Meet the new Trump administration staffers who will shape key US policies starting in 2025
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- President-elect Donald Trump is announcing his picks for key positions in his administration.
- They include Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury and Howard Lutnick for Commerce Secretary.
- Here's a running list of those Trump has tapped for his next four years in the White House.
President-elect Donald Trump has been staffing his next administration since winning another four years in the White House.
The former and future president refused to talk in detail about potential appointees during the campaign, leaving plenty of room for speculation about his eventual choices.
His picks include Scott Bessent to lead the Treasury, Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary, and Kevin Hassett to lead the National Economic Council.
He also announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would run a new department, called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
Here's a running list of Trump's staff picks, who will determine everything from his daily schedule to the ins and outs of finance, defense, and education.
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Trump has tapped his defense attorney, Alina Habba, to join him in the White House as Counsellor to the President.
Habba served as Trump's defense attorney during some of his most high-profile cases, such as the defamation case against author E. Jean Carroll.
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post late on Sunday that Habba was "a fierce Defender of the Rule of Law, and an invaluable Advisor to my Campaign and Transition Team."
"She has been unwavering in her loyalty, and unmatched in her resolve - standing with me through numerous 'trials,' battles, and countless days in Court," he wrote.
"Few understand the Weaponization of the 'Injustice' System better than Alina, who has fought relentlessly against the full force of Lawfare with courage and an unshakable commitment to Justice," Trump added.
Responding to the appointment through an X post on Sunday, Habba said, "Honor of my life to serve the 45th and 47th President and the American people."
Habba served as a senior advisor in Trump's presidential campaign. She has also been a public advocate for the president-elect, accompanying him on his campaign trail and speaking at his rally in New York's Madison Square Garden in October.
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Trump has appointed venture capitalist and former PayPal COO David Sacks as the White House's AI and crypto czar.
Sacks has a prolific track record in Silicon Valley, having worked alongside Musk as an early employee at PayPal before founding the enterprise social networking platform Yammer — which was acquired by Microsoft for $1.2 billion in 2012.
He is one of the four co-hosts of the "All-In" podcast alongside fellow VCs Chamath Palihapitiya, Jason Calacanis, and David Friedberg.
"David will focus on making America the clear global leader in both areas. He will safeguard Free Speech online, and steer us away from Big Tech bias and censorship," Trump posted on Truth Social on December 5.
His new role will involve developing a legal framework for crypto in the US and leading the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
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William McGinley has been tapped as counsel to the Department of Government Efficiency — the commission that will aim to slash spending helmed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.
In this role, McGinley will work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget "to provide advice and guidance to end the bloated Federal Bureaucracy," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On November 12, Trump said McGinley would serve as his White House counsel, but has since backpedaled on that. Trump announced that David Warrington will serve as White House counsel instead on December 4, the same day he shared McGinley's new role. The president-elect did not explain his reasoning when he made the swap.
McGinley previously served as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first term and as general counsel at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
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Trump has tapped Paul Atkins as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, he announced on Truth Social.
Atkins currently serves as founder and CEO of risk management consultancy Patomak Global Partners, and has been co-chairman of the Digital Chamber's Token Alliance since 2017. He was an SEC commissioner under former President George Bush and is an outspoken supporter of the crypto industry, a sharp distinction from the current chair.
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Trump nominated Jared Isaacman, a billionaire SpaceX aeronaut, as administrator of NASA. The 41-year-old also founded Shift4 Payments, a payment processing firm, and is worth $1.9 billion, per Forbes.
"Jared's passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Isaacman responded to the announcement in a post on X, writing that "Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars" and that he is "honored" to receive the nomination.
AP Photo/Elijah Nouvelage
Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler was tapped by Trump to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
"Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for our Small Businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to Taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach."
Loeffler, a businesswoman who served as CEO of bitcoin company Bakkt and co-owns the WNBA team the Atlanta Dream, was among the wealthiest politicians on Capitol Hill. In 2020, Forbes estimated her and her husband's combined net worth at about $800 million. She raised several million dollars for Trump's 2024 campaign, according to CNN.
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Adam Boehler will serve as Trump's special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, the president-elect announced on Truth Social.
"He has negotiated with some of the toughest people in the World, including the Taliban, but Adam knows that NO ONE is tougher than the United States of America, at least when President Trump is its Leader," he wrote.
Boehler is the former CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and was a lead negotiator for the Abraham Accords, which normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and both the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in 2020.
Two days before announcing the nomination, Trump addressed the hostages being held in Gaza in a separate Truth Social post, writing that "there will be ALL HELL TO PAY" if they are not released before he assumes office again on January 20, 2025.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Peter Navarro, who served as a trade advisor during Trump's first term and spent four months in prison for failing to cooperate with a Congressional investigation about January 6, will be senior counselor for trade and manufacturing.
"The Senior Counselor position leverages Peter's broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills," Trump wrote in posts on Truth Social. He also said that Navarro will help "successfully advance and communicate the Trump Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas."
Navarro, 75, helped Trump create protectionist trade policies and tariffs during his first term. The economist is a harsh critic of China.
In March of 2024, Navarro started serving a four-month sentence at a federal prison in Miami, Florida. He was the first senior Trump administration official to be imprisoned over his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Navarro served time for defying a subpoena from a House committee investigating January 6.
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Trump asked Michael Whatley of North Carolina to return as chairman of the Republican National Committee, writing on Truth Social that he "has done an OUTSTANDING and HISTORIC JOB" and has "put together a completely unprecedented ELECTION INTEGRITY OPERATION."
Prior to becoming chairman of the RNC in March, 2024 with Trump's endorsement, Whatley led the North Carolina Republican Party.
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Kash Patel, once the chief of staff to former Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Trump announced on November 30.
Trump, in a statement posted on Truth Social, described 44-year-old Patel as "a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter."
"This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the Border," Trump said. "Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI."
Kash's appointment effectively fires the bureau's current leader, Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed during his first term, The Wall Street Journal reported.
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Trump tapped Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group hedge fund, to serve as Treasury secretary on November 22. In this prized cabinet role, Bessent will be expected to follow through on Trump's economic agenda around tax cuts and tariffs.
"Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda," Trump said in a statement.
Bessent is the founder and CEO of Key Square Group investment firm, which Trump mentioned in his statement. Notably, the president-elect left out how Bessent spent a large part of his career working with billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, a contentious figure in the conservative world. Between 2011 and 2015, Bessent served as the chief investment officer at Soros Capital Management.
Still, Bessent was seen as a frontrunner for Trump's Treasury secretary for the better part of the year, as the billionaire hedge fund manager defended Trump's economic policies around de-regulation and tariff increases.
At the Republican National Convention in July, Bessent said it was "absurd" to think Trump's policies would be inflationary, MarketWatch reported.
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Trump tapped Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as his next Secretary of Commerce.
Lutnick, who also co-chairs the president-elect's transition team, had been in the running for treasury secretary.
The president-elect said Lutnick would lead his administration's tariff policy. During a pre-election rally, Lutnick extolled the virtues of a much earlier US economy that collected significant tariffs.
"At the turn of the century, our economy was rocking," Lutnick said at a Madison Square Garden rally, praising 1900s America. "We had no income tax, and all we had was tariffs."
In selecting the 63-year-old Wall Street titan as his commerce secretary, Trump is returning to the playbook he used during his first time in office.
Wilbur Ross, the so-called "King of Bankruptcy" and a long-time Wall Street fixture, was Trump's only commerce secretary during his first term — a remarkable milestone considering the unprecedented upheaval that engulfed most of Trump's cabinet.
Ross' department played a major role in the Trump administration's efforts to hold Chinese companies accountable for doing business with Iran and North Korea.
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Trump has selected Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his nominee for Secretary of State, elevating his onetime political rival and the current vice chair of the Intelligence Committee to one of the highest-profile roles in his upcoming administration.
"Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom," Trump said in a statement announcing the pick. "He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries."
With Rubio's selection, Trump is installing a hawk of China, Iran, and Venezuela to help shape the country's foreign policy during a tumultuous time throughout the world.
Trump in 2024 made inroads with Arab American voters in Michigan, a key swing state, over Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. The president-elect has indicated that he wants to see an end to the conflict in Gaza, but it is unclear what his plan would entail to do so.
Rubio, a former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, was first elected to the Senate in 2010 and was easily reelected in 2016 and 2022.
In 2016, Rubio ran for president and clashed with Trump throughout the GOP primaries, with his then-rival pegging the senator as "Little Marco." But both men repaired their relationship afterwards, and during the 2024 presidential campaign, Rubio staunchly defended Trump against Democratic attacks.
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Pete Hegseth, who has been an anchor at Fox News for eight years, was nominated by Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense.
The role will require a confirmation vote through the Republican-controlled Senate to be approved.
An Army veteran with two Bronze Stars as well as a Combat Infantryman's Badge, Hegseth served tours in Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has been a vocal supporter of Trump.
"Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America's enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down," Trump said in a statement announcing his appointment.
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Trump picked Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, to lead the Justice Department hours after Matt Gaetz, his first choice, withdrew from consideration. Gaetz said his nomination was "unfairly becoming a distraction" as sex-trafficking allegations continued to dog him.
Announcing Bondi, the president-elect said in a statement that she would ensure that the DOJ is not "weaponized against me and other Republicans."
Bondi is a longtime Trump ally who served on the legal defense team of the president-elect's first impeachment trial in 2020. She was also Florida's first female attorney general serving from 2011 to 2019.
Disclosure filings showed that Bondi was a registered lobbyist, representing Amazon, General Motors, Uber, Fidelity National, Carnival North America, Major League Baseball, and foreign interests.
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is Trump's choice to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
If confirmed by the Senate, Noem will lead US Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the US Secret Service — in sum, she will be in charge of a $60 billion budget, The Washington Post reported. She will play a crucial role in implementing Trump's hard-line immigration plans.
Noem, a former representative, has maintained a good relationship with Trump. During his first term, she once greeted him in her home state with a four-foot replica of Mount Rushmore — with his face added.
In a statement, Noem said she was "honored and humbled" to be selected as the Secretary of Homeland Security.
"I look forward to working with Border Czar Tom Homan to make America SAFE again," Noem said. "With Donald Trump, we will secure the Border, and restore safety to American communities so that families will again have the opportunity to pursue The American Dream."
The governor was floated as a potential running mate for Trump, but she prompted controversy by including an anecdote in her book about shooting and killing her dog, Cricket.
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Trump nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik of upstate New York to fill the role of UN ambassador — his first Cabinet pick. She is the fourth-ranking Republican in the House and was a loyal Trump surrogate during the campaign.
Stefanik, the 40-year-old chair of the House Republican Conference, cemented her status as a Trump ally during his 2019 impeachment hearings. She's a vocal supporter of Israel and took a leading role in the congressional hearings that led multiple top university presidents to resign over their handling of protests against the war in Gaza.
However, Stefanik lacks significant foreign policy and national security experience, Maggie Haberman wrote in the Times.
"Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter," Trump said in a statement confirming the pick.
In a statement to the New York Post, Stefanik said she was "deeply humbled" to accept the nomination.
Should the Senate confirm Stefanik, as it is likely to do, there will be a special election to fill her congressional seat.
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Trump announced he was nominating former presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, on November 14.
"I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health.
The president-elect previously vowed to let Kennedy "go wild on health."
Kennedy, 70, supports removing fluoride from water supplies and is a well-known vaccine sceptic. He has said that he wants to fire some nutritionists at the health agency and overhaul federal food regulations. His eclectic views occasionally cut across party lines — his desire to cut ultra-processed food from school lunches, for example, was an Obama-era priority as well.
Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed the president-elect in August, which sources said was an effort to secure a job in the administration. The two have since spearheaded a "Make America Healthy Again" campaign.
The head of HHS requires Senate approval and Kennedy could have an upward battle ahead of him, Semafor reports.
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Trump has nominated campaign donor and Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright to be Energy Secretary.
The position, which manages the country's nuclear weapons program and carries out energy policy, requires a Senate vote to confirm.
The fracking company's chief executive was also appointed to the newly formed Council of National Energy, led by Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota.
The council, per a statement from Trump, "will oversee the path to US ENERGY DOMINANCE by cutting red tape, enhancing private sector investments across all sectors of the Economy, and by focusing on INNOVATION over longstanding, but totally unnecessary, regulation."
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John Ratcliffe, the former director of national intelligence, is Trump's choice to head the Central Intelligence Agency in his second administration.
As director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe declassified unverified Russian intelligence concerning Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign, alleging the campaign approved a plan to "stir up a scandal" against Trump, drawing criticism that Ratcliffe used the intelligence community to help Trump politically, CNN reported at the time.
Trump praised Ratcliffe's loyalty in his announcement, describing him as "a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public."
Prior to his stint as the director of national intelligence in Trump's first term, Ratcliffe served in Congress for over five years, representing Texas' 4th congressional district. During that time, he was a member of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees and the Cybersecurity Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
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Trump tapped former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy for Secretary of Transportation.
Duffy, 53, is the latest Fox News contributor to join the president-elect's administration. The former prosecutor served in Congress for eight years until 2019. He currently co-hosts "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business Network. Before his time in government, Duffy appeared on the MTV reality series "The Real World."
"During his time in Congress, Sean was a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference, advocating for Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Growth, and Rural Development," Trump wrote in a Truth Social announcement on November 18.
Trump said Duffy will prioritize "Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America's highways, tunnels, bridges and airports."
Elon Musk had previously advocated for businessman and former Uber exec Emil Michael in the role, posting on X that Michael "would be effective."
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Trump has nominated Tulsi Gabbard, a 43-year-old one-time Democratic presidential nominee turned MAGA loyalist, as director of national intelligence. A former congresswoman from Hawaii and Army veteran, Gabbard is yet another example of the president-elect stocking his Cabinet with loyalists.
"As a former Candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties - She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength," Trump said in a statement.
Gabbard is a former congresswoman from Hawaii and Army veteran but does not have direct experience working in the intelligence community, other than her time on House committees, the Associated Press reported. She supported Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 bid for the presidency and ran for the Democratic nomination herself in 2020. Despite previously criticizing Trump, she endorsed him this election and is a member of his transition team.
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Trump also tapped Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota for Secretary of the Interior.
Trump indicated his intention to nominate Burgum while attending a gala for the America First Policy Institute on November 15. Burgum was also in attendance.
"I won't tell you his name, it might be something like Burgum. Burgum," Trump told gala attendees.
"Actually, he's going to head the Department of Interior, and he's going to be fantastic," the president-elect said.
If confirmed, Burgum will lead the Interior Department, which manages more than 500 million acres of federal and tribal land.
"We're going to do things with energy and with land, Interior, that is going to be incredible," Trump said.
Trump had reportedly considered Burgum as a running mate, alongside other candidates like Vance and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Trump eventually picked Vance for his VP, and has since nominated Rubio for Secretary of State.
In July, Burgum told CNN's Kaitlan Collins that Trump had referred to him as "Mr. Secretary" while notifying him that he wasn't selected as the Republican vice presidential candidate.
Like Trump, Burgum was a businessman before entering politics. In 2001, he sold his software company, Great Plains Software, to Microsoft for over $1 billion.
Burgum was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016, and his second term is slated to end in December. Burgum said in January that he would not seek a third term.
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Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, 44, has been chosen to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
"We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water," Zeldin, a four-term Republican congressman from Long Island, wrote in a post on X on November 11.
In a separate statement, Trump said he'd known Zeldin for years and trusted he would "ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards."
During his time in the House, Zeldin repeatedly voted against clean water legislation and clean air legislation, the Times reported. Nonetheless, he had a more bipartisan record when it came to climate than many other Republicans.
Some individuals close to Trump's transition team were taken aback by the selection, as Zeldin hasn't demonstrated a lot of interest in the EPA.
In 2022, Zeldin ran for governor of New York and put up an impressive fight. He has remained close with President-elect Trump and appeared at Mar-a-Lago multiple times during the 2024 campaign.
Trump has promised to "drill, baby, drill" for fossil fuels, cancel some EPA rules, and roll back some of President Joe Biden's climate agenda.
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Trump chose Doug Collins, a Republican from Georgia who served in the US House from 2013 to 2021, to serve as his Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Collins is a veteran, previously serving in the Navy and then the Air Force reserve following the September 11 attacks. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and has served as a chaplain in the Navy and US Air Force Reserve.
"We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump wrote on Truth Social on November 15.
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Trump has tapped former WWE CEO Linda McMahon for his Secretary of Education.
"Linda served for two years on the Connecticut Board of Education, where she was one of fifteen members overseeing all Public Education in the State, including its Technical High School system," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on November 19.
"We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort," he added.
McMahon cochairs Trump's transition team with the president-elect's commerce secretary pick, Howard Lutnick.
She also served in the first Trump administration, heading the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
Trump has repeatedly promised to shut down the Department of Education while on the campaign trail.
In 2017, during his first term, Trump proposed a $9 billion cut to the department's budget.
"I say it all the time, I'm dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education," Trump said in September during a campaign rally in Wisconsin.
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Trump nominated Russell Vought, an instrumental figure in the Project 2025 blueprint, to lead the White House's Office of Management and Budget.
Vought previously served in the same role during Trump's first term between July 2020 and January 2021.
Vought "did an excellent job serving in this role in my First Term - We cut four Regulations for every new Regulation, and it was a Great Success!" Trump wrote in a statement.
As a key leader of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a blueprint for Trump's second term, Vought was responsible for drawing up plans that could strengthen the president's power through a series of executive orders.
As the OMB director, Vought will oversee the president's budget and legislative proposals.
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Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican representative from Oregon who recently lost her bid for a second term, was tapped by Trump to serve as the secretary of the Department of Labor.
Chavez-DeRemer is considered a moderate as one of the few Republican lawmakers who supported pro-union legislation that would have made it easier for workers to unionize.
Teamsters President Sean O'Brien pushed Trump to consider Chavez-DeRemer for the labor secretary role, Politico reported.
"Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said in a statement. "I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs."
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Former NFL football player and Texas State Rep. Scott Turner is Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Turner previously served as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term.
Turner, who is from Texas, played college football at the University of Illinois before the Washington Redskins drafted him in the seventh round of the 1995 NFL draft. He played in the NFL until 2003.
Turner is now chair of the America First Policy Institute, a political policy and advocacy group with ties to Trump.
In a statement announcing Turner's appointment, Trump said that Turner led an "unprecedented effort that transformed our country's most distressed communities" during his previous administration. As the head of Trump's Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Turner encouraged public and private investment in low-income areas designated as "opportunity zones," CNN reported.
Critics of "opportunity zones" say they serve as tax loopholes for the rich and funnel untaxed money into mostly wealthy communities.
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Susie Wiles is set to make history as the country's first female chief of staff to a president. A veteran Florida strategist who led Trump's political operation for nearly four years, Wiles is seen as loyal and supremely capable.
A grandmother who keeps a relatively low public profile, Wiles is Trump's only campaign manager to have lasted an entire election cycle, The New York Times reported. Not only did she help the president-elect expand his base and run a more professional campaign, she also assisted lawyers on his various criminal and civil cases. She has a proven ability to manage Trump's unpredictable personality, which will be crucial as she takes on what some consider the second-most-powerful job in Washington, behind the presidency itself.
"Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected," Trump said when he announced her role.
Chris LaCivita, Trump's co-campaign manager, described her as "loyal and honest as the day is long."
Come January, Wiles will likely have to balance the demands of various big personalities, from Elon Musk to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump tore through four chiefs of staff during his first term, with one of them, Gen. John Kelly, describing it as the worst job he's ever had.
More traditional Republicans and MAGA diehards alike seem to think that Wiles, with her political sharpness and close ties to the Trump family, will be a more durable choice.
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Trump announced that Tesla CEO Elon Musk will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the "Save America" Movement," Trump said in a statement.
Musk has teased his role in a second Trump administration for months, previously describing his priorities as leading a "once-in-a-lifetime deregulation and reduction in the size of government."
Also, as the DOGE will be a commission, Musk's role would not make him an official Cabinet member.
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Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, will cohead the Department of Government Efficiency with Musk (meaning he isn't an official Cabinet member, either).
"I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans," Trump said in a statement. "Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending."
In his statement, Trump said DOGE would "provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before."
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On November 26, Trump announced he had picked Jay Bhattacharya as the director of the National Institutes of Health, the medical research agency.
A physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Bhattacharya, 56, is known for criticizing COVID-19 lockdowns. He was one of three co-authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an open letter published in October 2020, before the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, which called for those at minimal risk of dying from the virus to "live their lives normally "in a bid to achieve herd immunity.
Trump said Bhattacharya would work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
"Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America's biggest health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease," Trump said in a post to Truth Social.
"Together, they will work hard to Make America Healthy Again!" he said.
The NIH, which falls under the HHS, is the largest biomedical agency in the world with a $47.7 billion budget and 27 different institutes and centers.
Bhattacharya wrote on X following the announcement: "We will reform American scientific institutions so that they are worthy of trust again and will deploy the fruits of excellent science to make America healthy again!"
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Dr. Mehmet Oz — "the most accomplished and influential celebrity doctor in history," according to Esquire — has been tapped to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.
"He will also cut waste and fraud within our Country's most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nation's Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget," Trump said in a statement announcing the pick on November 19.
A cardiothoracic surgeon, Oz shot to fame in 209 as an expert voice on "Oprah," then as the host of his own Emmy Award-winning "The Dr. Oz Show."
He sought the Republican nomination for a Pennsylvania Senate seat in 2022 but was unsuccessful. He has no experience leading a large government bureaucracy.
Announcing the appointment, Trump said Oz would work closely with RFK Jr., the president-elect's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Trump said he would nominate Kevin Hassett, an economist and veteran of the president-elect's first term, to run the White House National Economic Council.
Hassett previously led the White House Council of Economic Advisers from 2017 to 2019. He returned as a senior advisor to Trump in 2020 during the COVID pandemic.
"He will play an important role in helping American families recover from the inflation that was unleashed by the Biden administration. Together we will renew and improve our record Tax Cuts, and ensure that we have Fair Trade with Countries that have taken advantage of the United States in the past," Trump wrote in the Truth Social post announcing Hassett's appointment.
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Karoline Leavitt, who served as the national press secretary for Trump's 2024 reelection campaign, was tapped to become the administration's White House press secretary.
At 27, she will be the youngest person in history to hold the role, NPR reported.
In Trump's first administration, the role of the top White House spokesperson had a notable turnover rate, with four people holding the title over the four-year term. President Joe Biden had two White House spokespeople during his term, while President Barack Obama had three over both his terms.
During Trump's first term, Leavitt previously served in the White House as an assistant press secretary.
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Steven Cheung, the chief spokesman for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, is set to become the next White House communications director.
Cheung, a former spokesperson for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, previously served as the director of strategic response during Trump's first term.
During the 2024 campaign, Cheung became known for his forceful statements against Trump's rivals in both the GOP primaries and the general election. Earlier this year, Cheung strongly criticized onetime Trump officials-turned-critics John Kelly and John Bolton, accusing them of having "a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Trump, in a statement, praised Cheung as a "trusted" advisor who has "continued to champion America First principles" from the president-elect's first foray in the White House to his successful reelection bid.
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Trump has tapped Thomas Homan to serve as his administration's "border czar." Homan, 62, was a senior immigration official during Trump's first term and served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Homan will oversee the nation's borders, as well as maritime and aviation security. A former police officer and border patrol agent, he has extensive experience in immigration enforcement.
Trump made immigration enforcement a centerpiece of his election campaign and has promised to pursue the country's largest mass deportation to date.
Last month, Homan told "60 Minutes" that worksite raids to target unauthorized employees would pick back up under a Trump presidency.
The president-elect announced Homan's role on Truth Social: "I've known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders," he wrote.
Homan's role does not need Senate confirmation.
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Trump has turned to Rep. Michael Waltz of Florida to become his next national security advisor, bringing on board an Army Green Beret veteran and staunch critic of the Biden administration's 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Waltz himself served in Afghanistan, as well as the Middle East and Africa.
"Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!" Trump said in a statement.
Waltz was first elected to the House in 2018, where he succeeded now-Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the conservative-leaning 6th Congressional District. He currently chairs the Armed Services subcommittee on readiness and also sits on the Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees.
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Trump announced Brendan Carr as his pick to lead the FCC during his second term.
Carr has served at the FCC since 2012, including being nominated to five-year terms as a commissioner by both Trump and Biden. He has been confirmed unanimously by the Senate three times. According to his biography, his work at the FCC has focused on modernizing communications infrastructure and accelerating the construction of high-speed networks across the country.
"Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans' Freedoms, and held back our Economy," Trump said in a statement. "He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America's Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America."
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Trump tapped Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News medical contributor, to serve as the US surgeon general.
"Dr. Nesheiwat is a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health," Trump said in a statement. "She is committed to ensuring that Americans have access to affordable, quality healthcare, and believes in empowering individuals to take charge of their health to live longer, healthier lives."
According to her website, Nesheiwat graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is the medical director at CityMed.
The surgeon general is responsible for communicating to the public essential information about healthcare.
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Trump nominated Marty Makary, a surgeon and professor at Johns Hopkins University, to be the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
"FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator. The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on November 22.
Makary gained some notoriety for questioning COVID-19 protocols and vaccinations in the United States.
Trump said on Truth Social that Makary would work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to "properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation's food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation's youth," among other things.
"I am confident that Dr. Makary, having dedicated his career to High-Quality Lower-Cost care, will restore FDA to the Gold Standard of Scientific Research, and cut the bureaucratic red tape at the Agency to make sure Americans get the Medical Cures and Treatments they deserve," Trump said.
Makary has written books like "UNACCOUNTABLE" and "The Price We Pay," which question the American healthcare system.
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Dr. David Weldon, a former Republican congressman of Florida, was nominated by Trump to serve as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
During his time in Congress, Weldon pushed a bill that would have moved vaccine research away from the CDC and toward an independent agency within the HHS. He has also pushed the false idea that thimerosal, an ingredient in some vaccines, caused an increase in autism, according to The New York Times.
"As a father of two and a husband of 45 years, Dave understands American Family Values, and views Health as one of utmost importance," Trump said in a statement on November 22. "Dave will prioritize Transparency, Competence, and High Standards at CDC."
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Trump has appointed real-estate developer Steven Witkoff as a special Middle East envoy.
Witkoff, who has known Trump for decades, has no formal diplomatic experience, although that did not stop Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner from leading the first Trump administration's efforts in the region. Kushner helped broker the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Trump also appointed Witkoff to cochair his inaugural committee alongside former US Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia.
Biden appointed several special envoys to the Middle East. In April, Biden appointed Lise Grande, the former head of the US Insitute for Peace, as Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to bring about peace, though he hasn't been clear on how he will reach a long-term cease-fire in Gaza that has so far eluded Biden.
Witkoff was playing golf with Trump at his West Palm Beach, Florida, golf club in September when a Secret Service officer fired at a would-be assassin, the second attempt on Trump's life.
AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall
Trump tapped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as his next ambassador to Israel.
"He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him," Trump said in a statement. "Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!"
Since the war in Gaza began more than a year ago, Huckabee has been a critic of the Biden administration's response. In an interview on Fox News at the end of 2023, Huckabee said Biden was participating in "nothing less than diplomatic schizophrenia."
Huckabee served as Arkansas governor from 1996 to 2007. He's since pivoted more toward commentary, hosting his own talk show.
He ran for president in both 2008 and 2016.
In 2008, Huckabee won the Iowa GOP caucuses, but he was unable to sustain that momentum against the eventual nominee, then-Arizona Sen. John McCain, in later contests and eventually bowed out of the race.
When he ran again in 2016, Huckabee came in ninth place in Iowa, and suspended his campaign after that performance.
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Trump selected Todd Blanche, his defense lawyer, to serve as deputy attorney general in the Department of Justice.
"Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long," Trump wrote on November 15 in an announcement on Truth Social.
Blanche, a former chief federal prosecutor in New York, represented Trump in multiple indictments, including leading his defense in the hush-money trial concerning Stormy Daniels earlier this year. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts brought in the case.
Trump also said he was selecting Emil Bove, another of his defense attorneys, to serve as principal associate deputy attorney general. Bove also represented Trump in the hush-money case.
"Emil is a tough and strong attorney, who will be a crucial part of the Justice Department, rooting out corruption and crime," Trump said.
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Trump selected another of his lawyers, Dean John Sauer, to serve as solicitor general of the US. Sauer previously served as solicitor general of Missouri and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Sauer was Trump's lead counsel in his case before the Supreme Court arguing for presidential immunity, which resulted in a favorable decision for the former president.
"John is a deeply accomplished, masterful appellate attorney," Trump said in a Truth Social post, adding he "will be a great Champion for us as we Make America Great Again!"
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Former Georgia Sen. David Perdue is Trump's nominee for the US ambassador to China.
"As a Fortune 500 CEO, who had a 40-year International business career, and served in the US Senate, David brings valuable expertise to help build our relationship with China," Trump wrote of his decision on Truth Social. "He has lived in Singapore and Hong Kong, and worked in Asia and China for much of his career."
Perdue, who was a top executive at companies like Reebok, Sara Lee, PillowTex, and Dollar General, has years of experience expanding Western manufacturing firms in China and other lower-cost countries.
As the ambassador in Beijing, he will help Trump navigate the latter's pledges of additional tariffs on China.
"Having lived in Asia on two occasions, I understand the gravity of this responsibility and look forward to implementing President Trump's strategy to make the world safe again and to represent the United States' interests in China," Perdue wrote on X in response to Trump's announcement.
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Trump has chosen Rodney S. Scott to be the commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection.
Scott is a border enforcement veteran with almost three decades of experience. He was the chief of the US Border Patrol from January 2020 to August 2021 and was vocal in his support for Trump's wall.
Announcing his choice on Truth Social, Trump praised Scott's tenure as Border Patrol chief for "record low levels of illegal immigration."
During his time leading Border Patrol, Scott implemented the Trump administration's Remain-in-Mexico program, which blocked non-Mexican asylum seekers from entering the US while waiting for their court dates.
His new role as commissioner expands upon his previous role — Scott will also oversee enforcement at ports of entry, trade, and travel.
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