Donald Trump’s Cabinet Picks

Every four years, the new president-elect selects the heads of their new cabinet positions, and the 47th President, Donald Trump, has done just that. 

One of the most important things the president does is pick who heads the 15 cabinet positions and many other white house administration jobs. Still, this year, President-elect Trump’s picks are under heavy scrutiny. One of his picks was Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, who was selected to be Trump’s Attorney General, but after criticism from Senate Republicans, Gaetz withdrew from the position.

Below are a few of Trump’s cabinet picks with information about them and their position.

White House chief of staff- Susie Wiles

Susie Wiles was selected as the White House chief of staff for President Trump’s second term in office. The chief of staff has many roles in the cabinet, mainly overseeing all the different things happening within the White House and the Oval Office.

Wiles has had a lot of experience in politics throughout her career. She has worked on numerous different campaigns, like the 40th President Ronald Reagan, the Mayor of Jacksonville John Peyton and with President Trump during his first term.  

Secretary of State- Marco Rubio 

Former Florida Senator Marco Rubio was chosen to be the secretary of state by President Trump. Rubio has had an extensive run in politics, as he served in the Florida House of Representatives and even served as majority leader and speaker of the house. He then moved to the Senate and ran against Trump in the 2016 presidential election. The two have clashed many times before during their campaigns, but ever since then, they have been quite friendly.

The Secretary of State position is one of the most critical in the cabinet. They have many different jobs, but none more important than their dealings with foreign nations. The Secretary of State serves as the president’s key advisor on all foreign issues, leading to a very powerful position.

Attorney General- Pam Bondi 

After Trump’s controversial first pick Matt Gaetz withdrew, Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was selected. While many Democratic politicians have criticized Trump for his picks based on lack of expertise, Bondi is the exception. She served as the first female Florida Attorney General from 2011-2019. After that, she worked at a Florida firm as a political lobbyist. Then, she served as Donald Trump’s defense lawyer in his first impeachment trial.

Many Republicans have praised this pick, with Senator Lindsey Graham stating, “[Her selection was a] grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick.”

As Attorney General, Bondi will have many responsibilities, but nothing she has not seen before. The Attorney General works with all branches of government, either working on cases on behalf of the state or proposing legislation to Congress and stating opinions on state agencies. The Secretary of State position is one of the most critical in the cabinet. They have many different jobs, but none more important than their dealings with foreign nations. The Secretary of State serves as the president’s key advisor on all foreign issues, leading to a very powerful position.

Health and Human Services Secretary- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Yet another controversial pick in Trump’s cabinet is the selection of Robert F Kennedy, nephew of former President John F Kennedy, for the position of Health and Human Services secretary. After running against Trump in this past election, Kennedy Jr. dropped out and endorsed Trump as his pick for president. Throughout his career, he has worked in many places fighting for the environment and battling harmful legislation. The main controversy of his appointment is his stance on vaccines. Kennedy Jr. is an avid anti-vaxxer, spreading the lie that vaccines cause autism, even when there is no proof of this. He was a heavy critic of the COVID-19 vaccine and even called out many top health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci.

The Secretary of Health and Human Services is one of the most powerful positions in the cabinet. They have full control over and the legal ability to prepare and respond however they want to an emergency, such as a pandemic. They also have responsibility over the safety of food, drugs, biological and medical equipment. 

Secretary of Defense- Pete Hegseth

Once again, President Trump selects another polarizing candidate for his cabinet. His selection for Secretary of Defense has drawn criticism from across the aisle and within his own party. Pete Hegseth has been on Fox News since 2014 and a part of the show Fox & Friends since 2017. Hegseth has come under fire for alleged sexual assault cases and former drinking problems. Hegseth has also received criticism for his stance on women and “wokeness” in the military. 

On the topic of women in the military, Hegseth stated, “Because I’m straight up saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective, hasn’t made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated.”

This comment brought about concerns from Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who served in Iraq, but she has said she would support his appointment. For the so-called “wokeness” in the military, Hegseth plans on discharging any general or high-ranking officer deemed too woke for the military. He has not yet said the criteria for this, but many speculate it will target those who speak out on diversity and other topics. 

The Secretary of defense is one of, if not the most critical position in the cabinet. As the largest department, the Secretary of Defense has full control over all branches of the armed forces, and their judgment is second only to the president himself. 

Department of Education-N/A

For the first time since its inception in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, President Trump will not select someone to head the Department of Education. 

During a rally in Wisconsin earlier this year, Trump stated, “I say it all the time, I’m dying to get back to do this. We will ultimately eliminate the federal Department of Education.” 

This is yet another controversial take by the soon-to-be president, with many Democrats heavily criticizing the pick while many Republicans back it.