Second cabinet of Donald Trump

This article is about the cabinet during Donald Trump's upcoming second term. For the cabinet during his first term, see First cabinet of Donald Trump.

Second Trump Cabinet
Cabinet of the United States
2025–
People and organizations
President	Donald Trump
President's history	U.S. President (2017–2021) Chairman of The Trump Organization (1971–2017)
Vice President	JD Vance
Member party	Republican Party   Independent   Libertarian Party
Status in legislature	Majority government (2025–present)
Opposition party	Democratic Party
History
Election	2024 presidential election
Legislature terms	119th Congress 120th Congress 121st Congress (17 days)
Advice and consent	United States Senate
Predecessor	Biden Cabinet

President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to assume office as the 47th president of the United States on January 20, 2025. The president has the authority to nominate members of his cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.

Cabinet

All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires an election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. The president may also designate heads of other agencies and non-Senate-confirmed members of the Executive Office of the President as Cabinet-level members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet meets with the president in the Cabinet Room, a room adjacent to the Oval Office.

As the Republican Party will control the next Senate, it is expected that all of Trump's designates will be confirmed with little contest. However, some nominees have been met with criticism by a few Senate Republicans.

On November 12, 2024, president-elect Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would work together to lead the Department of Government Efficiency in his second term. Despite the name, it is unlikely to be a federal executive department, since official departments require Congressional approval, and is more likely to be a component of the Executive Office of the President or a presidential commission working closely with the Office of Management and Budget.

The following have been named as Cabinet appointees by the president-elect of the United States.

Second cabinet of President Donald Trump
Elected to office – all other cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the president   Yet to be confirmed by the Senate   Serving in an acting capacity   No Senate consent needed
Office Date announced/confirmed	Designee	Office Date announced/confirmed	Designee
Vice President Announced July 15, 2024 Elected November 5, 2024 Assuming office January 20, 2025	U.S. Senator JD Vance from Ohio	Secretary of State Announced November 13, 2024 Assumed office TBD	U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida
Secretary of the Treasury Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD	Secretary of Defense Announced November 12, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former Army National Guard officer and TV host Pete Hegseth from Tennessee
Attorney General Announced November 13, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida	Secretary of the Interior Announced November 14, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota
Secretary of Agriculture Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD	Secretary of Commerce Announced November 19, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick from New York
Secretary of Labor Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD	Secretary of Health and Human Services Announced November 14, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Lawyer and activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from California
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD	Secretary of Transportation Announced November 18, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former U.S. Representative Sean Duffy from Wisconsin
Secretary of Energy Announced November 16, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright from Colorado	Secretary of Education Announced November 19, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former SBA Administrator Linda McMahon from Connecticut
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Announced November 14, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former U.S. Representative Doug Collins from Georgia	Secretary of Homeland Security Announced November 12, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota
Cabinet-level officials
Office Date announced/confirmed	Designee	Office Date announced/confirmed	Designee
White House Chief of Staff Announced November 7, 2024 Assuming office January 20, 2025	Political consultant Susie Wiles from Florida	Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Announced November 11, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin from New York
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Announced November 20, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former OMB Director Russell Vought from Virginia	Director of National Intelligence Announced November 13, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Announced November 12, 2024 Assumed office TBD	Former Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe from Texas	United States Trade Representative Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD
Ambassador to the United Nations Announced November 10, 2024 Assumed office TBD	U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik from New York	Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD
Administrator of the Small Business Administration Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD	Science Advisor to the President Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Announced TBD Assumed office TBD	TBD TBD from TBD

History

Main article: Second presidential transition of Donald Trump

President	Week (from election to announcement)										Weighted average	Notes
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Nixon '68						12					6.0 weeks	The Postmaster General position was quasi-privatized in 1971.
Carter '76					1	2	7	2			6.8 weeks	Two new Cabinet positions: Energy in 1977, Education in 1979.
Reagan '80						8	4			1	6.6 weeks	Failed attempt to abolish the federal Department of Education.
Bush '88	2	2			1	3	5			1	5.3 weeks	The VA was established in 1989. The four earliest nominees were continuations of the Reagan Cabinet.
Clinton '92						4	6	4			7.0 weeks
Bush '00						1	5	8			7.5 weeks	The DHS was established in 2003. Announcements of appointees were delayed by the Florida recount.
Obama '08			1	4	2	4	4				5.4 weeks	Slightly differing figures are given in some sources.
Trump '16		1	3	4	3	2				2	4.9 weeks
Biden '20			2	1	2	4	3			3	6.3 weeks
Trump '24	2	9

Elected officials

President

Trump defeated the incumbent vice president, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election, receiving 312 projected electoral votes compared to Harris's 226 projected electoral votes in the election. The formal certification of the results will take place on January 6, 2025. He will assume office on January 20, 2025.

President of the United States
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Donald Trump	June 14, 1946 (age 78)	Florida	45th President of the United States (2017–2021) Chairman of The Trump Organization (1971–2017)

Vice President

Main articles: 2024 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection and Office of the Vice President of the United States

The vice president is the only cabinet member to be elected to the position who does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the pleasure of the president. There were dozens of potential running mates for Trump who received media speculation. Trump's eventual pick of Senator JD Vance (R-OH) was officially announced on July 15, 2024, and confirmed by acclamation via parliamentary procedure amongst delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024.

Senator JD Vance (R-OH) was elected vice president of the United States, receiving 312 projected electoral votes, compared to the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, who received 226 projected electoral votes in the election. The formal certification of the results will take place on January 6, 2025. He will assume office on January 20, 2025.

Vice President of the United States
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	JD Vance	August 2, 1984 (age 40)	Ohio	U.S. Senator from Ohio (2023–present) Corporal in the United States Marine Corps (2003–2007)

Selected candidates for Cabinet positions

The following cabinet positions are listed in order of their creation (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).

Secretary of State

A nomination for Secretary of State is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Foreign Relations Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of State
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Marco Rubio	May 28, 1971 (age 53)	Florida	Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (2021–present) Acting Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (2020–2021) Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee (2019–2021) Candidate for President of the United States in 2016 United States Senator from Florida (2011–present) 94th Speaker of Florida House of Representatives (2006–2008) Florida State Representative from the 111th district (2000–2008) Member of the West Miami City Commission (1998–2000)

Secretary of the Treasury

A nomination for Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Finance Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Defense

A nomination for Secretary of Defense is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Armed Services Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Defense
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Pete Hegseth	June 6, 1980 (age 44)	Tennessee	Fox News host (2014–2024) Major in the Army National Guard (2003–present) Executive director of Vets For Freedom (2007–2012) Candidate for U.S. Senator from Minnesota in 2012

Attorney General

A nomination for Attorney General is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Judiciary Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Attorney General
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Matt Gaetz	May 7, 1982 (age 42)	Florida	U.S. Representative from FL-1 (2017–2024) Florida state representative from the 4th district (2010–2016)

Secretary of the Interior

A nomination for Secretary of the Interior is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of the Interior
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Doug Burgum	August 1, 1956 (age 68)	North Dakota	Governor of North Dakota (2016–present) Candidate for President of the United States in 2024 Senior vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions Group (2001–2007) President of Great Plains Software (1984–2001) Founder of Arthur Ventures & Kilbourne Group Board chairman of Atlassian and SuccessFactors

Secretary of Agriculture

A nomination for Secretary of Agriculture is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Commerce

A nomination for Secretary of Commerce is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Commerce
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Howard Lutnick	June 14, 1961 (age 63)	New York	President and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald (1991–present) Chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald (1996–present)

Secretary of Labor

A nomination for Secretary of Labor is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

Although historically the nominee also holds meetings with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, officially a nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Health and Human Services
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Robert F. Kennedy Jr.	January 17, 1954 (age 70)	California	Candidate for President of the United States in 2024 Founder and chairman of Children's Health Defense (2007–2023) Founder and president of Waterkeeper Alliance (1999–2020) Director and Supervising Attorney of the Pace University Environmental Litigation Clinic (1987–2017)

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

A nomination for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Transportation

A nomination for Secretary of Transportation is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Elon Musk and other Silicon Valley executives had encouraged Trump to pick Emil Michael for the role.

Secretary of Transportation
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Sean Duffy	October 3, 1971 (age 53)	Wisconsin	Co-host of The Bottom Line on Fox Business (2020–2024) U.S. Representative from WI-7 (2011–2019) District Attorney of Ashland County (2002–2010)

Secretary of Energy

The nomination of a secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Energy
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Chris Wright		Colorado	Founder, CEO, and chairman of Liberty Energy (2011–present) Chairman of Stroud Energy (1994–2006) Founder & CEO of Pinnacle Technologies (1992–2006)

Secretary of Education

A nomination for Secretary of Education is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Education
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Linda McMahon	October 4, 1948 (age 76)	Connecticut	Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2017–2019) Co-founder of Titan Sports, Inc.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

A nomination for Secretary of Veterans Affairs is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Doug Collins	August 16, 1966 (age 58)	Georgia	Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee (2019–2020) U.S. Representative from GA-9 (2013–2021) Candidate for U.S. Senator from Georgia in 2020 Georgia state representative from the 27th district (2007–2013) Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve (2002–present)

Secretary of Homeland Security

A nomination for Secretary of Homeland Security is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote. South Dakota governor Kristi Noem was announced as Trump's nominee for the position on November 12, 2024.

Secretary of Homeland Security
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Kristi Noem	November 30, 1971 (age 52)	South Dakota	33rd Governor of South Dakota (2019–present) U.S. Representative from SD-AL (2011–2019) South Dakota state representative from the 6th district (2007–2011)

Selected candidates for Cabinet-level positions

Cabinet-level officials have positions that are considered to be of Cabinet level, but which are not heads of the executive departments. Which exact positions that are considered to be cabinet-level varies with each president.

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

In November 2024, President-elect Trump selected former New York U.S. House Representative Lee Zeldin as EPA administrator.

• Environment and Public Works Committee is responsible for holding a hearing to advance the nomination for a full Senate vote.

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Lee Zeldin	January 30, 1980 (age 44)	New York	U.S. Representative from NY-01 (2015–2023) New York state senator from the 3rd district (2011–2014) Nominee for governor of New York in 2022 Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army (2003–present)

Ambassador to the United Nations

The UN ambassador was previously in the Cabinet from 1953 to 1989, 1993 to 2001, and 2009 to 2018. In November 2024, President-elect Trump selected New York U.S. House Representative Elise Stefanik as UN ambassador.

• Foreign Relations Committee is responsible for holding a hearing to advance the nomination for a full Senate vote.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Elise Stefanik	July 2, 1984 (age 40)	New York	Chair of the House Republican Conference (2021–present) U.S. Representative from NY-21 (2015–present)

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency

The director of the Central Intelligence Agency was first elevated to Cabinet-level status by Trump in February 2017, during his first administration.

• The Select Committee on Intelligence is responsible for holding a hearing to advance the nomination for a full Senate vote.

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	John Ratcliffe	October 20, 1965 (age 59)	Texas	6th Director of National Intelligence (2020–2021) U.S. Representative for TX-04 (2015–2020) Mayor of Heath, Texas (2004–2012) U.S. Attorney for Eastern Texas (2007–2008)

Director of National Intelligence

The director of national intelligence was first elevated to Cabinet-level status by Trump in February 2017, during his first administration.

• The Select Committee on Intelligence is responsible for holding a hearing to advance the nomination for a full Senate vote.

Director of National Intelligence
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Background	Reference
	Tulsi Gabbard	April 12, 1981 (age 43)	Hawaii	U.S. Representative from HI-02 (2013–2021) Candidate for President of the United States in 2020 Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (2013–2016) Member of the Honolulu City Council from the 6th district (2011–2012) Hawaii state representative from the 42nd district (2002–2004) Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army (2003–present)

White House Chief of Staff

The White House chief of staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking staff employee of the White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president; it does not require Senate confirmation. On November 7, 2024, Trump announced Susie Wiles as his choice for his chief of staff, having served as his 2024 campaign co-chair. Wiles will be the first woman to hold the position.

White House Chief of Staff
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Years	Background	Reference
	Susie Wiles	May 14, 1957 (age 67)	Florida	Assuming office: January 20, 2025	Co-chair of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign Staffer for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign Campaign manager of Jon Huntsman Jr.'s 2012 presidential campaign

National Security Advisor

The National Security Advisor is an executive position within the United States government. The National Security Advisor is the president's official advisor on all matters of national security, and serves on various committees. As the position is not in cabinet, it does not require senate confirmation. In November 2024, Trump announced that Michael Waltz will serve as his NSA.

National Security Advisor
Portrait	Name	Date of birth	State	Years	Background	Reference
	Michael Waltz	January 31, 1974 (age 50)	Florida	Assuming office: January 20, 2025	U.S. Representative from FL-06 (2019–present) Colonel in the United States Army Special Forces

Acting Cabinet officials

Because cabinet members must be confirmed by the Senate, acting officials are typically appointed for the period before the Senate votes, in accordance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998. For cabinet positions, only people who already actively hold a position confirmed by the Senate at the end of the previous administration are eligible. Normally, a senior employee of the same executive agency who is equivalent to a GS-15 or above on the federal pay scale would also be eligible, but this is believed to be unconstitutional in the case of secretaries of the federal executive departments, although this has not been tested in court.

Some people speculated for acting Attorney General include Federal Trade Commission commissioner Andrew N. Ferguson, Deputy Solicitor General Curtis E. Gannon, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim F. Escalona, and Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari.

See also

• Second inauguration of Donald Trump
• Second presidential transition of Donald Trump