This week, President-elect Trump has continued announcing his nominations for senior government positions, including those at the Departments of Commerce (DOC), Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Attorney General (DOJ), Interior (DOI), Energy (DOE), Veterans Affairs (VA), Transportation (DOT), Education (DOE), as well as various other senior White House roles. President-elect Trump has not yet named a nominee for Secretary of Agriculture (USDA).
Cabinet selections
Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick was chosen as the nominee for Secretary of Commerce. President-elect Trump noted that Lutnick would also have authority over the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), an expansive role that has never been done before. “He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.” Lutnick has served as Cantor Fitzgerald’s President and CEO since 1991 and chairman of the board since 1996.
After previous nominee and former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew from consideration as Attorney General, President-elect Trump chose Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be the nominee to lead the Department of Justice. Bondi served as a defense lawyer for President-elect Trump during his first term, as a Fox News host, and now serves as Florida’s Attorney General under Governor Ron DeSantis.
North Dakota Governor Doug Bergum was chosen as the Secretary of the Interior nominee and chair of the newly formed National Energy Council. “The Council of National Energy will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy,” President-elect Trump said in a statement. “This Council will oversee the path to U.S. 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.” President-elect Trump also said Bergum will be a member of the National Security Council.
Chris Wright, the founder, CEO, and chairman of the board of Liberty Energy, was chosen as the nominee for Secretary of Energy. President-elect Trump also announced Wright will serve on the Council of National Energy.
Former Georgia Representative Doug Collins was chosen as the nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Collins served as Representative of Georgia’s 9th Congressional District from 2013 to 2021. He is a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force reserve with the rank of colonel.
Former Representative Sean Duffy (R-WI) was chosen as the nominee for Secretary of Transportation. Duffy served as Representative for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District from 2011 to 2019.
Linda McMahon was chosen as the nominee for Secretary of Education. McMahon, co-founder and former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), previously served in President-elect Trump’s first term as administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Other senior government roles
Stephen Miller, a former staffer of Trump’s first term, was selected to return to the White House as deputy chief of staff for policy. Miller primarily worked on immigration issues. This role does not require Senate confirmation.
Former Representative John Ratcliffe (R-TX) was chosen as the nominee for Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was chosen as the nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel.
Karoline Leavitt was chosen as President-elect Trump’s second-term White House press secretary. This role does not require Senate confirmation.
Steven Cheung, a President-elect Trump’s 2016 campaign veteran, was chosen as the White House Communications Director. This role does not require Senate confirmation.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a television personality and physician, was chosen as the nominee for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator, which operates within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) commissioner Brendan Carr was chosen to lead the FCC.
Former Securities and Exchange Commission chair Jay Clayton was chosen as the nominee for U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
