Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration
President-elect Donald Trump, ahead of his return to power in January, is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration, including names like Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard and Matt Gaetz.
Trump began to roll out his nominees and appointees just days after his election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Among them are some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.
Trump will have a Republican-controlled Senate and possibly a Republican-controlled House to help usher his picks through. But he's also urging the incoming Senate leader to embrace recess appointments, which has led to speculation some of his choices may be more controversial.
Here is a running list of whom Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration:
Secretary of state: Marco Rubio
Trump announced Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his pick to be secretary of state.
Rubio is the vice-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Foreign Intelligence and sits on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He holds hard-line views on China, Iran and Russia, although like other Republicans he has shifted on support for Ukraine's war effort to be more aligned with Trump.
Rubio will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Read more about Rubio's experience here.
Department of Homeland Security secretary: Kristi Noem
Trump announced he has chosen South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be his secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
As Trump's Homeland Security secretary, among Noem's biggest roles is expected to be to oversee Trump's border policies, including the major campaign promise of "mass deportations," alongside Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan and White House deputy chief of staff on policy Stephen Miller.
The role would require Senate approval. Read more about Noem here.
Secretary of defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump has selected Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense.
He listed Hegseth's experience as a veteran and his media experience as his reasons for the choice. Hegseth served in the Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and previously served as the director of an advocacy group that has called for more privatization of the Veterans Administration.
Hegseth will need to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the role. Read more about Hegseth here.
Health and Human Services secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump said he has picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
HHS oversees major health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, among others.
The job requires Senate confirmation. Read more about Kennedy here.
'Department of Government Efficiency': Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump announced the two men will lead what he's calling a new "Department of Government Efficiency."
It will not be a new federal agency, but will provide "outside of government" counsel on reforming departments and cutting waste, Trump said.
Read more about Trump's plan here. The president-elect did not detail how this new department would be funded.
Attorney general: Matt Gaetz (withdrawn)
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration to be Trump's attorney general.
Gaetz informed Trump that he'd be withdrawing shortly before announcing his decision, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Sources told ABC News in the last few days it became clear to the Trump team that Gaetz was not going to have enough votes for a Senate confirmation -- with sources close to the president-elect telling ABC News that there was "no path to 50" senators.
The attorney general position needs to be confirmed by the Senate.
Attorney general: Pam Bondi
After former Rep. Matt Gaetz announced he withdrew his name for consideration to be attorney general, Trump nominated Pam Bondi as his new pick.
Bondi is the former attorney general of Florida, marking the first woman in the role.
Bondi has remained in Trump’s inner circle for years and has continued to advise him on legal matters. She was also one of the lawyers who defended Trump during his first Senate impeachment trial.
Education secretary: Linda McMahon
President-elect Donald Trump announced he is nominating Linda McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive and the former Small Business Services secretary, to lead the Department of Education.
McMahon, who served as Trump's Small Business Services administrator for two years, has no teaching or experience but served one year on the Connecticut State Board of Education.
Trump has proposed that the Department of Education be eliminated and to "send all education work and needs back to the states," according to his Agenda47 policy platform.
McMahon's appointment must be approved by the Senate. Read more about McMahon here.
Chairman of the FCC: Brendan Carr
President-elect Donald Trump announced Brendan Carr as his pick for chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Nov. 17.
Carr previously served as general counsel for the FCC and as the senior Republican for the FCC.
Trump first nominated Carr to the FCC in 2017. The president-elect said in his official announcement this week that although Carr's current term runs through 2029, the president-elect is now designating him as the "permanent chairman."
A president chooses a chair from among Senate-confirmed commissioners of the FCC, such that the choice does not require further confirmation from the Senate.
Deputy attorney general: Todd Blanche
Trump nominated his own personal top defense attorney for the second highest position in the Department of Justice on Thursday.
After much speculation, Trump nominated his lawyer who represented Trump in the hush money case and in both of Jack Smith's federal probes.
Blanche will need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Associate deputy attorney general: Emil Bove
Trump announced he nominated Emil Bove for principal associate deputy attorney general.
Bove will need to be confirmed by the Senate.
Secretary of veterans affairs: Doug Collins
Trump announced he nominated former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins for secretary of veterans affairs.
Collins is a veteran who currently serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, Trump said in a statement.
"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 said.
Collins' position requires Senate confirmation.
Energy secretary: Chris Wright
Trump announced Chris Wright is his nominee to lead the Department of Energy.
Wright, who must be approved by the Senate, is the chief executive of Liberty Energy – the world’s second-largest fracking services company – and is one of the industry’s most outspoken critics of the effort to combat climate change.
"As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new 'Golden Age of American Prosperity and Global Peace,'" Trump said.
Wright has said he doesn't believe there is a "climate crisis" and has argued that policies aimed at combating climate change make energy more expensive and less reliable.
Read more about Wright's experience here.
Interior secretary: Doug Burgum
Trump announced he has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as his interior secretary.
Trump also announced that Burgum will be joining his administration as chairman of the "newly formed, and very important, National Energy Council."
The council will consist of all departments and agencies "involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation [and] transportation" of American energy, Trump said.
Burgum was seen as a possible running mate of Trump's. He was one of his busiest surrogates, campaigning for the former president and raising money for his reelection campaign.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Transportation secretary: Sean Duffy
Trump announced that he has picked former Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy for transportation secretary.
"He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports," Trump said in a statement. "He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security, and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers."
Duffy co-hosts "The Bottom Line" on Fox Business and is a Fox News contributor.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Solicitor general: Dean John Sauer
Trump said on Thursday he has selected Dean John Sauer as solicitor general.
As Trump's defense attorney, Sauer argued for presidential immunity in front of the Supreme Court earlier this year, in which the high court granted broad immunity for official acts.
The Department of Justice position requires Senate confirmation.
He marks the third attorney who has worked on Trump's criminal cases nominated for a DOJ position.
'Border czar': Tom Homan
Trump announced former Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan will serve as "border czar."
He will be charged with seeing out the mass deportations Trump promised throughout his campaign.
Homan oversaw ICE under the Trump administration for a year and a half, at a time when the administration's "zero tolerance" policy led to parents being separated from their children at the border.
"Border czar" is not an official Cabinet position, meaning it won't need Senate confirmation. Read more about Homan here.
Chief of staff: Susie Wiles
Susie Wiles will be the first female chief of staff for any White House.
Wiles was Trump's co-campaign manager for his 2024 run. Trump also credited her for her work on his 2016 and 2020 White House bids, though his 2024 bid ran smoother and saw fewer shake-ups.
Wiles is the daughter of legendary NFL Hall of Famer Pat Summerall. She will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post.
Deputy chief of staff for policy: Stephen Miller
Trump announced that Stephen Miller will become his deputy chief of staff for policy.
Miller is one of Trump's senior advisers and helped craft his hard-line immigration policies during his first term. He will be key in trying to implement Trump's 2024 campaign pledge to mass deport migrants illegally living in the U.S.
He will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post. Read more about Miller's background here.
Deputy chief of staff: Dan Scavino
Joining Stephen Miller as another top adviser from his campaign being brought to the White House is Dan Scavino, whom Trump selected as deputy chief of staff.
Scavino was also a senior aide during Trump's first term in office.
Deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel: Taylor Budowich
Taylor Budowich also supported Trump's campaign efforts and earned himself a spot at the White House.
He previously ran Trump's super PAC, MAGA Inc.
Deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs: James Blair
James Blair was the political director for Trump's campaign and will seemingly offer similar skills to Trump's administration through the role of deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs.
Formerly, he was the founder and president of a political consulting firm.
Ambassador to the United Nations: Elise Stefanik
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has been tapped to be Trump's U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik joined Congress as a moderate Republican but became one of Trump's key defenders after his first impeachment and after his 2020 election loss. She joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference.
Stefanik made headlines this past year as she challenged university presidents on their handling of protests over the Israel-Gaza war. She's also accused the United Nations of antisemitism over some of the resolutions passed amid the conflict.
Stefanik will have to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the role. Read more about Stefanik here.
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: John Ratcliffe
Trump has selected John Ratcliffe to serve as director of the CIA.
The former three-term Republican congressman from Texas served as Trump's director of national intelligence from mid-2020 until the end of Trump's first term.
His path to DNI wasn't a smooth one -- he was nominated to the post in 2019, but he withdrew his nomination after questions from both parties arose about his qualifications for the job and whether he had embellished his record as a federal prosecutor.
"From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBI's abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public," Trump said in a statement announcing his pick. "When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden's laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American People."
Ratcliffe's nomination requires Senate confirmation. Read more about him here.
Environmental Protection Agency administrator: Lee Zeldin
Trump has tapped former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA.
Zeldin represented Long Island's Suffolk County in the House of Representatives for eight years before launching a failed bid for governor against Democrat Kathy Hochul. Before becoming an elected official, Zeldin was an attorney.
Zeldin has pledged to eliminate regulations at the EPA he claimed are hampering businesses. He also said he wanted to restore energy independence as well as protect access to clean air and water.
Zeldin will need Senate confirmation to serve in the role. Read more about him here.
National security adviser: Mike Waltz
Trump has picked Florida Rep. Michael Waltz to be his national security adviser.
Waltz, who was the first Green Beret elected to the House, sits on the House Intelligence, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. Before becoming an elected official, Waltz served in various national security policy roles.
The national security adviser is appointed by the president with no Senate confirmation needed.
Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
Trump announced he has nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
The role, which will need to be confirmed by the Senate, will be a key appointment as tensions remain high in the Middle East. Like David Friedman, Trump's first ambassador to Israel, Huckabee is an outspoken supporter of the Israeli settlement movement.
Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard
Trump announced that he had picked Tulsi Gabbard -- a military veteran and honorary co-chair of his transition team -- has been chosen by Trump to be his director of national intelligence.
The position requires Senate confirmation. Read more about Gabbard here.
Commerce secretary: Howard Lutnick
Trump announced that he picked Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as his secretary of the Department of Commerce.
Lutnick, who leads the investment bank, has been serving as co-chair of the Trump transition team alongside Trump's former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon.
The role requires Senate confirmation.
Read more here.
Director of communications: Steven Cheung
Trump announced that Steven Cheung, who previously served as the director of strategic response in Trump's first term, will serve as director of communications in his second.
Cheung was also the director of communications for Trump's presidential campaign.
Presidential Personnel Office head: Sergio Gor
Trump has announced that Sergio Gor, who ran the pro-Trump Super PAC Right For America, will serve as director of the Presidential Personnel Office.
In this role, he joins Cheung as an assistant to the president.
In his statement announcing the selection, Trump said, "Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024.”
White House counsel: Bill McGinley
Trump has named attorney Bill McGinley as his White House counsel, his transition team announced.
McGinley served as the White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first term and has served as general counsel at the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
"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 said in a statement.
The White House counsel is appointed by the president.
White House staff secretary: Will Scharf
Trump announced that one of his own lawyers, Will Scharf, will serve as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary.
“Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team,” Trump said in a statement.
Scharf helped defend Trump in his federal election interference case and his Supreme Court immunity case.
Manhattan US attorney: Jay Clayton
Trump nominated his former SEC chair, Jay Clayton, as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The president-elect made his announcement on social media.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Prior to running the SEC, Clayton worked almost exclusively as a corporate attorney, with the exception of a two-year clerkship and a brief internship for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator: Dr. Mehmet Oz
Dr. Mehmet Oz has been selected to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Trump announced.
The agency is within the Department of Health & Human Services. Trump indicated that Dr. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to take on chronic diseases.
The position requires Senate confirmation.
Ambassador to Canada: Pete Hoekstra
Trump announced he's nominating former congressman Peter Hoekstra to be the United States ambassador to Canada.
The role requires Senate confirmation for approval.
Most recently, Hoekstra served as chairman of the Michigan Republican Party. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands during Trump's first term.
NATO ambassador: Matt Whitaker
Trump announced former acting attorney general Matt Whitaker as ambassador to NATO.
Whitaker was an active member of Trump's 2024 campaign.
"Matt is a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States' interests are advanced and defended," Trump said.
Attorney general: Pam Bondi
Hours after former congressman Matt Gaetz took his name out of the running for attorney general, Trump announced Pam Bondi would be his next pick for the job.
The role requires Senate approval.
Bondi previously served as Florida's attorney general and has been a longtime Trump supporter.
During the 2020 election she spread false claims that Trump won the 2020 election and was part of the firm that preemptively filed election lawsuits in key states during the 2024 election.
Treasury secretary: Scott Bessent
Trump chose billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent to lead the Department of Treasury.
The job requires Senate approval.
Read more about Bessent here.
Bessent had advised Trump on his economic policies during the campaign and held several fundraisers.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget: Russell Vought
Trump announced he has nominated Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Vought has ties to Project 2025 and authored a chapter on "Executive Office of the President" for Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise." Project 2025 describes the mandate as "a comprehensive policy guide for the next conservative U.S. president."
The president-elect described Vought, who served in the same role during Trump's first term for several months toward the end of the administration, as an "aggressive cost cutter and deregulator."
Labor secretary: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Trump nominated U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor.
The role requires approval by the Senate.
The Oregon congresswoman was elected to represent the state's 5th Congressional District in 2022 and she previously served as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon.
She lost her bid for reelection two weeks ago.
Surgeon general: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat
The president-elect nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat to serve as the surgeon general.
The role must be confirmed by the Senate.
Nesheiwat has been a practicing doctor in New York and a Fox News medical contributor.
Deputy assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism: Sebastian Gorka
Sebastian Gorka, a veteran of Trump's first administration, was named deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism.
Gorka has been a controversial figure and outspoken far right conservative who is a close ally of Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon.
Gorka attracted criticism for his beliefs about the violent nature of Islam, questionable foreign policy background and alleged connection to a right-wing nationalist group in Hungary associated with Nazism, which he denies.
CDC director: Dr. Dave Weldon
Trump chose Dr. Dave Weldon to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The seat needs Senate approval following recent rule changes.
Weldon previously served in the House of Representatives representing Florida's 15th District from 1995 to 2009.
FDA commissioner: Dr. Marty Makary
Dr. Marty Makary is Trump's pick to lead the Food and Drug Administration.
The position needs to be approved by the Senate.
Makary, a pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, argued against pandemic lockdowns and doubted the utility of COVD-19 vaccination boosters. Read more about Makary here.
HUD secretary: Scott Turner
Trump chose Scott Turner, a former NFL star and member of his first administration, to lead the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The position requires Senate approval.
Turner served as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, a position created by Trump in 2019.
Agriculture secretary: Brooke Rollins
Brooke Rollins has been nominated as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Agriculture.
The seat must be confirmed by the Senate.
Rollins served in the first Trump administration as the assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives and then later as the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council.
After Trump left office, she became the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute.
