With Republicans taking control of the Senate, many of President-elect Donald Trump‘s Cabinet candidates, including some who may be controversial, are expected to have an easy path to approval.
Complete list of Trump’s Cabinet choices so far
Here are the persons Trump has chosen for key Cabinet positions and other senior White House jobs:
- White House chief of staff: Susie Wiles
- Secretary of state: Marco Rubio
- Attorney general: Matt Gaetz
- Deputy attorney general: Todd Blanche
- HHS secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- U.N. ambassador: Elise Stefanik
- “Border czar”: Tom Homan
- Defense secretary: Pete Hegseth
- Secretary of veterans affairs: Doug Collins
- National security adviser: Michael Waltz
- White House counsel: William McGinley
- Solicitor general: Dean John Sauer
- Secretary of homeland security: Kristi Noem
- CIA director: John Ratcliffe
- Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard
- EPA administrator: Lee Zeldin
- U.S. ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
- U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York: Jay Clayton
- Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
- Deputy chief of staff: Dan Scavino
- Deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser: Stephen Miller
- Deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs: James Blair
- Deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel: Taylor Budowich
- Presidential Personnel Office head: Sergio Gor
White House Chief of Staff: Susie Wiles
Within a day after winning the election, Trump announced that his campaign co-chair, Susie Wiles, would become his chief of staff. Wiles, an experienced Florida-based political operative, will be the first woman in US history to hold the position. The job of chief of staff is not confirmed by the Senate, but it is a prestigious one that is frequently regarded part of the Cabinet.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Trump intends to propose Florida Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State. The decision differs from when Trump and the Florida senator were opponents in the 2016 Republican primary.
Rubio, 53, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, is a China hawk with extensive foreign policy experience.
Attorney general: Matt Gaetz
Trump said he will nominate GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, one of his fiercest defenders, to serve as his attorney general. Gaetz has faced several investigations into his conduct, and a number of Republican senators expressed reservations about support for his nomination.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.
“On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” Trump added, referring to Gaetz’s defense of him during his first impeachment.
The House Ethics Committee revealed in June that it was investigating Gaetz on allegations including sexual misconduct, drug use and obstruction. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and maintained his innocence throughout a Justice Department probe — closed last year — into allegations that he violated sex trafficking laws and obstructed justice. Federal prosecutors in Florida did not file charges against him in the case.
Deputy Attorney General: Todd Blanche
Todd Blanche was appointed deputy attorney general, the Justice Department’s second-highest position. Blanche defended Trump at his “hush money” trial in New York City. (Trump was convicted guilty in the case, but he claimed culpability and promised to appeal.
HHS secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, saying he will take on “industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation,” and will “Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
Kennedy has a long record of criticizing vaccines, including spreading misleading claims about their safety.
Kennedy has vowed to tackle a “epidemic” of chronic diseases, blaming huge drug and food industries for a wide range of afflictions. He claims that congressional delay has exacerbated a number of health conditions, including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, sleep disorders, infertility, diabetes, and obesity. He has also advocated for removing fluoride from drinking water.
Kennedy ran for president as an independent, but dropped out in August and embraced Donald Trump.
Secretary of veterans affairs: Doug Collins
Trump tapped former Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, filling another Cabinet position with a military veteran.
Collins served in Congress from 2013 to 2021, and as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, he defended Trump during his first impeachment hearing.
“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform,” Trump said in a statement announcing the pick.
U.N. ambassador: Elise Stefanik
President-elect Donald Trump has offered the job of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to Rep. Elise Stefanik.
Stefanik, who represents a district in upstate New York, is a vocal and staunch Trump ally and the No. 4 House Republican as chair of the House Republican Conference.
“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement to CBS News.
Stefanik withdrew from the race to be conference chair, confirming in a letter to her GOP colleagues she had spoken with Trump and “shared how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination.”
The role of U.N. ambassador requires Senate confirmation.
“Border czar”: Tom Homan
Trump announced Tom Homan will serve as “border czar” in his incoming administration. Homan was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the first Trump administration.
“I am pleased to announce that the Former ICE Director, and stalwart on Border Control, Tom Homan, will be joining the Trump Administration, in charge of our Nation’s Borders,” the president-elect wrote on his Truth Social site.
In addition to overseeing the southern and northern borders and “maritime, and aviation security,” Trump said Homan “will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin” — a major theme of Trump’s campaign.
This position does not require Senate confirmation.
Homan was recently interviewed by Cecilia Vega of 60 Minutes prior to the election. During the conversation, he stated that Trump’s proposal for mass deportation would be implemented.
“I hear a lot of people say, you know, the talk of a mass deportation is racist. It’s— it’s— it’s threatening to the immigrant community. It’s not threatening to the immigrant community,” Homan said. “It should be threatening to the illegal immigrant community. But on the heels of [a] historic illegal immigration crisis. That has to be done.”
Defense secretary: Pete Hegseth
Trump said that he will select Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News anchor, to lead the Department of Defense.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. 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,” the president-elect said in a statement.
Trump praised Hegseth’s military record as an Army combat veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
Hegseth, 44, was a co-host of “Fox & Friends Weekends” and author of the book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” which rails against what he calls the “warped, woke, and caustic policies of our current military.”
National security adviser: Michael Waltz
Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican, was named national security adviser. Trump praised his military record and expertise on China, Russia, Iran and global terrorism.
“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!” the president-elect said in a statement.
Waltz, a Green Beret veteran who served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, was elected to Congress in 2018 to replace Ron DeSantis, who was elected governor of Florida.
Waltz, a China hawk, is a member of the House China Task Force, which seeks to create measures to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s influence. He has also been hesitant of providing additional aid to Ukraine as it resists Russia’s incursion.
Secretary of homeland security: Kristi Noem
Trump confirmed in a statement that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is his pick to run DHS, praising her as “very strong on Border Security.”
Noem, who was elected governor in 2018 after serving eight years in the House, endorsed Trump’s reelection bid in 2023 and joined him at a number of campaign rallies. She had been considered a potential pick for vice president earlier in the campaign.
Noem sparked controversy earlier this year when her new book, “No Going Back,” falsely claimed she had met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and revealed that she shot and killed her 14-month-old dog Cricket after failures at training.
Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum
Speaking Thursday night at Mar-a-Lago during a gala hosted by the right-leaning think tank the America First Policy Institute, Trump said he planned to formally nominate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as Interior secretary.
“Actually, he’s gonna head the Department of the Interior, and he’s gonna be fantastic,” Trump told the crowd. Burgum was also in attendance.
Burgum ran against Trump for the Republican nomination before dropping out in December and endorsing Trump the following month. He was also at one point on a shortlist to be Trump’s running mate.
When asked by reporters Thursday ahead of the gala about the possibility of joining the Trump administration, Burgum responded, “There’s been a lot of discussions about a lot of different things. And…like I said…nothing’s true till you read it on Truth Social.”
CIA director: John Ratcliffe
Former U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, who served as Director of National Intelligence in Trump’s first term, is the pick for CIA director.
The president-elect announced the appointment in a social media post, praising Ratcliffe for investigating Hunter Biden and the FBI’s use of FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
“John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. And noting Ratcliffe’s role in his first administration, Trump said. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions.”
Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard
Trump announced that he has selected former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as his director of national intelligence.
“For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans,” he said in a statement.
Gabbard served in the Army National Guard and represented Hawaii in the House from 2013 to 2021 before becoming an independent in 2022. In his statement, Trump said she “is now a proud Republican!” Gabbard ran for president in the Democratic primaries in 2020.
Gabbard does not have experience in the field of intelligence and opposes U.S. intervention in the war in Ukraine. Her views on Russia and her 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have drawn controversy.
EPA administrator: Lee Zeldin
Trump announced that he will nominate former New York Republican congressman Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,” Trump said in a statement.
Zeldin wrote, “It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator.”
Zeldin represented New York’s 1st Congressional District, on Long Island, from 2015 to 2023, and he ran for governor in 2022 but was defeated by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
U.S. ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
The president-elect has selected Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, to serve as his U.S. ambassador to Israel. The post requires Senate confirmation.
“Mike has been a great public servant, governor, and leader in faith for many years,” Trump said in a statement. “He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him. Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”
Huckabee served as Arkansas’ governor from 1996 to 2007 and unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016. After leaving office, he hosted a show on Fox News and a radio program.
Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk & Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump said that he is appointing billionaire ally Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a former GOP primary competitor, to oversee a newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, which is also the name of a cryptocurrency Musk has supported.
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Elon Musk, working in conjunction with American Patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”). 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,” Trump said in a statement, adding a quote from Musk, who said: “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!”
Trump’s statement indicated their roles may not be formally part of the government but would “provide advice and guidance from outside.” He said their work “will conclude no later than July 4, 2026.”
White House counsel: William McGinley
Trump announced on Truth Social that William McGinley will be White House counsel.
“Bill is a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement,” Trump wrote.
McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary and also served as Republican National Committee outside counsel for election integrity and as general counsel for the GOP Senate campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The Presidential Personnel Office
Sergio Gor, the co-founder and CEO of Donald Trump Jr.’s publishing company, Winning Team Publishing, has been offered the critical post of leading the Presidential Personnel Office in the future Trump administration, according to a Trump person familiar with the decision.
Gor also led the pro-Trump super PAC Right for America, which was partially sponsored by billionaire Ike Perlmutter and raised over $80 million to support Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.
The PPO director vets thousands of administration personnel. The office was previously led by John McEntee toward the end of the first Trump presidency. Gor declined to comment to CBS News. Semafor was the first to report the decision.
Assistants to the president and deputy chiefs of staff
Trump announced four top advisers — Dan Scavino, Stephen Miller, James Blair and Taylor Budowich — who worked on his presidential campaign will join him in the White House as members of his senior staff. They will all serve as assistants to the president and deputy chiefs of staff overseeing specific areas.
“Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were ‘best in class’ advisors on my winning campaign, and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,” Trump said. “They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.”
Scavino will serve as deputy chief of staff and is described by Trump as one of his “longest serving and most trusted aides.” He served as deputy chief of staff for communications and director of social media during Trump’s first term.
Miller, who also worked in the White House for Trump during his first four years in office, will return as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser. Miller advised the president-elect in his first term and crafted the administration’s stringent immigration policies.
Blair will serve as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs. He was the political director for Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee, overseeing a portfolio of political operations and programs in that role, the president-elect said.
Budowich was tapped as deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. He worked in a senior role for Trump’s Save America PAC and was CEO of the super PAC MAGA Inc.
Treasury secretary names floated
Scott Bessent, the founder of a Connecticut-based hedge fund, Key Square Group, appears to be the leading candidate to be Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, two sources familiar with the transition told CBS News Thursday night.
He has been making a full-court press for the post, a source deeply involved in transition planning previously told CBS News. Bessent has outside advocates building the case for him to Trump.
Bessent did not reply to a request for comment.
Trump’s former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was also being floated for Treasury secretary.
Commerce secretary
Linda McMahon, who served as small business administrator in Trump’s first term and is a former WWE CEO, is a top contender to lead the Department of Commerce, multiple sources familiar with discussions about the role say.
“It is hers if she wants it,” one senior Trump official said, adding that she is close to Trump and he trusts her.
McMahon also is co-chairwoman of the pro-Trump super PAC America First Policy Action, and is helping run the transition team with Trump’s friend, Howard Lutnick.
Not joining the administration
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 60, was mentioned early on as a possible candidate to lead the Defense Department, according to two people familiar with the situation. However, in a statement on his Truth Social site, Trump stated that Pompeo will not be joining the White House. In his post, Trump also stated that Nikki Haley, who served as the US ambassador to the United Nations during his first administration and ran against him in the Republican presidential primary, would not be joining it.
“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to join the Trump Administration, which is currently in formation,” Trump wrote. “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.”
Trump’s family members
It’s unclear whether any of Trump’s family members will work in his administration. In his first term, both daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner worked in the White House, but they’ve taken a step back from involvement in their father’s political work.
Who is running Trump’s national security transition team
Brian Hook
Hook, a former US special representative to Iran during Trump’s first term and an advisor to both Pompeo and previous Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, is a member of the State Department’s transition team. He has been working on policy and visiting with foreign diplomats for months, but no official transition talks with the Biden-Harris team have taken place yet. The Trump administration has yet to sign a memorandum of understanding, which is an agreement with the General Services Administration to receive help and financing from the agency throughout the transition process.
Hook is under US taxpayer-funded diplomatic security protection due to ongoing threats from Iran and the 2020 assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
He declined to comment.
Joel Rayburn
Rayburn, who previously served as special envoy to Syria, deputy assistant secretary for Levant Affairs, and Senior Director for Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon under Trump, has returned to work on the National Security Council transition team.
He declined to comment.
Michael Anton
Anton, a former NSC spokeswoman and deputy national security advisor under the Trump administration, is also part of the NSC transition team.
He declined to comment.
