Here’s Who’s In Trump’s Cabinet—And On The Shortlist

Topline

President-elect Donald Trump will reportedly nominate former WWE chief Linda McMahon to lead the Department of Education after he announced Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary and Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—the latest nominations by Trump as his pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., is threatened by deepening sexual misconduct allegations.

Key Facts

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Education Secretary: Linda Mcmahon

Trump is expected to nominate former WWE CEO Linda McMahon as secretary of the Department of Education, according to multiple outlets. McMahon is Trump’s transition co-chair alongside Lutnick and served as the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019. The nomination came after Lutnick was picked as commerce secretary over McMahon, who was “privately frustrated” she was not offered the position before Lutnick was tapped for it, Semafor reported, citing two unnamed people familiar with the matter. McMahon is also the America First Policy Institute’s board chair, helping lead the think tank that has raised millions in support of Trump, according to CNN.

Centers For Medicare And Medicaid Services Administrator: Mehmet Oz

Trump announced Tuesday that Mehmet Oz, the celebrity doctor who lost his 2022 Senate bid to Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., will fill the role. Oz will work closely with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Trump announced last week as his pick for Health and Human Services secretary. Oz’s rise to fame is largely tied to his frequent appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show in the early 2000s and his own subsequent daytime talk show. He’s accused of espousing questionable medical claims, including promoting the debunked theory that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine could treat Covid-19, and pushing so-called miracle weight loss products unsupported by scientific research. Trump endorsed Oz in his 2022 Senate campaign.

Commerce Secretary: Howard Lutnick

Howard Lutnick is Trump’s pick for commerce secretary, Trump confirmed Tuesday after multiple outlets reported he was expected to nominate him for the role—instead of treasury secretary. Trump, in a statement, called Lutnick “the embodiment of resilience in the face of unspeakable tragedy,” referencing his charitable contributions to 9/11 families after 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including Lutnick’s brother, died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, while Lutnick was CEO. Lutnick, who rebuilt the company after 9/11, has spent his entire career at Cantor Fitzgerald and became president and CEO of the financial services firm at the age of 29. His special purposes acquisition company, Cantor Fitzgerald Acquisition Corp., took the Rumble video platform popular among right-wing influencers public in 2022. As commerce secretary, Lutnick will play a role in implementing Trump’s plans for steeper tariffs and he has expressed broad support for the proposal. Lutnick was previously under consideration for treasury secretary—typically a more prominent Cabinet job—and earned support from Musk and Kennedy, but Trump ultimately turned his attention to other candidates after he reportedly became annoyed with Lutnick’s aggressive campaign for the treasury role.

Treasury Secretary: Unclear

Trump hasn’t nominated anyone yet, but Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh have emerged in recent days as potential picks. Hedge fund executive Scott Bessent—who spoke recently with Forbes—has long been seen as one of the top choices. Musk appeared to support Lutnick over Bessent, saying Bessent would be a “business-as-usual choice” whereas Lutnick “will actually enact change.” Trump is leaning toward someone with Wall Street experience, Bloomberg reported. Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., former ambassador to Japan under Trump, is also on the speculative short list, along with former Trump-era U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and hedge fund executive Scott Bessent.

Attorney General: Matt Gaetz

In a surprise move, Trump tapped former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to serve as attorney general. It’s one of the most high-profile and highly anticipated appointments, as Trump has fiercely criticized the agency for prosecuting him and is expected to drastically change its makeup. Gaetz—who led the effort to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—was investigated by the Department of Justice over allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls, but the agency declined to prosecute him (Gaetz denied the accusation). The House Ethics Committee was also probing whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct or illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts or gave special privileges to friends, allegations he has repeatedly denied. Gaetz resigned from Congress a day after Trump announced him for the role and shortly before the Ethics Committee was reportedly expected to vote whether to release a potentially damning report on its investigation into Gaetz’s conduct. New allegations have emerged against Gaetz since Trump announced the appointment via attorney Joel Leppard, who is representing two women who testified to the committee. Leppard claimed one of his clients told the committee she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a minor and alleged Gaetz paid both of his clients for sex. Gaetz’s father, Don Gaetz, a former Florida state lawmaker who cofounded a hospice company, is worth about $33 million, largely due to real estate holdings.

Secretary Of State: Marco Rubio

Trump nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state. Rubio and Trump feuded when they both ran for president in 2016, but the two smoothed over their relationship during Trump’s most recent White House run. Rubio frequently campaigned for Trump and was said to be in the running to be his vice presidential pick. Some of Rubio’s foreign policy stances break with Trump, including his co-sponsorship of legislation last year that would prohibit a president from exiting NATO without congressional approval. Rubio would be the first Latino to hold the position, which is subject to Senate confirmation. Forbes estimated Rubio’s net worth at over $1 million—significantly less than some other members of Trump’s inner circle, but a jump since 2015, when he was worth just $100,000.

Secretary Of Defense: Pete Hegseth

Trump selected Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense, praising his status as a combat veteran and role as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Revelations subsequently emerged that Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a Monterey, California, hotel in 2017. The Monterey Police Department confirmed in a statement that it investigated the incident, but did not bring charges. Hegseth has denied the allegations through his attorney, Timothy Parlatore, who told multiple outlets last week he paid his accuser a settlement to avoid a lawsuit over the matter.

Health And Human Services Secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department, making good on his promise to give Kennedy broad leeway over public health. Kennedy, who ran for the Democratic nomination then as an independent candidate before dropping out and endorsing Trump, espouses debunked views on public health—including skepticism about the efficacy of childhood vaccines and the Covid-19 vaccine. He has also advocated for removing fluoride from public water, an idea Trump said he as open to. As HHS secretary, Kennedy would oversee 13 public health-related agencies, and has expressed plans to upend many of them, telling an audience at a conference in November he would halt infectious disease studies at the National Institutes of Health if given a role in the Trump administration. “I’m going to say to NIH scientists, God bless you all . . . thank you for your public service,” NBC reported. The surprise selection drew criticism from many Democrats, and some Republicans expressed wariness about the pick. Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence spoke against Kennedy as the pick to lead HHS in a statement and urged Senate Republicans to reject the nomination, citing Kennedy’s support of abortion rights.

Director Of National Intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard

Trump announced Tulsi Gabbard will serve as his Director of National Intelligence, a role that puts her at the head of the U.S. intelligence community. Gabbard is a former Democratic representative from Hawaii and a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, perhaps best-known for clashing with Kamala Harris on the debate stage in 2019. She left the party in 2022 and became an independent, before endorsing Trump in August and announcing she had joined the Republican Party. A critic of U.S. military interventions, Gabbard has drawn intense scrutiny for her foreign policy views, including for meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017.

Homeland Security Secretary: Kristi Noem

Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem is a long-time Trump loyalist who was believed be a contender for Vice President. The appointee will be essential in carrying out Trump’s aggressive immigration plans, in addition to the agency’s duties surrounding cybersecurity, antiterrorism and emergency response.

Chief Of Staff: Susie Wiles

Trump named his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles chief of staff two days after his election win, marking his first major administrative pick. Wiles will be the first woman to hold the position.

Department Of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy

Trump announced Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, will run a new Department of Government Efficiency (or “DOGE”) alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump said in a statement the department—which has not yet been created—will offer “advice and guidance from outside of Government” and focus on “making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency,” including through spending and regulatory cuts. Musk, a vocal Trump backer who donated over $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, has pitched the department in the past, seemingly naming it after the meme cryptocurrency dogecoin.

Homeland Security Adviser And Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy: Stephen Miller

Trump announced Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, plus the additional role of homeland security adviser. Miller was a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and one of the architects of some of his most controversial immigration policies, including his family separation program.

Border Czar: Tom Homan

Trump appointed his former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan to newly created role, he announced, as Trump plans a mass deportation of undocumented migrants during his second term.

National Security Adviser: Mike Waltz

Trump appointed Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviser. In recent months, Waltz—a former Army Green Beret—has frequently criticized China, urged NATO members to pay more for defense and said he expects Trump to push Ukraine and Russia toward a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.

Interior Secretary: Doug Burgum (and Head Of New National Energy Council)

Trump nominated North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior. If confirmed by the Senate, he’ll be responsible for managing vast swaths of federally owned land, administering national parks and handling oil and gas drilling on federal property—which Trump has vowed to ramp up. Trump also tapped Burgum as chairman of the new National Energy Council, which will cut down on regulations and “oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE,” according to Trump. The position will also provide Burgum a seat on the National Security Council. First elected North Dakota governor in 2016, Burgum briefly ran against Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries, but dropped out and endorsed Trump. A tech executive and investor by trade, Burgum previously ran Great Plains Software, remaining at the company after it was acquired by Microsoft. Last year, Forbes estimated his net worth at at least $100 million.

Energy Secretary: Chris Wright

Chris Wright, chief executive of the oilfield services group Liberty Energy, was named Trump’s nominee for secretary of energy. Wright has argued against climate change’s role in causing extreme weather events, saying in a video posted to LinkedIn last year “there is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.” He later disputed he was “[fighting] climate science,” despite saying the claims he made were “correct.”

Transportation Secretary: Sean Duffy

Trump nominated former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wisc., as secretary of transportation, lauding his time in Congress and his role as a member of the House Financial Services Committee. Following his resignation from Congress in 2019, Duffy registered as a lobbyist and continued spending campaign funds on Trump’s D.C. hotel. The campaign spent more than $22,000 at Trump’s D.C. hotel between 2017 and 2020, $17,000 of which was spent in a single day in July 2019. Duffy is a co-host of Fox Business’ “The Bottom Line” and has contributed to Fox News since 2020. He is married to “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy.

Veterans Affairs Secretary: Doug Collins

Trump picked former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., as his secretary for veterans affairs. Collins served as a congressman from 2013 to 2021, and was known as a vocal backer of Trump in the chamber during his first administration. He is also a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. Collins vowed to “streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned.” The former congressman was deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a member of the Air Force’s 94th Airlift Wing.

Cia Director: John Ratlciffe

Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as CIA director. A former Texas congressman, Ratcliffe served as the director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021 and acted as Trump’s primary intelligence adviser during his last presidency. During his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe declassified unverified Russian intelligence information that claimed Hillary Clinton approved a plan to link Trump to Russia and the Democratic National Committee cyberattacks in 2016. Democrats criticized Ratcliffe’s decision to publicly release the information, alleging he was politicizing unverified information to aid Trump.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin

Trump tapped former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to lead the EPA, citing his “very strong legal background” and calling him “a true fighter for America First policies” in a statement. Zeldin—a Trump ally who ran for New York governor two years ago—“will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,” the statement said.

Fcc Chair: Brendan Carr

Trump named Brendan Carr to chair the Federal Communications Commission. Carr has served as one of the FCC’s five commissioners since 2017, when Trump first appointed him to the agency. He’s known as a critic of big tech companies, writing a chapter of the controversial Project 2025 agenda—which Trump has broadly disavowed—that argued the FCC should narrow the immunity enjoyed by tech platforms and require companies to be transparent about their content moderation decisions. He’s also used his platform at the FCC to back Musk. He’ll take over the FCC as Trump pushes the agency to revoke the licenses of broadcast TV stations whose coverage he claims is unfair—though that could be very difficult in practice.

Un Ambassador: Elise Stefanik

Trump nominated GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the United Nations ambassador role. Stefanik is known as a staunch Trump ally.

Special Envoy To The Middle East: Steven C. Witkoff

Trump tapped Steven Witkoff, a GOP donor and real estate investor, for special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff is chairman of the University of Miami Business School Real Estate Advisory Board and the CEO of Witkoff, a real estate firm he founded in 1997. He is also a longtime friend of Trump’s and one of the president-elect’s golf partners. Witkoff was with Trump during the apparent second assassination attempt on his life, telling NBC that Secret Service agents dived on Trump and got him off his Florida golf course in under 20 seconds.

Ambassador To Israel: Mike Huckabee

Trump announced former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as his envoy to Israel last week, touting his military service as he served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years. Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israel and has criticized the Biden administration’s calls for a cease-fire with Hamas. Huckabee has advocated for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967, and has backed Israeli settlers in the territory. A former Southern Baptist pastor, Huckabee regularly leads evangelicals on visits to Israel.

White House Press Secretary: Karoline Leavitt

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, will serve as White House Press Secretary once the president-elect assumes his office. Leavitt, 27, was an assistant press secretary during Trump’s first presidency. She also won the Republican primary in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022, becoming the second Gen Z candidate to win a House primary.

White House Communications Director: Steven Cheung

Trump picked his campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, to serve as his communications director at the White House. Cheung was the director of communications for the president-elect’s 2024 presidential campaign and served as director of strategic response during Trump’s last term, after working in communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship previously.

Other White House Jobs

• Top GOP lawyer William McGinley was chosen for White House counsel, after previously working as Trump’s White House cabinet secretary from 2017 to 2019, advising other cabinet members on policy coordination, optics and ethics.
• Dan Scavino will return to his role as deputy chief of staff, after serving as a longtime Trump communications staffer (he was held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in the House Jan. 6 committee investigation, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute him).
• James Blair will work as deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, after spearheading Trump’s grassroots voter outreach efforts and making frequent media appearances.
• Taylor Budowich was picked for deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel, after running the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC.
• Trump is expected to name James Braid his director of legislative affairs, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources—Braid is Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance’s former deputy chief of staff and worked in the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term.
• Trump tapped William Scharf to be White House staff secretary: Scharf, a former prosecutor who ran in the Republican primary for Missouri attorney general, was part of Trump’s legal team that successfully argued he has immunity from official acts he took during his first term.
• Sergio Gor, president and co-founder of Donald Trump Jr.’s Winning Team Publishing company, has been tapped to lead the Presidential Personnel Office.

Other Justice Department Jobs

• Todd Blanche, Trump’s hush money trial lawyer, was tapped as the president-elect’s deputy attorney general. Blanche was lauded as “an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department,” which Trump has often criticized throughout his criminal and civil cases.
• Trump picked another of his attorneys, Emil Bove, as principal associate deputy attorney general. Bove represented Trump alongside Blanche throughout the hush money trial and is a former federal prosecutor.
• Dean John Sauer was chosen for for solicitor general, after he was credited with helping win Trump’s presidential immunity case, which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling that presidents have some immunity for official acts they take in office. Sauer also served as solicitor general of Missouri for six years and clerked for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
• Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton was chosen as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, widely seen as one of the most prestigious prosecuting jobs due to the high-profile cases filed in the district, which includes New York City.

Education Secretary: Unclear

Trump hasn’t chosen anybody yet, but the agency’s former leader, Betsy DeVos, said she would be willing to return to the role in a recent interview with Education Week. Trump has proposed dismantling the department and giving states control over their public schools.

Key Background

Trump decamped to Mar-a-Lago after his win, holding meetings with his inner circle, administration hopefuls and transition team to craft his second term agenda and build out his staff. Trump is shaping his second-term agenda with the help of several right-wing groups, his closest allies and billionaire backers. Musk, who has been spotted on numerous occasions at Mar-A-Lago since his election, is among those who appear to be influencing Trump’s policy and personnel decisions. Lutnick is also overseeing a team making recommendations for personnel picks and vetting potential candidates, and Miller is expected to play a key role in making the final decisions. The right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute is reportedly the primary driver of Trump’s transition plans and has been crafting possible executive actions for Trump once he takes office. The organization is chaired by former Trump Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon and led by former Trump Domestic Policy Counsel Director Brook Rollins.

Further Reading

What We Know About Trump’s Potential Cabinet—With RFK Jr. And Elon Musk Among The Candidates (Forbes)

Who Will Help Shape Trump’s Policy Agenda? Here Are The Key Groups And Players (Forbes)

Stephen Miller Will Reportedly Lead Trump’s Policy Agenda—Here’s Who Else Could Help Him (Forbes)