Topline
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday billionaire backer Elon Musk and supporter Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” while Fox News host Pete Hegseth will serve as secretary of defense, the latest in a flurry of appointments in the days since Trump won the election, tapping some of his staunchest defenders and loyalists for roles in the administration.
President-elect Donald Trump gestures at supporters after speaking as he holds hands with former US … [+]
Key Facts
Trump has reportedly chosen people for a handful of Senate-confirmed Cabinet-level jobs, and he’s picked a White House chief of staff and a national security advisor, two key roles that don’t require confirmation.
Attorney general and secretaries of defense, state and homeland security are top priorities for Trump, according to The New York Times, citing people familiar with his thinking who said he is keen on candidates who will remove career bureaucrats Trump considers to be part of what he refers to as the “deep state.”
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Department Of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump announced Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, will run a new Department of Government Efficiency (or “DOGE”) alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump said in a statement the department—which has not yet been created—will offer “advice and guidance from outside of Government” and focus on “making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency,” including through spending and regulatory cuts. Musk, a vocal Trump backer who donated over $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, has pitched the department in the past, seemingly naming it after the meme cryptocurrency dogecoin.
Secretary Of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump selected Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense Tuesday, praising his status as a combat veteran and role as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Hegseth was deployed in Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq while serving with the Army National Guard. The veteran is the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative organization that has communicated with Trump on the matter of veterans affairs and received backing from billionaire Charles G. Koch—one of the wealthiest people in the world. Hegseth has also made appearances on various Fox Nation series.
Cia Director: John Ratcliffe
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as the CIA’s director. A former Texas congressman, Ratcliffe served as the director of national intelligence from 2020 to 2021 and acted as Trump’s primary intelligence adviser during his last presidency. During his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe declassified unverified Russian intelligence information that claimed Hillary Clinton approved a plan to link Trump to Russia and the Democratic National Committee cyberattacks in 2016. Democrats criticized Ratcliffe’s decision to publicly release the information, alleging he was politicizing unverified information to aid Trump.
White House Counsel: William Joseph Mcginley
Trump picked former White House cabinet secretary and top GOP lawyer William McGinley as his White House Counsel. McGinley was brought into Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and tasked with helping it secure delegates for the Republican National Convention. He worked as Trump’s White House cabinet secretary from 2017 to 2019 and was in charge of advising other cabinet members on policy coordination, optics and ethics, according to Politico.
Special Envoy To The Middle East: Steven C. Witkoff
Steven Witkoff, a GOP donor and real estate investor, will be Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff is chairman of the University of Miami Business School Real Estate Advisory Board and the CEO of Witkoff, a real estate firm he founded in 1997. He is also a longtime friend of Trump’s and one of the president-elect’s golf partners. Witkoff was with Trump during the apparent second assassination attempt on his life, telling NBC that Secret Service agents dived on Trump and got him off his Florida golf course in under 20 seconds.
United States Ambassador To Israel: Mike Huckabee
Trump announced Tuesday he appointed former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to serve as his envoy to Israel on Tuesday, touting his military service as he served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years. Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israel and has criticized the Biden administration’s calls for a cease-fire with Hamas. Huckabee has advocated for Israel to annex parts of the West Bank, which Israel occupied in 1967, and has backed Israeli settlers in the territory. A former Southern Baptist pastor, Huckabee regularly leads evangelicals on visits to Israel.
National Security Adviser: Mike Waltz
Trump confirmed Tuesday he appointed Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., to serve as his national security adviser. In recent months, Waltz—a former Army Green Beret—has frequently criticized China, urged NATO members to pay more for defense and said he expects Trump to push Ukraine and Russia toward a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine.
Homeland Security Secretary: Kristi Noem
Trump has picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN reported early on Tuesday, citing two unnamed sources. Although no official announcement has been made, Noem is a long-time Trump loyalist who was believed be a contender for Vice President. The appointee will be essential in carrying out Trump’s aggressive immigration plans, in addition to the agency’s duties surrounding cybersecurity, antiterrorism and emergency response.
Secretary Of State: Likely Marco Rubio
Trump is likely to pick Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his secretary of state, according to multiple reports. The New York Times says Trump might change his mind, and CNN reports Trump set his sights on Rubio after initially favoring former acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell for the job. Rubio, a high-profile Republican who was reportedly among the finalists for Trump’s running mate choice, has a reputation as a foreign policy hawk, favoring tough approaches on China and Iran. Rubio said prior to the election he believed a Trump administration would broker “a negotiated settlement” to end the war in Ukraine. Rubio and Trump were bitter rivals in the 2016 GOP presidential primaries, often clashing vehemently, but their relationship has improved since then.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator: Lee Zeldin
Trump announced Monday he’s tapped former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to lead the EPA, citing his “very strong legal background” and calling him “a true fighter for America First policies” in a statement. Zeldin—a Trump ally who ran for New York governor two years ago—“will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards,” the statement said.
Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy: Stephen Miller
Trump is expected to announce Stephen Miller for the White House position in the coming days, multiple outlets reported Monday. Miller was a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and one of the architects of some of his most controversial immigration policies, including his family separation program.
Border Czar: Tom Homan
Trump appointed his former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan to the role, he announced Monday, as Trump plans a mass deportation of undocumented migrants during his second term.
Un Ambassador: Elise Stefanik
Trump announced Sunday he’d nominate GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the United Nations ambassador role, and she told the New York Post she had accepted the offer.
Chief Of Staff: Susie Wiles
Trump named his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles chief of staff two days after his election win, marking his first major administrative pick. Wiles will be the first woman to hold the position.
Attorney General
Trump is expected to overhaul the Department of Justice and staff it with political loyalists who could blur the lines of independence between the agency and the executive branch, potentially by carrying out Trump’s wishes to prosecute his political enemies. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, R-Mo., former administration lawyer Mark Paoletta and former Trump Director of National Intelligence Director John Ratcliffe are some of the names commonly floated for AG in media reports. Federal Judge Aileen Cannon, who dismissed the DOJ’s classified documents case against Trump, is also on a proposed personnel roster Trump’s team has circulated, ABC News reported last month, citing unnamed sources. Speculation has swirled that Trump adviser, Kash Patel, could be appointed AG. Trump said previously that Patel would help craft a “blueprint” for his next administration and lauded his book “Government Gangsters” as a “roadmap to end the Deep State’s reign.”
Treasury Secretary
Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., former ambassador to Japan under Trump, is on the speculative short list for this role. Other contenders include Trump’s transition team co-chair, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, former Trump U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, and hedge fund executive Scott Bessent—who spoke recently with Forbes. Bessent met with Trump Friday at Mar-A-Lago, according to Reuters and Bloomberg, though Bloomberg cited people familiar with the process who said the meeting was not a job interview. Trump is expected to narrow his list of candidates by the end of the week, and he is leaning toward someone with Wall Street experience, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing anonymous sources.
Defense Secretary
Trump’s team has contacted House Armed Services Chair Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala. about the role, Fox News reported Friday, citing a source familiar with the discussions.
Energy Secretary
North Dakota Gov. and former presidential candidate Doug Burgum is considered a top choice. Burgum served as a liaison between Trump and oil executives during his campaign and has reportedly helped shape Trump’s energy policy. Burgum could also be asked to serve as Trump’s “energy czar,” a new position he plans to create to coordinate policies that span multiple agencies, The New York Times reported.
C.i.a. Director
Ratcliffe, Waltz and Patel are among the possible picks, according to The Times. Trump attempted to install Patel as deputy C.I.A. director at the end of his first term, but his plans were thwarted when then-Director Gina Haspel threatened to resign in protest, Axios reported.
Education Secretary
Trump has mentioned Ramaswamy for the role, and the agency’s former leader, Betsy DeVos, also said she would be willing to return to the role in a recent interview with Education Week. Trump has proposed dismantling the department and giving states control over their public schools.
Will Rfk Jr. Serve In Trump Administration?
Trump has indicated vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would play a prominent role in shaping health policy in his administration, telling an audience in Arizona earlier this month Kennedy could do “anything he wants” and that he would “work on health and women’s health.” Trump also recently expressed openness to Kennedy’s controversial proposal to remove fluoride from public water.
Tangent
Trump ruled out former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as possible picks for his second administration in a Truth Social post over the weekend. Pompeo was considered a potential pick for defense secretary.
Key Background
Trump has decamped to Mar-a-Lago since his win Tuesday, holding meetings with his inner circle, administration hopefuls and transition team to craft his second term agenda and build out his staff. Trump is shaping his second-term agenda with the help of several right-wing groups, his closest allies and billionaire backers. Musk, who has been spotted on numerous occasions at Mar-A-Lago since his election, is among those who appear to be influencing Trump’s policy and personnel decisions. Lutnick is also overseeing a team making recommendations for personnel picks and vetting potential candidates, the Times reported, and Miller is expected to play a key role in making the final decisions. The right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute is reportedly the primary driver of Trump’s transition plans and has been crafting possible executive actions for Trump once he takes office. The organization is chaired by former Trump Small Business Administration leader Linda McMahon and led by former Trump Domestic Policy Counsel Director Brook Rollins.
Further Reading
What We Know About Trump’s Potential Cabinet—With RFK Jr. And Elon Musk Among The Candidates (Forbes)
Who Will Help Shape Trump’s Policy Agenda? Here Are The Key Groups And Players (Forbes)
Stephen Miller Will Reportedly Lead Trump’s Policy Agenda—Here’s Who Else Could Help Him (Forbes)