Trump Appoints Cabinet Members: What Does This Mean?

By: Chloe Snow

Following his re-election, Donald Trump is in a unique position to play his Trump card. With the Republican Party in control of the Senate, Trump has made sweeping appointments to his Cabinet and other top level positions. According to the Center for Presidential Transition, senior level positions must undergo a Senate confirmation process before they are officially appointed to their respective roles. 

But what is the “Cabinet?” And what’s a Senate confirmation process? 

The President’s Cabinet consists of 15 department heads. According to the White House’s Executive Branch, all members of the Cabinet assume the title Secretary, except for the head of the Justice Department who is credited as Attorney General. Here is a brief description of each appointee thus far: 

Photo Credit: USA Today

Secretary of State: Marco Rubio 

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida will be the President’s advisor on foreign affairs and act as chief diplomat according to the U.S. Department of State. Rubio will be the first Latino Secretary of State in history according to the BBC. 

Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth 

Pete Hegseth, former Fox News host and veteran, will oversee the Defense Department and act as the main defense policymaker and advisor according to the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Attorney General: Undetermined 

On Nov. 21, Matt Gaetz, Trump’s original appointment for attorney general, withdrew his name from consideration due to allegations concerning sexual misconduct and other obstructions. NBC News includes this statement from Gaetz “It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition” posted on X. 

 As of Nov. 22, Pam Bondi, former attorney general in Florida according to PBS, has been appointed as the new Attorney General. The Attorney General will give advice to both the President and the heads of the Executive Departments.

Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum

Republican Gov. of North Dakota, Doug Brugum, will manage U.S. land, national parks, monuments, and wildlife refuges. The job extends to upholding relations with the 574 federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives, according to the Office of the Secretary.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder says that Kennedy has the authority to establish regulations governing health, food and drug safety, public health, and the quality of healthcare and has authority to declare public health emergencies, 

Trump’s decision has caused a ripple across political and societal waters as RFK Jr’s previous controversial comments on vaccines and other health and disease-related topics has been reignited. 

Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright 

Chris Wright is the CEO of Liberty Energy. As secretary, Wright will assume typical responsibilities including managing the country’s energy, environment, and nuclear challenges, according to energy.gov. 

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Doug Collins 

Doug Collins represented Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013-2021. According to NBC News, Collins is an Iraq war veteran and has been an Air Force reservist since 2002. According to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Collins will serve the needs of veterans in the United States Armed Forces including health, education, disability, funerary, and financial benefits. 

Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Neoem will lead the third largest U.S. governmental department and is responsible for counterterrorism, cybersecurity, aviation security, as well as border, port, and maritime security according to Homeland Security’s Secretary of Homeland Security description.  

In accordance with Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, each appointed Cabinet leader must undergo a Senate confirmation to be officiated. In general, the process requires that once the nomination is submitted by the President, the nomination will be referred to the committee with jurisdiction over the agency. Then, floor considerations may occur. Lastly, the White House is notified with either a confirmation or rejection of the nominee, according to Georgetown Law. 

Author’s Note: At the time of this writing (Nov. 21, 2024), we are waiting on the rest of Trump’s Cabinet nominations.