As Trump is sworn in as 47th President of the United States, his second Cabinet is waiting in the wings.
In the United States, Cabinet appointments must be approved by the Senate so while his picks are not guaranteed to be appointed, it’s hard to see that there will be any issues – I mean, who would dare cross Trump at this point?
Differences Between U.K And U.S Cabinet Appointments
In the U.K convention dictates that Cabinet are members of either the House of Commons (the equivalent would be the House of Representatives in the U.S) or the House of Lords (the Senate in the U.S).
Under Rishi Sunak’s Premiership, he appointed David Cameron as Foreign Secretary[1]Huffington Post: David Cameron Appointed Foreign Secretary In Shock Reshuffle Move By Rishi Sunak. This was somewhat of a surprise as, although Cameron had been an MP and Prime Minister himself until 2016[2]BBC News: Brexit: David Cameron to quit after UK votes to leave EU he resigned he went to work for a financial company called Greensill (which is not without controversy[3]BBC News: The growing list of questions for David Cameron but that’s for another time). Because Cameron wasn’t a member of either the House of Lords or Commons, he was made a life peer[4]Evening Standard: How does the House of Lords work and what do its critics say about it? placing him in the House of Lords so he could take up his Cabinet position.
In the U.S however, the President has the authority to appoint anyone they sees fit to a Cabinet role and unlike the U.K, these appointees cannot be a member of congress (i.e House of Representatives or Senate) or hold any other federal office to prevent a conflict of interest[5]InfoUSA: The President’s Cabinet.
This means that a sitting Senator or Representative would need to resign from their seat before they are able to take up their Cabinet position.
Additionally, a Cabinet member does not have to have any political experience so unlike the U.K where politicians are promoted to Cabinet positions, people from a variety of backgrounds can make up a President’s Cabinet.
And bear in mind, these are just nominations, they still have to be confirmed by the Senate as of the time of writing.
So with all that, what are the most important roles and who has Trump picked?
Secretary of State
What: The Secretary of State advises the President on all matters relating to foreign affairs. It’s the second highest position in the Cabinet after the Vice-President.
Who? Marco Rubio
Current Role : Senior senator for Florida
Background: Rubio, who is Cuban American, was elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, was elected to Speaker of the Florida House from 2006 – 2008 and then elected to the Florida Senate in 2010.
He unsuccessfully ran for the 2016 Presidency.
Image source: WIkimedia
Secretary of the Treasury
What: The Secretary of the Treasury oversees the finances of the Federal government and advises the President on economic policy
Who? Scott Bessent
Current Role : Was an investment and hedge fund manager.
Background: Bessent was a partner at Soros Fund Management (yes that George Soros[6]Forward: Trump has vilified George Soros. He just picked the Jewish billionaire’s protege for Treasury Secretary). Bessent was a major Trump donor during his 2024 election campaign, and gave $1 million to Trump’s 2016 Inauguration Fund[7]New York Times: How Scott Bessent Went From Democratic Donor to Trump Treasury Secretary Pick.
If confirmed, Bessent would be the first openly gay Treasury secretary[8]Wikipedia: Scott Bessent.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Defence
What: The Secretary of Defence is in oversees the Armed Forces and is second-in-command to the President in terms of authority when it comes to military decisions.
Who? Pete Hegseth
Current Role : Fox News Commentator
Background: Hegseth was in the National Guard and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been executive director of the political advocacy groups “Vets for Freedom” and “Concerned Veterans for America”.
When his nomination was announced, reports of sexual assault, misogynistic behaviour and being drunk at work were reported. A 2018 email from his mother was also leaked in which she called him an “abuser of women” and that she “was broken by his behaviour and lack of character”[9]The New York Times: Text of the Email That Pete Hegseth’s Mother Sent Him.
At his confirmation hearing, Hegseth called these reports “false” and said he wouldn’t “drink another drop” if he were confirmed[10]Huffington Post: Pete Hegseth Says Alcohol Allegations Are ‘False,’ Also Vows Not To Drink On Job.
Image: Wikimedia
Attorney General
What: Serves as advisor to the President and Department heads on all legal matters. They’re responsible for ensuring law is enforced impartially and may support cases that go before the Supreme Court.
Who? Pam Bondi
Current Role: Leading the legal division of the America First Policy Institute.
Background: A former prosecutor, Bondi became Florida’s first female Attorney General from 2011 to 2019. In 2020 she was one of the lawyers who represented Trump at his first impeachment trial.
In 2012 she unsuccessfully tried to overturn Obamacare in Florida[11]Wikipedia: National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius.
Bondi has provoked controversy for her links to scientology who have organised multiple fundraisers for her political campaigns. In 2013 she was forced to issue an apology after she asked Florida governor Rick Scott to postpone an execution as it would clash with one of her fundraising event.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of the Interior
What: Responsible for looking after federal lands and natural resources overseeing things like the National Parks Service.
Who? Doug Burgum
Current Role: Governor of North Dakota
Background: Invested in a software company in 1983, later selling it to Microsoft for over $1 million in 1991. Burgum went on to work for Microsoft before winning the 2016 North Dakota Governor’s election.
He launched a campaign for the 2024 Presidential run but instead dropped out in 2023 to advise Trump on energy policies.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Agriculture
What: Oversees departments such as the National Forests Service, Food Safety Inspection Service and Food Stamp Program.
Who? Brook Rollins
Current Role: Founder and President of the America First Policy Institute, an organisation that promotes Trump’s public policy agenda
Background: After growing up on a farm and then graduating law school, Rollins has worked for several law firms in Texas as well as acting as policy director to Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Commerce
What: Promotes American business and industries and advises the President on such matters
Who? Howard Lutnick
Current Role: Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group – both are financial services firms.
Background: Lutnick began working for Cantor Fitzgerald in 1983, became president and CEO in 1991 and named as chairman in 1996.
In 2021, he took the video platform Rumble public through a SPAC deal and in 2024 was involved in trying to launch a futures exchange which attracted high-powered investors.
He has held various fundraising events for Trump raising over $5 million for the 2020 and 2024 election runs.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Labour
What: Oversees and suggests laws relating to unions, business/consumer relationships and the general workplace.
Who? Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Current Role: Member of the House of Representative for Oregon’s 5th District
Background: Chavez-DeRemer was a city councillor of Happy Valley, Oregon from 2005 to 2011, elected Happy Valley Mayor from 2011 to 2019 and was elected to Oregon’s 5th District in 2022.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Health and Human Services
What: Advises the President on all health matters and oversees the Department of Health and Human Services and advises on responses to health-related emergencies
Who? Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Current Role: Just finished running as an Indpenedent Candidate in the 2024 Presidential election. He dropped out in August 2024 and endorsed Trump
Background: Kennedy is the son of U.S. attorney general and senator Robert F. Kennedy and a nephew of U.S. president John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy.
He is widely known for his strong anti-vaccine views and while he denies this, some of his statements indicate otherwise[12]BBC News: Fact-checking RFK Jr’s views on health policy.
In a strange turn of events, a 2012 deposition came to light where Kennedy claimed that a “brain worm” had given him brain damage after eating part of his brain[13]Did a tapeworm really eat part of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s brain?.
But even more strangely (if that’s possible), Kennedy admitted to dumping the carcass of a dead bear in the middle of Central Park[14]NPR: RFK Jr. admits to dumping a dead bear in Central Park, solving a decade-old mystery and said that he had a freezer full of “roadkill meat”[15]AP News: Asked about bear carcass prank, RFK Jr. says he once had a freezer full of roadkill meat.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
What: The department’s mission is to increase home ownership and increase access to affordable housing
Who? Scott Turner
Current Role: Motivational Speaker
Background: Turner is a former NFL cornerback from 1995 until a leg injury halted his career in 2004.
After his football career, he worked for Congressman Duncan Hunter and after several unsuccessful bids to launch his own political career he was sworn in to the Texas House of Representatives for the 33rd District in January 2013 where he served until 2017.
In 2019, Trump appointed Turner as the director of the White House’s Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
Turner has also worked for a Content Management Software firm, is an associate Pastor and has served on several company boards as “Chief Happiness Officer” and “Chief Visionary Officer”.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Transportation
What: Is responsible for the transportation infrastructure in the US such as roads, highways, and the rail network.
Who? Sean Duffy
Current Role: Member of the House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th District
Background: Duffy is a former reality TV star having been on the programmes “The Real World: Boston” and “Road Rules: All Stars” in the late 1990s amongst other appearances. He has also been a commentator on ESPN and a show on Fox Business.
He was appointed Ashland (Wisconsin) District Attorney from 2002 to 2010 and was then elected to Wisconsin’s 7th district House of Representatives in 2011. He resigned in 2019 due to health complication faced by his daughter.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Energy
What: Is responsible for managing the energy infrastructure and allocations funds to scientific research related to energy.
Who? Chris Wright
Current Role: CEO of Liberty Energy
Background: Wright has worked for a variety of energy companies, most of which have produced gas through fracking.
In 2019, Wright drank fracking fluid to prove that it wasn’t dangerous[16]Yahoo! News/Bloomberg: Energy CEO Who Drank Fracking Fluid Is Now Trump’s Oil Evangelist. He’s also expressed climate scepticism claiming that “there is no climate crisis”[17]Al Jazeera: Trump nominates climate change sceptic Chris Wright as energy secretary and said that “companies’ risks associated with extreme weather were decreasing”[18]Wikipedia: Chris Wright (energy executive).
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Education
What: Advises the President and Federal Government on all educational matters, oversees the accreditation of educational institution and apportions funding to State’s educational facilities.
Who? Linda McMahon
Current Role: Businesswoman and chair of the board of the America First Policy Institute
Background: Along with her husband, Vince McMahon, she founded Titan Sports where she was president and later CEO. Titan Sports rebranded as the World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE) and McMahon was involved from 1980 until 2009 when she stepped down but she still has a stake in the company.
McMahon has had several attempts at political office joining the Connecticut State Board of Education in 2009 and unsuccessfully running for the a Connecticut Senate seat in 2010 and 2012.
In 2016, Trump appointed her as administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The WWE has long been mired in controversy with rampant steroid use amongst wrestlers coming to light after the double-murder suicide of Chris Benoit[19]Wrestling Inc: The Tragic Story Of Chris Benoit, classfying its wrestlers as independent contractors instead of emloyees[20]AIPT: The legal argument for WWE Superstars as employees, not contractors and McMahon is also a defendant is a lawsuit where it’s alleged her husband is responsible for sexual assualt, trafficking and physical abuse of at least one WWE wrestler[21]CNN Business: Vince McMahon accused of trafficking former WWE employee in new lawsuit [22]Wikipedia: Vince McMahon sex trafficking scandal.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
What: Oversees veterans’ benefits, health care, and national veterans’ memorials and cemeteries
Who? Doug Collins
Current Role: Former Member of the House of Representatives for Georgia’s 27th District
Background: Collins has had a varied career, serving 2 years in the US Navy in the late 1980s as a Chaplain, he’s been a senior Baptist pastor, a salesman and has a Juris Doctor.
He served 3 terms as the Representative for the Georgia’s 27th District from 2007 to 2013. After redistricting, Collins ran for a seat in the 9th District and was in office from 2017 to 2019.
In 2020 Collins lost a Senate Primary run to Kelly Loeffler.
Image: Wikimedia
Secretary of Homeland Security
What: Oversees departments such as the Coast Guard, FEMA, and Border Protection
Who? Kristi Noem
Current Role: Governor of South Dakota
Background: In 2006 Noem was elected as the Representative for South Dakota’s 6th district where she served until 2010, won South Dakota’s at-large seat the same year and stayed in the position until 2018.
In 2018 Noem successfully ran for governor and was re-elected in 2022.
Noem had been thought to be a front-runner as Trump’s 2024 Vice-President pick but she soon fell out of favour after revealing in her 2024 biography “No Going Back” that she shot her 14-month-old dog as she viewed it as “untrainable” and that she “hated that dog”[23]Newsweek: Kristi Noem Controversies: From Dog Killing to Tribal Land Bans.
In pre-publication version of the book, Noem also claimed that she had met North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un which was removed after journalists started to query the truth of the claim[24]Newsweek: The Kristi Noem and Kim Jong Un Controversy, Explained.
She also claimed that she cancelled a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron due to his pro-Hamas views, but again this has been disputed[25]NBC News: French official disputes passage about Emmanuel Macron in Kristi Noem’s book.
Image: Wikimedia
Other Appointments
Other cabinet level appointments include:
Director of National Intelligence
The Director of National Intelligence oversees the offices of the CIA, Defence Intelligence, and NSA amongst others.
Tulsi Gabbard has served as Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd District from 2013 to 2021 as a Democrat.
In 2022 she announced she was leaving the Democrats to become an independent then, in a move that surprised a lot of people – including Donald Trump – she joined the Republican party in October 2024[26]Newsweek: Tulsi Gabbard Turning Republican Is ‘Surprise’ to Donald Trump.
Gabbard has also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S Army Reserve since 2021.
Image: Wikimedia
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) produces the President’s budget and looks at agency’s policies and procedures to ensure they align with the President’s policies.
This is perhaps one of Trump’s most overt appointments.
Despite repeatedly trying to distance himself from Project 2025, Trump has appointed Russell Vought as the OMB director.
Vought is perhaps best known for his major role of the creation of Project 2025 and having his Project 2025 views caught on a secret camera when he talks about banning pornography and bringing Christian Nationalism to America[27]CNN Investigates: Hidden-camera video shows Project 2025 co-author discussing his secret work preparing for a second Trump term.
Image: Wikimedia
Department of Government Efficiency
The Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE because Elon Musk has the mentality of a 12-year-old[28]USA Today Money: What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme and cryptocurrency after Elon Musk’s appointment to D.O.G.E).
This is a new department that has yet to be officially created but its task will be to cut government spending which Twitter/Tesla/SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and pharmaceutical venture capitalist Vivek Ramaswamy think will be a simple matter.
Musk had previously claimed that they would be able to find up to $2 Trillion in savings although he’s since backtracked on that figure[29]CNN Politics: Elon Musk now has a new, lower target number for DOGE’s budget cuts as it was pointed out that was almost a third of the budget and even if every body in the government was fired it still wouldn’t get anywhere near that figure.
Image: Musk – Wikimedia / Ramaswamy – Wikimedia
Director of the FBI
Trump has tipped right-wing Trump stan Kash Patel to be FBI Director. This is a rather controversial appointment as Trump suggested Patel as FBI director during his first term which earned the infamous “over my dead body” response from Attorney General Bill Barr[30]Politico: Trump picks Patel to lead FBI.
Patel has stated that he will investigate and prosecute journalists and remove people who are disloyal to Trump[31]Newsweek: Who is Kash Patel? Donald Trump’s Potential Pick for FBI Director.
Patel instead wanted to be Assistant Director of the CIA – a position that wouldn’t require Senate confirmation so one has to wonder why he is trying to avoid scrutiny from the Senate.
Image: Wikimedia
What Happens Next?
Several Senate confirmation hearings have already taken place with Pete Hegseth being questioned on January 14th, Pam Bondi, Sean Duffy, Chris Wright, Russel Vought, Marco Rubio all appearing on the 15th, Doug Burgum, Scott Turner, Scott Bessent on the 16th and Kirsti Noem on the 17th of January[32]CBS News: Here’s the confirmation hearing schedule for Trump’s Cabinet picks.
Further Senate confirmation hearings will be taking place from the 21st of January.
The exact date of the confirmation vote has yet to be announced[33]The Oklahoman: When will Pete Hegseth be confirmed? What to know about Senate confirmation votes, dates, which will presumably happen once all of the hearings have been concluded.
After the hearing, the majority of the Confirmation Hearing Committee must agree that the candidate be presented to the Senate for the final vote.
Once they have that approval, the Candidate is presented to the Senate for a vote and must achieve a majority (51 votes) in order to be appointed.
I’ll update this article once the date of the Confirmation vote is known.
What do you think of Trump’s picks? There’s a lot of TV personalities and business people in the cabinet – are you worried about their lack of political experience?
Let’s talk about it (respectfully) in the comments below.
Katy is the editor-in-chief of FlippingHeck.com a blog about Self-Improvement, Productivity and Small Business Tips. When she’s not working, she enjoys gaming, making music and Reviewing Things.
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