Following his November 5 election victory, United States President-elect Donald Trump has begun appointing officials for his cabinet and senior administration. In total, Trump will need to appoint around 4,000 individuals, including heads of executive departments that comprise his cabinet.
The U.S. cabinet includes 15 federal agencies, each overseen by a secretary appointed by the president. Alongside the vice president, these officials advise the president and execute policies. All cabinet appointments require Senate confirmation, with these votes typically occurring soon after the president’s inauguration on January 20.
Here is a list of Trump’s confirmed and anticipated picks:
- Secretary of State: Marco Rubio (expected)
Florida Senator Marco Rubio, 53, is anticipated to be chosen as secretary of state, making history as the first Latino in this role. Rubio, once a strong advocate for interventionist policies, has since moderated his views to align with Trump’s noninterventionist stance on issues involving China, Iran, and Cuba. - Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth (named)
Trump announced Pete Hegseth, a 44-year-old Fox News commentator and military veteran, as his choice for defense secretary. Known for his opposition to “woke” military policies, Hegseth may fulfill Trump’s promise to replace military leaders promoting progressive ideals, potentially conflicting with Air Force General CQ Brown, whom he has previously criticized. - Attorney General: Mike Lee (expected)
Utah Senator Mike Lee, 53, is a strong candidate for attorney general. Initially critical of Trump in 2016, Lee later became an ally and a vocal supporter in efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. He has also endorsed unsubstantiated theories surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. - Secretary of Commerce: Linda McMahon (expected)
Former Small Business Administration (SBA) director Linda McMahon, 76, is considered a frontrunner for commerce secretary. McMahon, a major Trump supporter and early donor, led his pre-2024 transition team. She served as SBA director until 2019 and later headed a pro-Trump political action committee backing his 2020 re-election bid. - Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem (named)
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, 52, will serve as homeland security secretary. Notable for her refusal to mandate statewide COVID-19 masks, Noem has a strong stance on border security, having deployed National Guard troops to Texas’s southern border. She will collaborate with Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan to reinforce U.S. security.
Additionally, Scott Bessent, Robert Lighthizer, and Howard Lutnick are potential candidates for treasury secretary.
Other Prominent Non-Cabinet Positions Named by Trump:
- Susie Wiles – White House chief of staff
- Tom Homan – “border czar”
- Elise Stefanik – United Nations ambassador
- Lee Zeldin – EPA administrator
- Mike Waltz – national security adviser
- Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy – heads of a new Department of Government Efficiency
- John Ratcliffe – CIA director
Roles of the 15 Executive Departments
The U.S. cabinet comprises the highest-ranking officials after the president and vice president, each responsible for advising the president and managing federal agencies. Here are their roles in order of succession to the presidency:
- Secretary of State: Oversees U.S. foreign relations, diplomacy, and international issues.
- Secretary of the Treasury: Manages U.S. financial policy, federal revenue, and currency.
- Secretary of Defense: Oversees the military and national defense strategy.
- Attorney General (Department of Justice): Manages law enforcement and federal legal matters.
- Secretary of the Interior: Oversees federal land, natural resources, and agencies like the National Park Service.
- Secretary of Agriculture: Manages farming, food policy, and rural development.
- Secretary of Commerce: Oversees business, trade, and economic growth.
- Secretary of Labor: Manages workforce issues, including wages and labor laws.
- Secretary of Health and Human Services: Manages public health and social services.
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Oversees housing and urban development.
- Secretary of Transportation: Manages federal transportation policy.
- Secretary of Energy: Oversees energy policy and nuclear security.
- Secretary of Education: Manages public education policy and federal student aid.
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Manages services for military veterans.
- Secretary of Homeland Security: Manages national security, emergency management, and immigration.
Other key positions, such as the White House chief of staff, director of national intelligence, and the U.N. ambassador, are top-level roles but are not heads of executive departments.
Outgoing Cabinet Members
President Joe Biden’s outgoing cabinet will undergo a transition phase, assisting Trump’s incoming officials to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities and continuity of government operations until the new administration assumes control on January 20.
