A Look at Trump’s Cabinet Picks So Far
President-elect Donald Trump is working to fill out his Cabinet – ranging from roles in the Department of Energy to the CIA.
Some of his choices so far have been controversial, including Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.
And Trump’s process already hit at least one speed bump when former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name for the role of attorney general. Gaetz said his “confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” Gaetz was previously the subject of a federal sex-trafficking investigation that did not result in charges and an investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct.
Trump’s transition team signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees after Trump originally proposed skipping traditional FBI background checks and expressed a preference to bypass the traditional Senate confirmation process in favor of recess appointments.
Trump, who won the 2024 election decisively, appears to be selecting from the pool of contenders who were loyal to him while he was running for reelection. Here’s a look at who the former president has already chosen for his Cabinet and for Cabinet-level positions:
Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administrator
Trump picked Loeffler, a former Republican senator from Georgia and current co-chair of his 2025 inauguration committee, to lead the Small Business Administration.
“Kelly will bring her experience in business and Washington to reduce red tape, and unleash opportunity for our Small Businesses to grow, innovate, and thrive,” Trump posted on social media. “She will focus on ensuring that SBA is accountable to Taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach.”
Loeffler was appointed to an open U.S. Senate seat by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, and served from 2020 to 2021 until she lost a special runoff election to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. During her time in office, Loeffler was a vocal Trump ally who said she’d challenge the 2020 election results, but backtracked after the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection on the Capitol.
Prior to her brief stint as senator, Loeffler was a Wall Street executive and former co-owner of the Atlanta Dream WNBA team. She married Jeffrey Sprecher, the founder and chief executive officer of Intercontinental Exchange, owner of the New York Stock Exchange, and the pair were among the top Georgia donors to Republicans in the 2024 election cycle.
Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative
Trump chose Greer, a trade lawyer, to be his new U.S. trade representative.
Greer previously served as chief of staff to Trump's former U.S. trade representative. Trump said in a statement that Greer played a “key role” in imposing tariffs on China and others.
"Jamieson will focus the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on reining in the Country’s massive Trade Deficit, defending American Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Services, and opening up Export Markets everywhere," Trump said.
If confirmed by the Senate, Greer would help Trump with his ambitious trade pursuits, including tariffs.
Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary
Trump asked Rollins, president of the right-leaning think tank America First Policy Institute, to lead the Department of Agriculture.
"As our next Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke will spearhead the effort to protect American Farmers, who are truly the backbone of our Country," Trump said in a statement.
Scott Turner, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary
Trump picked former NFL player Turner to address the nation’s housing needs.
Turner led the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first administration. He is the first Black person Trump has selected to be a member of his Cabinet.
He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995. He unsuccessfully ran for California’s 50th Congressional District in 2006.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary
Trump tapped Chavez-DeRemer, a House representative from Oregon who lost her reelection bid in November, to lead the Department of Labor.
Chavez-DeRemer is an interesting pick for Trump considering she has a record of strong support from unions in her district, which diverges from the GOP’s more typical alliance with business interests.
“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 the unprecedented National Success – Making American Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before,” Trump said in a statement.
Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Director
Vought, who previously led the Office of Management and Budget during Trump’s first term, is the president-elect’s pick to run it again.
“Russ knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government, and he will help us return Self Governance to the People,” Trump posted on social media. “We will restore fiscal sanity to our Nation, and unleash the American People to new levels of Prosperity and Ingenuity.”
Vought was involved in the creation of Project 2025, the controversial conservative plan that Trump tried to distance himself from during his campaign.
Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary
Trump tapped Bessent, a hedge fund billionaire, to be his next treasury secretary.
“Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists," Trump said in a statement.
Bessent is the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first openly gay treasury secretary.
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