President-elect Donald Trump has quickly chosen his new cabinet members after winning the presidential election on November 5, 2024. His cabinet members have sparked some controversy due to issues in political, ethical, and ideological concerns. The cabinet consists of at least 16 positions including the vice president and the heads of the 15 executive departments.
Attorney General: Pam Bondi
According to NYTimes, Ms. Bondi served on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment and currently leads the legal arm of the American First Policy Institute.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio is a former Florida senator who opposed Trump in the 2016 Republican primary. If approved, he would be the first Latino Secretary of State in US history.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is an environmental lawyer with no medical qualifications. According to BBC News, “There has been speculation about his inability to pass a background check for security clearance due to past controversies, including dumping a bear carcass in New York’s Central Park.”
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Pete Hegseth is a military veteran and Fox News host who has never held political office. “After Hegseth’s appointment, it emerged that he was investigated in 2017 for an alleged sexual assault. He was never arrested or charged and denied the allegation,” according to BBC News.
Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Doug Collins
Doug Collins is a former Georgia congressman who served in Trump’s Congress from 2013-21 and advocated for Trump during both impeachment hearings. He is also a veteran and now serves as the chaplain in the US Air Force Reserve.
Secretary of Interior: Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum is the governor of North Dakota. He briefly ran in the 2024 Republican primary before dropping out and endorsing Trump.
Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright
Chris Wright is an oil and gas industry executive who is expected to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to maximize US energy production. Wright has called climate activists alarmist and has said “there is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition either.”
Secretary of Transportation: Sean Duffy
Sean Duffy is a former congressman and Fox Business host.
Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick
Howard Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team and the chief executive of financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald.
Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon is the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) co-founder, Trump’s transition co-chair, and led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first presidency. She also donated millions of dollars to his campaign. According to BBC News, “Trump has criticized the Department of Education, and has promised to close the agency down – a job McMahon could be tasked with.”
Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent is a Wall Street financier who was an early backer of Trump’s 2024 policies and agenda.
Secretary of Labor: Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Lori Chavez-DeRemer has served in the US Congress since 2023 but lost a re-election bid in Oregon.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem is the South Dakota governor.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Scott Turner
Scott Turner is an NFL veteran and motivational speaker who served in the Texas legislature and as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term.
Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins
Brooke Rollins was the co-founder and head of the America First Policy Institute, a MAGA-backed think tank. She also served as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first administration.
What does all this mean?
Ms. Martinez, a history teacher on campus explained, “The main responsibility of cabinet members is to advise the president. Since the president is in charge of so many things, cabinet members are often experts in their fields which are in charge of departments in the education system, business practices, and military.” While presidents are not required to follow the decision of the cabinet, it can provide the president with diverse opinions which can help inform their decisions. On the flip side, over-reliance on cabinet members’ opinions can result in unfair policies and unjust actions if cabinet members focus on personal motives instead of the good of the country.
Trump’s cabinet has sparked major discussions and controversy due to a combination of factors, including the appointment of individuals with limited experience in public office, conflicts of interest, and ideology that oppose the missions of their department. Ms. Martinez explained, “Trump has campaigned on the idea of dismantling the education system, although millions of people have been used to public education in this country.” With Trump’s bold new cabinet member picks, Americans are closely watching to see how these choices will shape the direction is his presidency over the next four years.
