As President-elect Trump prepares to take office, he has begun assembling his Cabinet. His nominees for Cabinet have to be approved by the Senate, but the Republican majority in the Senate should ideally allow Trump’s nominations to be confirmed swiftly. So what exactly do these 15 cabinet members do?
The Secretary of Treasury is in charge of the fiscal responsibilities of the government (debt and financial policies), the Secret Service, and the collection of taxes. President-elect Trump has chosen Scott Bessent, a billionaire hedge fund CEO, as his nominee. Bessent served as both an advisor as well as a donor to Trump and his campaign. A strong proponent of Trump’s proposed tax cuts and tariff hikes, Bessent has “long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda,” according to President-elect Trump.
The Secretary of State is the country’s top diplomat and works to protect US citizens abroad. President-elect Trump’s candidate Marco Rubio was a one-time presidential hopeful and, surprisingly, a former Trump critic. Rubio has thrashed Trump in campaign events, going so far as to say to his supporters that “if you all have friends who are thinking about voting for Donald Trump, friends do not let friends vote for con artists.” Despite this, Rubio appears to have a strong endorsement from Trump. He has been a strong supporter of sending aid to Ukraine and a vocal supporter of Israel. Additionally, Rubio has had experience with international relations as he serves as vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and has a seat on the Appropriations and Foreign Relations committees.
The Secretary of Defense leads the defense department, is tasked with protecting the nation against its enemies, and works closely with the armed forces. Pete Hegseth, one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders and a Fox News personality, is a nomination shrouded with controversy. Hegseth has been flagged as a potential threat because he has a “tattoo associated with white supremacist groups” and his vocal opposition to diversity in the military. He disapproves of women serving in combat, believes so-called “woke” generals should be fired, and has compared efforts to reduce extremism in the armed forces to the “purge.” Hegseth has also had a sexual assault allegation hovering over his head which he reportedly settled by paying a settlement.
The Attorney General is the President’s main legal advisor on legal matters of the country. President-elect Trump’s first nomination for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, came under heavy fire over alleged sexual misconduct and was forced to withdraw his nomination. Trump’s second nomination for attorney general is Pam Bondi, a long-time Trump ally and Florida Attorney General. Bondi was a part of Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial and served on the President’s Commission on Opioids. She also works for the America First Policy Institute launched by President-elect Trump in 2021 to promote his policies.
The Secretary of Labor oversees the nation’s laws regarding workplace conditions and protects the working class. Lori Chavez-DeRemer is the first Republican woman from Oregon to serve in the House of Representatives, but she also lost her reelection bid to represent Oregon’s 5th Congressional District. She is also a rare GOP supporter of the PRO Act that hopes to make unionizing easier.
The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with promoting the nation’s economic growth. Howard Lutnick, a billionaire chairman and co-chair on Trump’s transition team is set to become the Commerce Secretary. His position would put him in power to implement Trump’s proposed plan of steeper tariffs and tax cuts. Lutnick also played a prominent role in post-9/11 efforts as his brother was among the 658 employees killed at the World Trade Center. He created the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund in the memory of his brother.
The Secretary of Homeland Security works to enhance the security of the US. Kristi Noem’s nomination has also faced heavy criticism due to her past scandals. According to Chair Shane Merrill, Noem “has faced allegations of misusing her office to help her daughter which resulted in a settlement that cost the state $200,000. Noem is currently banned from all nine Tribal reservations due to her accusations about drug cartels on tribal land and saying Native children ‘don’t have any hope’. She used taxpayer money to send the National Guard to the US/Mexico border for publicity stunts.” For all these reasons, Noem’s nomination comes with serious questions regarding the priorities of President-elect Trump.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services promotes public health and prevents the spread of diseases. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (nephew of former president JFK) ran for president in the Democratic primary this year, then ran as an independent, and now is set to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services for President-elect Trump. His nomination has also come under fire as he is a strong promoter of vaccine misinformation. Kennedy, who will be in charge of promoting public health, has spread misinformation about vaccines “including the heavily debunked claim that they cause autism.”
The Secretary of Agriculture manages laws based in food, nutrition, agriculture, natural resources, and rural development. Brooke Rollins is a returning member to President-elect Trump’s cabinet. Rollins previously served as Trump’s domestic policy chief and is also the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.
The Secretary of Transportation oversees federal transportation policy and makes improvements on safety. Sean Duffy previously represented Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District (2011-2019) and prior to that was a reality star. Most recently, he was a co-host on the Fox Business show called “The Bottom Line.”
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is in charge of the services provided to the men and women who have served in the armed forces. Doug Collins was a US Navy chaplain in the late 1980s and is currently a colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Collins has had a history in the House but was unsuccessful in the Senate.
The Secretary of the Interior looks over the natural resources held within the national parks and forests. Trump’s nominee, Doug Burgum, is known as a “champion of oil and gas drilling.” He was also a presidential hopeful in the 2024 Republican primary but dropped out and soon began expressing support for President-elect Trump. As the governor of North Dakota, he has set a goal to become carbon-neutral by 2030 without cutting back on fossil fuel use.
The Secretary of Energy oversees the use of energy and research regarding alternate sources of power. Chris Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy and also a Trump donor. He strongly supports fracking and has been a critic of efforts to fight climate change.
The Secretary of Education supervises all federal policies and regulations involving K-12 schools as well as higher education. This includes student loans; funding of schools, colleges, and universities; and service for low-income and special education students. Linda McMahon is a former WWE CEO without much experience in education. She served one year on the Connecticut Board of Education in 2009. She became a Senator in 2017 and previously studied to become a French teacher, though she never went on to teach. McMahon’s position would land her the responsibility of pushing Trump’s plan for federal schools.
Niharika Rajeev
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is in charge of housing laws and cases regarding housing discrimination. Scott Turner, NFL veteran turned motivational speaker, was elected to the Texas House and served from 2013 to 2017. Additionally, he also works at the America First Policy Institute and was the executive director of White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first administration.