the central role tariffs will play in Trump’s economic agenda with the incoming president vowing to use trade policy to raise revenue for the federal government and to pressure companies to re-shore manufacturing jobs to the US. A longtime protégé of Robert Lighthizer, who served four years as Trump’s first US trade representative and oversaw billions in tariffs on both allies and adversaries, such as China, Greer is expected to play a pivotal role in implementing the president-elect’s plans. On Monday, Trump said he intended to impose 25% levies on all imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% on Chinese goods, roiling market with his first specific threats on top trading partners since winning the presidency three weeks ago.

Kelly Loeffer, who briefly represented Georgia in the Senate, had fundraised for Trump during the 2024 race and raised several million dollars for his campaign over the summer when she hosted a debate watch party with Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley. Loeffler was a staunch Trump ally in Congress, saying prior to the violence on January 6, 2021, that she planned to vote against certifying her state’s electoral results in support of Trump’s broader effort to upend Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Billy Long, former Republican Representative from Missouri will be the IRS commissioner, cutting short current chief Danny Werfel’s term. Long, a former auctioneer and radio talk-show host, was not on the tax writing Ways and Means Committee during his time in the House. Instead, he made his mark as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he once drowned out a protester’s interruption during a 2018 hearing using his auctioneer skills.

Kash Patel, has been named as FBI Director. Patel is a well known right-wing personality who has vowed to use the position to exact revenge on Mr. Trump’s adversaries.

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, has been named as the director of the NIH. He is a Stanford physician and economist who co-authored an anti-lockdown treatise during the coronavirus pandemic.

D. John Sauer, will serve as U.S. Solicitor General. Mr. Sauer served as solicitor general of Missouri and represented Mr. Trump in his appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the issue of presidential immunity.

Matthew G. Whitaker, has been named as NATO Ambassador. Mr. Whitaker served as acting attorney general in the first Trump administration for about three months after Jeff Sessions stepped down and before William P. Barr was confirmed to succeed him. He does not have foreign policy experience.