Donald Trump's Final Cabinet Picks: Everyone He Tapped to Join His Administration

Trump quickly filled out his Cabinet and other top White House roles as he prepares to take office in January

President-elect Donald Trump has selected his advisory team for a second term in the White House after sifting through a long list of potential Cabinet nominees.

Dozens of top jobs were up for grabs in the Trump-Vance administration, and everyone who helped the former president emerge victorious in the 2024 presidential election hoped to cash in by gaining influence on his policies — some who have served in Congress, some from Wall Street, some who helped compile Project 2025 and some who played roles in his White House four years ago.

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Though many of the Cabinet-level positions require Senate approval — which could prevent a few of the more controversial nominees from getting confirmed in January — Trump has now made his dream team clear.

From Fox News personalities to wealthy business executives and everyone in between, here's who he tapped to fill each of the high-level openings that will have direct access to the Oval Office after he is sworn in.

Cabinet Secretaries

Secretary of State

The most coveted Cabinet position will hold even more significance in the next administration, as foreign policy takes center stage with the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

On Nov. 13, Trump formally offered the role to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a staunch Israel advocate and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who was thought to be on Trump's running mate shortlist over the summer. Rubio, 53, was born to Cuban immigrants who came to the United States during the 1950s Cuban Revolution.

"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," Trump said in a statement.

Secretary of the Treasury

The secretary of the treasury is effectively the chief financial officer of the United States government, in charge of shaping an administration's economic policy. Among the many in Trump's orbit with finance backgrounds, hedge fund manager Scott Bessent rose to the top of the pack to lead the Treasury Department.

Bessent, a 62-year-old gay man who once supported Al Gore's presidential campaign and worked as an investor for liberal philanthropist George Soros, has become an unlikely ally of Trump's. Prior to earning the secretary nomination, he served as an economic adviser for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Secretary of Defense

Fox News host Pete Hegseth becoming Trump's top choice for defense secretary was a development that Washington insiders didn't see coming.

"Pete has been a host at FOX News for eight years, where he used that platform to fight for our Military and Veterans," Trump said in a statement, before touting that Hegseth had a bestselling book which he says "reveals the leftwing betrayals of our Warriors, and how we must return our Military to meritocracy, lethality, accountability, and excellence."

Related: Fox News Host Pete Hegseth Jokes He Hasn't Washed His Hands in 10 Years Because 'Germs Aren't Real'

Hegseth, 44, is a political newcomer who is far younger than most people who have held the high-ranking post. If approved by Senate, the Army National Guard officer will oversee the Pentagon and all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Attorney General

Hours after Trump's initial choice for attorney general — embattled Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz — withdrew his nomination amid bipartisan criticism, the president-elect put forward a new name to lead the Department of Justice: former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.

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Since leaving state office in 2019, Bondi, now 59, has served as a lobbyist for the government of Qatar, a Fox News contributor, and the top lawyer on the Trump-aligned think tank America First Policy Institute. Previously backed by Scientologists, Bondi has been a staunch ally of Trump's, defending him in his first impeachment trial and promoting his false claims of election fraud.

"For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump said in a statement revealing his new AG nominee on Nov. 21.

During an August 2023 appearance on Fox's Hannity, Bondi commented on Trump's vision for the Department of Justice in a second term: "The prosecutors will be prosecuted — the bad ones. The investigators will be investigated. Because the Deep State, last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows. But now they have a spotlight on them, and they can all be investigated. And the house needs to be cleaned out."

Secretary of Interior

It was announced that Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota and supporter of the fossil fuel industry, will serve as the interior secretary.

Trump also revealed that he will serve on the newly formed National Energy Council, which will include departments and agencies "involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation of all forms of American energy."

A former businessman and founder of venture capitalist and real-estate development firms, Burgum is reportedly among the richest politicians in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of at least $1.1 billion.

Secretary of Agriculture

Brooke Rollins, founder of the Trump-aligned think tank America First Policy Institute, beat out a couple of Department of Agriculture veterans to earn the nomination for agriculture secretary. If confirmed by Senate, Rollins, 52, will play an important role in determining whether rural and low-income Americans feel supported by the administration, as the overseer of a wide range of agencies that deal with forests, food safety, food stamps and rural development.

Rollins has an agricultural development degree from Texas A&M University and she formerly served as Trump's director of domestic policy during his first term.

Secretary of Commerce

Billionaire Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick, who has helped vet Trump's potential White House administrators, was announced on Nov. 19 as the nominee for secretary of commerce. Lutnick is the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and has been acting as a co-chair on Trump's presidential transition team.

"He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative," Trump said, referencing his controversial plan to hike tariffs, which has been criticized by economists on both sides of the aisle.

Secretary of Labor

Days after losing her reelection bid in Oregon's 5th Congressional District, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer was unexpectedly named Trump's pick for secretary of labor. Representing a swing district for one term in the House, Chavez-DeRemer, 56, has been seen as a generally pro-union Republican, making her addition to a less labor-friendly administration a surprising choice.

"Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success — Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!" Trump said in a statement.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, after Trump previously said that he would let the anti-vaccine activist “do whatever he wants” with government health agencies after he’s sworn in.

Some previously believed that Kennedy, 70, could be named a broad health "czar" instead, which would not need Senate approval and would prevent lawmakers from rehashing his political and personal controversies during the confirmation process.

Related: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says Donald Trump Will 'Remove Fluoride' from Public Drinking Water if Elected

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Former NFL defensive back Scott Turner, 52, was nominated to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development after previously working with HUD Secretary Ben Carson as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

Turner — who played for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos — went on to serve as a Texas state representative from 2013 to 2017. He founded the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, which aims to support children from low-income families through "sports, mentorship and economic opportunity."

Secretary of Transportation

Fox Business host Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman, has been nominated for transportation secretary, under orders from Trump to stop airlines from considering diversity and inclusion when hiring pilots. Duffy, 53, immediately resigned from Fox when the announcement was made.

"The husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on Fox News, and the father of nine incredible children, Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, and with peace of mind," Trump said in a statement.

Secretary of Energy

Chris Wright has been tapped to serve as the energy secretary and will also be a member of Trump's National Energy Council alongside Burgum.

Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a hydrofracking company, and a board member of the nuclear technology company Oklo Inc. In a video posted to LinkedIn, he said "there is no climate crisis and we're not in amidst of an energy transition."

In his announcement of Wright's cabinet position, Trump noted that the energy executive "was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution," which refers to the combining of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.

Secretary of Education

WWE co-founder Linda McMahon is Trump's choice for education secretary, tasked with overseeing a federal department that Trump has expressed interest in abolishing.

“As Secretary of Education, Linda will fight tirelessly to expand ‘Choice’ to every State in America, and empower parents to make the best Education decisions for their families," Trump said in a statement. "We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.”

McMahon, 76, has played a pivotal role in recent weeks on Trump's transition team and previously served as administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term. CNN's Kristen Holmes reported that McMahon was nominated for education secretary after Trump passed her over for commerce secretary, which she wanted.

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Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Former Congressman Doug Collins, who served as a members of the House of Representatives for Georgia's 9th district from 2013 to 2021, has been announced as the new head of the department responsible for issues involving benefits, health care as well as memorials and cemeteries for veterans.

"Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our nation as a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our country in the Iraq War," Trump said in a statement, adding that Collins will be an advocate for people serving active duty.

Secretary of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security will play a significant role in Trump's second administration as the overseer of immigration and border security, in addition to anti-terrorism efforts, cyber-security, disaster prevention and the Secret Service.

Trump will nominate an unexpected ally to lead the department: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was once thought to be under consideration for Trump's running mate. Many believed he would select someone with more border state experience, or someone who has worked in one of the immigration and border-related government agencies.

Senior Officials

'Border Czar'

Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was recruited as Trump's "border czar" to help carry out the president-elect's controversial plan for the largest mass deportation in history, working closely with the secretary of homeland security without having to get Senate approval.

"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Nov. 10.

The border czar is not an official government position, but Trump said it will entail Homan, 62, monitoring the United States' borders, plus overseeing security on the seas and in the skies.

Homan, who has asserted that the mass deportation plan is not racist, told Fox News Channel that ICE will be responsible for finding illegal immigrants. "When we go out there, we're going to know who we're looking for," he said. "We most likely know where they're going to be, and it's going to be done in a humane manner."

Leaders of Government Efficiency

Billionaire businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were chosen to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, which Trump says will "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."

Musk, 53, and Ramaswamy, 39, were once believed to be in the running for top administration positions, and their new assignment gives them a seat at the table without handing them control of a core federal department.

Related: Here Are All the Major Trump Team Players Who Heard 'You're Fired!' — or Quit, Were Replaced or Moved On

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, was chosen to helm the Environmental Protection Agency. Before entering politics, Zeldin, 44, briefly ran a law firm and worked as an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

"Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies," Trump said in a statement on Nov. 11. "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, including the cleanest air and water on the planet."

In recent years, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court has chipped away at the EPA's power to impose regulations on businesses that would help protect citizens from pollution and combat climate change. Trump campaigned in 2016 on abolishing the EPA and sought to dramatically cut back its funding as president. In the next term, he is expected to continue the work he began by rolling back environmental protections that force businesses to be mindful of their footprint.

Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Russ Vought, a co-author of Project 2025, has been tapped to return to his former role under Trump as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position that helps compile the president's annual budget and ensure that federal agencies are acting in accordance with the White House.

"Russ has spent many years working in Public Policy in Washington, D.C., and is an aggressive cost cutter and deregulator who will help us implement our America First Agenda across all Agencies," Trump said of the 48-year-old nominee. "Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People."

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Director of National Intelligence

Democratic presidential candidate turned MAGA spokesperson Tulsi Gabbard, 43, has been chosen to oversee all of the United States intelligence agencies as Trump's director of national intelligence.

Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, is not a shoo-in to get approved by the Senate, given her history of undermining the U.S. intelligence community and, as The Hill reports, that she has been accused of mimicking Russian talking points and appearing unusually close to foreign adversaries.

Director of the C.I.A.

The New York Times previously reported that Trump is looking for someone who is willing to overhaul the Central Intelligence Agency to step in as director.

On Tuesday, Nov. 12, Trump announced former national intelligence director John Ratcliffe as his pick for the gig. In his announcement, Trump said that Ratcliffe, 59, earned his trust when he undermined "51 national intelligence officials" who said that the Hunter Biden laptop scandal was part of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Ratcliffe would report to the director of national intelligence.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking House Republican, will vacate her role to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations. In Trump's first administration, the position was notably held by friend-turned-foe Nikki Haley and, later, conservative business consultant Kelly Craft.

Stefanik replaced Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House GOP in 2021, after Cheney was stripped of her leadership position for speaking out against Trump. Stefanik, now 40, was the youngest congresswoman in history at the time of her swearing-in in 2015. Once considered a moderate, she rose the ranks after moving further right to become a fierce defender of the MAGA movement.

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White House Advisers

White House Chief of Staff

Susie Wiles was the first official tapped to join Trump's next administration as the White House chief of staff, the senior-most political appointee in his administration who will have unmatched influence on his priorities and decision-making as the top adviser in the president's ear.

Wiles, 67, served as a senior adviser and co-campaign manager on Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The Florida-based lobbyist has earned a reputation for being quiet and calculated in Trump's orbit, staying largely behind the scenes on the campaign. She will be the first female White House chief of staff.

"Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again," Trump said in a statement obtained by Politico.

Trump had four chiefs of staff during his first administration. The final one, Mark Meadows, is under indictment in two separate criminal cases for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

White House Counsel

The White House counsel serves as a key guardrail for the president, leading a team of lawyers that offers legal guidance the president and his administration. Trump offered the position to Bill McGinley, who served as his White House Cabinet secretary from 2017 to 2019.

McGinley is a prominent D.C. lawyer who has previously held top legal roles with the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

National Security Adviser

Florida Rep. Mike Waltz has been asked to join the administration as Trump's national security adviser, according to several reports. He will act as the president's right hand on security issues and work closely with the departments of State and Defense to understand the White House's options in times of crisis.

Waltz, 50, is a combat-decorated Green Beret who served in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa. He serves on multiple House committees, including the Armed Forces and Foreign Affairs committees.

Homeland Security Adviser

Former White House speechwriter Stephen Miller, who has been integral in shaping Trump's mass deportation plan as an immigration adviser, will hold dual roles as a deputy White House chief of staff overseeing policy and as the homeland security adviser.

Miller, 39, founded a conservative legal advocacy group that was initially listed on the advisory board of Project 2025.

Related: Biden's Homeland Security Adviser Is the Most Powerful Woman You’ve Never Seen — Until Now (Exclusive)

White House Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt, a 27-year-old who served as the national press secretary for Trump's 2024 campaign, will serve as the face of the Trump administration's communications in the role of White House press secretary. She will be the youngest person to hold the title.

Other Notable Hires

Todd Blanche, who represented Trump during his 2024 criminal trial, resulting in Trump being found guilty of 34 felony counts, will join the administration as deputy attorney general.

Also set to join Trump's administration is Emil Bove, who will serve as principal associate deputy attorney general. He will also serve as acting attorney general while Blanche goes through the process of being confirmed by the Senate.

Dean John Sauer has been tapped to serve as solicitor general. He was previously the lead counsel in the Trump v. United States case, which the Supreme Court ruled that Trump was absolutely immune from being charged for "official" presidential acts.

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After navigating media requests about Trump's countless campaign trail controversies, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung has been chosen to serve as the White House communications director.

Brendan Carr was selected to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The lawyer has served as a Republican member of the FCC since 2017, and he wrote the chapter on the FCC for the far-right governing blueprint Project 2025.

Celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz was nominated to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, tasked with working alongside RFK Jr. to "cut waste and fraud."

Frequent Fox News guests Janette Nesheiwat and Marty Makary were chosen to be surgeon general and FDA commissioner, respectively, alongside former Congressman Dave Weldon as the CDC director.