Donald Trump assumed office as the 47th president of the United States on January20, 2025. The president has the legal 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 controls the Senate, it was expected that all of Trump's designees would be confirmed with little contest. However, some nominees were met with criticism by a few Senate Republicans.
Trump's cabinet choices were described by Business Insider and Reuters as valuing personal loyalty over relevant experience, and for having a range of conflicting ideologies and "eclectic personalities". It was also described as the wealthiest administration in modern history, with more than 13 billionaires chosen to take government posts. Trump officials and Elon Musk threatened to fund primary challengers in upcoming elections against Republican senators who did not vote for Trump's nominees. He nominated or appointed 23 former Fox News employees to his administration.
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Trump announced that his administration would establish a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite the name, DOGE is not a federal executive department, since official departments require congressional approval, but a component of the Executive Office of the President.NASA faces disruptive presidential transition, Jeff Foust, SpaceNews, November 13, 2024. Elon Musk, a then senior advisor to the President, played a key role in DOGE's operations before leaving the government in May 2025, as his special employee government contract had ended. Shortly after Musk left the government, Trump and Musk exchanged a public feud over the nearly $3 trillion deficit projected to result from the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The following have been named as cabinet appointees by the president of the United States. Second cabinet of President Donald TrumpOfficeDesigneeOfficeDesignee Vice PresidentJD VanceSecretary of StateMarco Rubio Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent Secretary of Defense Pete HegsethAttorney GeneralTodd Blanche Secretary of the Interior Doug BurgumSecretary of AgricultureBrooke RollinsSecretary of CommerceHoward Lutnick Secretary of Labor Keith SonderlingSecretary of Health and Human ServicesRobert F. Kennedy Jr.Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentScott TurnerSecretary of TransportationSean DuffySecretary of EnergyChris WrightSecretary of EducationLinda McMahonSecretary of Veterans AffairsDoug CollinsSecretary of Homeland SecurityMarkwayne MullinCabinet-level officialsOfficeDesigneeOfficeDesigneeWhite House Chief of StaffSusie WilesEPA administratorLee ZeldinOMB director Russell VoughtDirector of National IntelligenceJay ClaytonCIA directorJohn RatcliffeU.S. Trade RepresentativeJamieson GreerSBA administratorKelly Loeffler
Confirmation process Below is a list of confirmations for or withdrawals from Cabinet positions, Cabinet-level positions, and other significant positions that were approved through the Senate from January 2025 onwards, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote.
Image from Second cabinet of Donald Trump timeline
Confirmation votes
Committee process
OfficeNomineeStateAnnouncedCommitteeHearing date(s)Committee vote resultCommittee vote dateCloture vote resultCloture vote dateFloor vote resultFloor vote dateAssumed officeSecretary of StateFLForeign Relations22–0N/AN/A99–0Secretary of the TreasurySCFinance16–1167–2368–29Secretary of DefenseTNArmed Services14–1351–4951–50Attorney GeneralMatt GaetzFLJudiciaryWithdrawal announced on November 21, 2024, prior to being submitted to the Senate.FL –Jan 16, 202512–1052–4654–46FL –Jul 16, 202612–1050–4950–49Secretary of the InteriorNDEnergy and Natural Resources18–278–2080–17Secretary of AgricultureTXAgriculture, Nutrition and Forestry23–0N/AN/A72–28Secretary of CommerceNYCommerce, Science and Transportation16–1252–4551–45Secretary of LaborORHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions14–966–3067–32FL12–1153–4747–41Secretary of Health and Human ServicesCAFinance14–1353–4752–48Health, Education, Labor and PensionsConsultativeSecretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentTXBanking, Housing and Urban Affairs13–1155–4555–44Secretary of TransportationWICommerce, Science and Transportation28–097–077–22Secretary of EnergyCOEnergy and Natural Resources15–562–3559–38Secretary of EducationCTHealth, Education, Labor and Pensions12–1151–4751–45Secretary of Veterans AffairsGAVeterans' Affairs18–183–1377–23Secretary of Homeland SecuritySDHomeland Security and Governmental Affairs13–261–3959–34OK8–754–3754–45Administrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyNYEnvironment and Public Works11–856–4256–42Director of the Office of Management and BudgetVABudget11–053–4753–47Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs8–7Director of National IntelligenceHIIntelligence9–852–4652–48NY9–851–4351–47Director of the Central Intelligence AgencyTXIntelligence14–372–2674–25Trade RepresentativeMDFinance15–1254–4356–43Administrator of the Small Business AdministrationGASmall Business and Entrepreneurship12–751–4352–46
Elected officials President Donald Trump defeated the incumbent vice president and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election, receiving 312 electoral votes compared to Harris's 226; he won every swing state in addition to holding on to all of the states that he won in 2020. The formal certification of the results took place on January 6, 2025. He assumed office on January 20, 2025.
President of the United StatesPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferenceDonald Trump(age ) 45th president of the United States (2017–2021) Owner of Trump Media & Technology Group (2021–present) Owner of the Trump Organization (1971–present; Chairman 1971–2017) Chairman of the Kennedy Center (2025–present) Host and executive producer of The Apprentice (2004–2015)
Vice President
The vice president is the only cabinet member to be elected to the position. The vice president does not require Senate confirmation, and 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.
United States senator JD Vance (R-OH) was elected Vice President of the United States on November 5, 2024. He received 312 electoral votes while the governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, received 226. The formal certification of the results took place on January 6, 2025. He assumed office on January 20, 2025. Vance is the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history. Vice President of the United StatesPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferenceJD Vance(age ) United States senator from Ohio (2023–2025) Author of Hillbilly Elegy (2016 – later adapted into a film) 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. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida was announced as President-elect Trump's nominee for the position on November 13, 2024. He was confirmed 99–0 by the Senate on January 20, 2025, and sworn in the next day. Secretary of StatePortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferenceMarco Rubio(age ) Vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (2021–2025) Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (2020–2021) (Acting) Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee (2019–2021) Candidate for president of the United States in 2016 U.S. senator from Florida (2011–2025) 94th speaker of the 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. Investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent from South Carolina, founder of the global macro investment firm Key Square Group, was announced as Trump's nominee for the position on November 22, 2024. He was confirmed 68–29 by the Senate on January 27, 2025, and sworn in the next day. Secretary of the TreasuryPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferenceScott Bessent(age 62) Founder of Key Square Group (2015–2025) Economic advisor for Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign Chief Investment Officer of Soros Fund Management (2011–2015)
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. Major Pete Hegseth from Tennessee, a Fox News political commentator, was announced as Trump's nominee for the position on November 12, 2024. He was confirmed 51–50 by the Senate on January 24, 2025, and sworn in the next day. On September 5, 2025, President Trump's signed an executive order authorizing "secretary of war" as a secondary title. However, only an act of Congress can formally and legally change the name of the position. Secretary of DefensePortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferencePete Hegseth(age ) Fox News personality (2014–2024) Candidate for U.S. senator from Minnesota in 2012 Executive Director of Vets For Freedom (2007–2012) Major in the Army National Guard (2003–2014; 2019–2021)
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.
Failed nomination of Matt Gaetz On November 13, 2024, Representative Matt Gaetz was selected to be attorney general, though Gaetz withdrew his name on November 21, 2024 after many Senate Republicans stated that he did not have enough votes to be confirmed.
Pam Bondi (2025–2026) On November 21, 2024, President-elect Trump selected former state attorney general Pam Bondi of Florida as his new nominee for the position. She was confirmed 54–46 by the Senate on February 4, 2025, and sworn in the next day.
Bondi was fired on April 2, 2026, and replaced by Todd Blanche in the interim.
Attorney GeneralPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferencePam Bondi(age ) Chief Legal Officer of the America First Policy Institute (2024–present) Member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees (2020–present) 37th attorney general of Florida (2011–2019) Hillsborough County assistant state attorney (1994–2009)
Todd Blanche (2026–present) Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, became acting attorney general when Pam Bondi's tenure ended on April 2, 2026.
Blanche was confirmed 50–49 by the Senate on August 8, 2026, and sworn in two days later. Attorney GeneralPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReferenceTodd Blanche(age ) 40th United States Deputy Attorney General (2025–2026)