Musk, Gaetz, Gabbard, and more.
President-elect Donald Trump is swiftly assembling his cabinet. Here’s a look at who he’s picked so far, the familiar faces who may be returning to the White House, and the new names rumored to be in the running.
White House chief of staff: Susie Wiles
Trump has chosen Susie Wiles, who managed his 2024 campaign, to be his chief of staff, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Wiles, the daughter of famed sports broadcaster Pat Summerall, has been in conservative politics for years. She’s worked on campaigns for Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, briefly managed Jon Huntsman’s 2012 presidential bid, and ran Trump’s 2016 campaign in Florida, helping him secure the state and clinch the election.
She then worked briefly with Gov. Ron DeSantis, although the two reportedly had a falling out. Wiles went on to lead Trump’s primary campaign against DeSantis and ultimately helped the former win the popular vote.
Unlike many within Trump’s inner circle, Wiles has shied away from the spotlight. During his victory speech, Trump praised his campaign strategist and noted that their nickname for her is “the ice maiden.”
Turnover has traditionally been very high within Trump’s campaign (the president-elect went through four chiefs of staff during his first term), but insiders believe Wiles may have staying power.
Department of Human Health and Services Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
RFK Jr. will be nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump had promised to let Kennedy “go wild” with health and food policy after the former independent abandoned his campaign and endorsed the conservative.
Kennedy is an avid anti-vaccine activist, who’s falsely claimed that they’re linked to autism, and who’s boosted other baseless conspiracy theories. He’s recently suggested that he would ban fluoride in drinking water, because of his unfounded belief that the mineral, which prevents tooth decay, lowers children’s IQ. As the head of HHS, he would hold sway in several key agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration.
“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Healthy Again!” Trump said on Truth Social.
Trump had hinted that RFK Jr. would be given some health-related role within his administration, alarming many within public health. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, told NBC: “I’m speechless.”
“To have someone leading the Department of Health and Human Services who has been one of the biggest purveyors of misinformation about vaccines, one of the biggest purveyors of misinformation about public health in general, would imperil the health of people across the country,” Besser said.
Attorney general: Matt Gaetz
Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz will be nominated for attorney general, Trump announced in a statement. If approved, he would lead the Justice Department, which had recently investigated him for possible sex trafficking offenses, although prosecutors last year declined to bring charges against the 42-year-old.
“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.
Trump has signaled that his AG would play a very important role within his administration and is expected to both drop the current federal charges he faces and help him fulfill his vow to prosecute his political enemies.
Fox News host Pete Hegseth tapped for defense secretary
Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth, co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, to be his secretary of defense. Hegseth, 44, has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and his first role in politics will see him assume responsibility for the world’s most powerful military.
Officials and experts have expressed skepticism at his appointment. Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Independent Veterans of America, posted on X that Mr Hegseth was “undoubtedly the least qualified nominee for SecDef in American history”. “Brace yourself, America,” he added.
Insiders initially believed that Mike Pompeo, Trump’s former Secretary of State, would be considered for the job. But last week, Trump made it clear that Pompeo would not be joining his cabinet, and neither would Nikki Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. during his first term.
“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 on Truth Social. “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.”
Tulsi Gabbard picked for director of national intelligence
The president-elect will nominate Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. The former Democratic congresswoman, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who served in Iraq, has in recent years become a fervent supporter of Trump.
“I know will 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 wrote in a statement.
In the role, Gabbard would oversee 18 spy agencies and would also prepare Trump’s daily intelligence brief, per the Times.
Kristi Noem named Homeland Security secretary
Trump has named South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as his homeland security secretary, per CNN. Her appointment signals how serious Trump is about cracking down on migration, one of his key priorities.
Noem was once in the running to be Trump’s vice president, and hit the limelight when she revealed in her autobiography that she’d killed her “untrainable” 14-month-old wirehair pointer, Cricket.
Marco Rubio nominated for secretary of state
Trump has picked Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as his new secretary of state. Rubio would likely go along with Trump’s anticipated plan to pressure Ukraine into accepting a peace settlement with Russia. Just a week ago, Rubio said that the “stalemate” between the nations “needs to be brought to a conclusion.”
He’s also advocated for an aggressive approach with China, which aligns with Trump’s views. In a statement, Rubio said: “I will work every day to carry out (Trump’s) foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.”
Mike Waltz asked to serve as national security adviser
Trump has asked Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida to serve as his national security adviser, in news first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Waltz, who has served in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa, would be the first former Green Beret to take the role.
Stephen Miller named deputy chief of policy
The president-elect has picked Stephen Miller, his long-time adviser, to be his deputy chief of policy. Miller was an influential aide to Trump during his first term and has continued to play an important role within his campaign. Miller has become known for his hard-line views on immigration, and, according to The New York Times, has for the past two years been working on detailed plans for mass deportations.
The Times also reports that Miller is expected to have a broad portfolio, play a large role in staffing the government, and work closely with Trump’s new “Border Czar,” Tom Homan.
Dr. Oz to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the celebrity doctor who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2022, has been tapped to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a key agency responsible for overseeing health insurance coverage for more than 150 million Americans.
“I have known Dr. Oz for many years, and I am confident he will fight to ensure everyone in America receives the best possible Healthcare, so our country can be Great and Healthy Again!” Trump said in a statement. “Dr. Oz will be a leader in incentivizing Disease Prevention, so we get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend on Healthcare in our Great Country.”
Trump has in the past contemplated cuts to Medicaid funding and hinted that Dr. Oz would be empowered to do so: “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 announces his border czar, Tom Homan
Trump announced last night that he’s appointing Tom Homan as his new “Border Czar.” Homan was acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in his last administration. Trump posted on Truth Social that Homan “will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin.”
“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 Border Czar”), including, but not limited to, the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,” he said.
Elise Stefanik tipped for United Nations ambassador
Rumors are circulating that Elise Stefanik has been offered the job of United Nations ambassador.
“Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump told the New York Post.
Stefanik rose to prominence during Trump’s 2019 impeachment hearings, which made her a “Republican star,” in Trump’s words. She also backed Trump’s claims of election interference following the 2020 election, and objected to certifying Joe Biden as President.
Howard Lutnick tapped for commerce secretary
The billionaire CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald has been picked to head the Department of Commerce. Howard Lutnick has indicated that he’s closely aligned with Trump’s views on the economy and even certain controversial policies, like imposing aggressive tariffs and tax cuts.
Lutnick, who helped rebuild Cantor Fitzgerald after the Sept. 11 attacks in which almost 700 of the firm’s employees were killed, was a co-chair of Trump’s transition team and has some powerful allies. Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. both publicly endorsed him for Treasury Secretary, a job he was rumored to be in contention for.
Chris Wright nominated for energy secretary
Trump has chosen Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, a fracking company headquartered in Denver, to lead the Department of Energy. The agency is chiefly responsible for safeguarding the country’s nuclear arsenal, but in recent years it’s also played a role in steering the country away from fossil fuels and toward renewable alternatives, like wind and solar. However, Wright has made clear that, despite a clear scientific consensus, he does not believe that greenhouse gases contribute to our warming planet.
“There is no climate crisis and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either,” Wright said in a video posted to LinkedIn last year.
Lee Zeldin tapped for EPA administrator
Trump will nominate the former New York Congressman to head up the Environmental Protection Agency. Zeldin, a former Long Island Rep. who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022, is expected to play a key role in helping the president-elect dismantle regulations aimed at curbing carbon emissions, The New York Times reports.
“It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator,” Zeldin wrote on X. “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.”
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead department of government efficiency
Trump announced that he’s tapped Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head up a newly created agency called the Department of Government Efficiency. The president-elect says the department will propel “drastic change” within the federal bureaucracy by July 4, 2026, per The New York Times.
“A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence,” Trump wrote in a statement. “I am confident they will succeed!”
The roles are informal, allowing Musk — the world’s richest man who’s donated millions to help get Trump elected — and the former presidential candidate to hold the positions without Senate approval.
Who will Trump choose as treasury secretary?
There are reportedly several people in the mix to lead this department, including longtime politicians to billionaires, according to Politico.
- Robert Lighthizer, one of Trump’s top trade officials during his first term
- Jay Clayton, a Wall Street veteran and Trump’s former Securities and Exchange Commission chair
- Larry Kudlow, a longtime TV analyst and head of Trump’s National Economic Council
- John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager who was floated earlier this year as a contender, per Bloomberg
- Scott Bessent, founder of the Key Square Group hedge fund, who CBS reports is aggressively campaigning within Trump’s circle for the position
- Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Sen. who served as U.S. ambassador to Japan under Trump. He’s also reportedly up for head of the State and Commerce Departments.
Will Linda McMahon be part of the cabinet?
The former WWE CEO was first believed to be Trump’s pick for Commerce Secretary, but now insiders are saying that she’s expected to be selected as head of the Department of Education.
McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term and, with Lutnick, served as co-chair of Trump’s transition team. She and her husband, the wrestling icon Vince McMahon, who’s become mired in sexual misconduct allegations, have been friends of Trump’s for years and are some of his biggest donors.
