Roundup: Everyone Trump has picked for his 2nd term administration thus far

CV NEWS FEED // Just a week and a half after decisively winning a second non-consecutive term in the 2024 election, Trump has already nominated candidates for half of his new administration’s Cabinet-level roles.

As FOX News noted, the president-elect is choosing key personnel at “breakneck speed,” especially compared to the pace at which he staffed his first term Cabinet.

Here is a list of the diverse array of individuals Trump has already selected to join him and Vice President-elect JD Vance, in the incoming administration.

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Secretary of State

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-FL

Age: 53

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Rubio, a Catholic, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2011. Currently in his third term, he won re-election in 2016 by almost eight points, and in 2022 by over 16 points – more than doubling his margin of victory.

In the Senate, Rubio is particularly active on matters of international affairs and serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He is also the ranking member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

In 2016, Rubio notably ran against Trump in the Republican presidential primaries – where he finished with the third-highest number of delegates behind Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX. 

Earlier this year, the Senator from Florida was a reported finalist to become Trump’s running mate, along with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Vance, who was ultimately selected.

Rubio “will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said in a statement announcing Rubio as his pick to head the State Department.

Trump called his fellow Floridian a “Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom.”

Secretary of Defense

Army National Guard Major and former FOX News host Pete Hegseth

Age: 44

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Widely considered a surprise pick by Trump to head the Pentagon, Hegseth is a decorated officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard who served tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

A graduate of both Princeton and Harvard and a longtime veterans’ advocate, he also co-hosted “FOX & Friends Weekend” on FOX News up until this week.

In 2012, Hegseth also briefly ran for the U.S. Senate in his home state of Minnesota.

Trump said in a statement announcing the selection: “Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country.”

“Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First,” the president-elect added.

Hegseth recently referred to himself as a “recovering neocon,” who now supports a significantly less interventionist foreign policy than he did during the early 2000s. 

“The hubris of the Pentagon is they want to now tell other countries how to do counterinsurgency based on what we did in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Hegseth told podcaster and former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan, last week, days before he was tapped to join the new administration.

“The trust that our political leaders and our generals would have our best interests in mind is totally broken,” the Defense Secretary nominee added.

Attorney General

former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-FL

Age: 42

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Gaetz has represented Florida’s western panhandle in the House from 2017 until he resigned the same day Trump announced his nomination to be the next U.S. Attorney General.

While in Congress, Gaetz served on the House Judiciary Committee and established himself as a steadfast defender of Trump against attacks by Democrats. He was also a prominent member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

The lawmaker became a household name in the fall of 2023, after he spearheaded a successful effort to oust then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-CA. 

McCarthy was eventually replaced in his role by current House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-LA, generally regarded as more conservative than his predecessor.

An attorney by trade, Gaetz has described himself as a “firebrand” congressman, and has been extensively critical of the Biden-Harris Department of Justice (DOJ). 

“Matt is a gifted and tenacious attorney .. who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the” DOJ, Trump stated:

Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.

If Gaetz is confirmed by the Senate, he will replace deeply controversial Biden-Harris Attorney General Merrick Garland at the helm of the DOJ.

Secretary of the Interior

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum

Age: 68

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Burgum was both a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination – which Trump won in convincing fashion – as well as a finalist to become Trump’s running mate, along with Rubio and Vance.

A billionaire software businessman, Burgum has served as the Governor of North Dakota since 2016, and did not seek re-election this year.

“Doug will be a key leader in ushering in a new ‘Golden Age of American Prosperity’ and World Peace,” Trump wrote in a statement.

In addition to his Cabinet secretary post, Trump also tapped Burgum to lead the newly-created National Energy Council.

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)

attorney and former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Age: 70

Political affiliation: Libertarian

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

The nephew of the nation’s first Catholic president, Kennedy, a Catholic, was a lifelong Democrat until leaving the party in October 2023.

While mounting his independent 2024 presidential bid, he was at one point polling higher than any non-major party candidate in decades.

Then on August 23, Kennedy suspended his candidacy and endorsed Trump, while delivering a thorough rebuke of his former party in the process. 

He is known as a longtime advocate for combatting chronic diseases and was a vocal opponent of the various COVID restrictions imposed by the public health establishment.

>> RFK JR. STARS IN CATHOLICVOTE AD FOR TRUMP <<

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump wrote in a statement announcing Kennedy as his HHS pick.

“Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” the president-elect emphasized.

By selecting Kennedy, Trump has fulfilled a campaign promise that he will name a Libertarian to his cabinet. The former independent and Democrat joined the third party earlier this year.

Further reading: Trump picks RFK Jr. to head HHS

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

former Rep. Doug Collins, R-GA

Age: 58

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

An Air Force Reserve Colonel and chaplain, Iraq War veteran, lawyer, and ordained Baptist minister, Collins served four terms in Congress representing a district in northern Georgia.

Collins notably served as the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2020. He ardently defended Trump during his first impeachment proceedings in the then-Democratic-controlled House.

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,” Trump wrote in a statement.

“Thank you, Doug, for your willingness to serve our Country in this very important role!” the next president added.

Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS)

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem

Age: 52

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

The Governor of South Dakota since 2019, Noem had served in the U.S. House for the previous eight years.

If confirmed by the Senate, she will bring her strong pro-border security record to the administration, and replace impeached Biden-Harris DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – who has been widely criticized for his role in the crisis at the nation’s southern border. 

“She was the first governor to send National Guard soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden border crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times,” Trump indicated in a statement.  

Noem “will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the border, and will guarantee that our American homeland is secure from our adversaries,” the president-elect added.

As CatholicVote previously reported, the governor has also “received widespread recognition for her refusal to shut down the state’s economy following the COVID outbreak.”

Further reading: Trump picks Noem for DHS

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY

Age: 44

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

A former four-term Congressman from Long Island, Zeldin gave up his House seat to run for New York governor in 2022 – falling short by only six points in the heavily Democratic state.

An Army Reserve lieutenant colonel and lawyer, Zeldin is known as a proponent of deregulation.

“Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies,” Trump stated.

“He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet,” the president-elect added.  

“I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations,” Trump continued. “I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!”

Further reading: Trump names Zeldin EPA administrator

Director of National Intelligence

former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-HI (while in office)

Age: 43

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

A Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Gabbard is – like Kennedy – a prominent ex-Democrat.

As a member of her former party, she represented the deep blue second congressional district of Hawaii from 2013 to 2021, and spent the first three of these years as Vice Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Gabbard sought the Democratic nomination for president during the 2020 election cycle – which instead went to Joe Biden.

After leaving Congress, she has become a sharp critic of the party she had belonged to for more than two decades.

Becoming an independent in 2022, she made the switch to the Republican Party in October declaring at a Trump rally that the Democrats are “completely unrecognizable, which points to the clear choice that we have in this election today.” 

“When you look at the party of Kamala Harris for example, she is anti-freedom, she is pro-censorship, she is pro-open borders, and she is pro-war,” Gabbard, a longtime advocate for a more non-interventionist foreign policy, noted at the time.

Upon announcing her as this DNI pick, Trump said of Gabbard: “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength.”

“Tulsi will make us all proud!” he added.

Further reading: Trump picks Gabbard as DNI

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

former Rep. and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, R-TX

Age: 59

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Ratcliffe, a Catholic, served as Trump’s Director of National Intelligence during his first term from 2020 to 2021. He is set to return to a Cabinet-level role, this time leading the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Furthermore, Ratcliffe previously served in Congress representing a district in northeastern Texas from 2015 to 2020.

Ratcliffe “will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” Trump wrote in a statement.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” he added.

Ambassador to the United Nations (UN)

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY

Age: 40

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: Yes

Stefanik, a Catholic, has represented a House seat in northern New York state since 2015. She currently serves as the Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and is the fourth highest ranking member of the party, and the highest ranking woman in the lower chamber.

In November 2022, Stefanik became the first member of Congress to publicly endorse Trump’s 2024 presidential bid – before Trump had officially declared he would be a candidate. 

She was also under consideration to become Trump’s running mate in the day’s leading up to the selection of Vance.

Stefanik made headlines last December after she grilled a trio of university presidents about antisemitism on campus, during a House Education & the Workforce Committee hearing.

Trump said in a statement announcing he was selecting Stefanik to be his next Ambassador to the UN: “Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”

National Security Advisor

Rep. Mike Waltz, R-FL

Age: 50

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Waltz, a Colonel in the Army, will be the next National Security Advisor – as this position is one of the few cabinet-level roles that does not require Senate confirmation.

Representing a district on Florida’s east coast, he made history in 2018 as the first veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces – popularly referred to as the “Green Berets” to be elected to Congress.

While serving in the House, he became known for his tough stance toward the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

“Mike served in the Army Special Forces for 27 years where he was deployed multiple times in combat for which he was awarded four Bronze Stars, including two with Valor,” Trump wrote in a statement.

He noted that his incoming National Security Advisor is “a nationally recognized leader in National Security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”

White House Chief of Staff

Trump 2024 co-campaign manager Susie Wiles

Age: 67

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Trump announced Wiles as the first female White House Chief of Staff in American history just two days after he won the 2024 election in a rout.

Wiles was one of the two co-campaign managers at the helm of Trump’s winning campaign. A longtime Republican consultant based in Florida, she is also the daughter of the late NFL legend Pat Summerall. 

“Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history, and was an integral part of both my 2016 and 2020 successful campaigns,” Trump said in a statement announcing the history-making pick.

He added: “Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again.”

Further reading: Trump names Wiles Chief of Staff

White House Communications Director

Trump 2024 campaign communications director and spokesman Steven Cheung 

Age: 42

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Wiles was not the only member of Trump’s triumphant White House bid to make the transition to the incoming administration.

On Friday, Trump announced that he is picking Steven Cheung, the communications director and spokesman for his recently-concluded campaign.

In a statement, the president-elect called Chueng, along with publisher Sergio Gor, a former aide to Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, who he picked to lead the Presidential Personnel Office “trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016.”

He added that the two men “have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our Historic Victory in 2024.”

White House Press Secretary

Trump 2024 campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt

Age: 27

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Also on Friday, Trump announced he was selecting Karoline Leavitt, a Catholic, who served as the press secretary for his presidential campaign, as the next White House Press Secretary.

At the age of 27, Leavitt will make history as the youngest person to hold this role in American history – more than two years younger than the previous record holder, Nixon administration Press Secretary Ron Ziegler.

A mother of a four-month-old baby boy, Leavitt previously served as assistant press secretary during Trump’s first administration and later as the communications director for fellow second Trump administration pick Elise Stefanik. Two years ago, she was the Republican nominee for the U.S. House district in New Hampshire where she is from.

“Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump wrote in a statement.

The president-elect called his Press Secretary “smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator.” 

“I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we, Make America Great Again,” he added.

In 2021 while she was running for Congress, Leavitt appeared on “The Catholic Current” podcast hosted by Fr. Robert McTeigue, SJ. Then Senate candidate and now-Vice President-elect JD Vance, himself a convert to Catholicism, appeared on the same podcast episode.

Readers can listen to the full episode here.

Commissioner of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

businessman Elon Musk

Age: 53

Political affiliation: Independent

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Innovative billionaire Elon Musk was a key financial backer of Trump’s successful campaign and the owner of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which he purchased in 2022.

Currently the wealthiest man in the world, Musk is also the CEO of both aerospace company SpaceX and electric vehicle (EV) company Tesla.

The globally known businessman will now add “presidential advisor” to his resume after being tapped by Trump to serve as one of the two commissioners of the newly established  Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Despite its name, DOGE is set to be established as a presidential advisory commission – not a fully fledged Executive Branch department. 

Musk had proposed the idea behind the new commission to Trump – who had accepted it – a couple of months ago.

Commissioner of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

businessman and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy

Age: 39

Political affiliation: Republican

Requires Senate confirmation?: No

Along with Musk, Trump also named healthcare technology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy – one of his opponents for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination – as a DOGE commissioner.

DOGE will “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies,” Trump said in a statement. 

“It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,” the president-elect continued:

Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of “DOGE” for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.  

Trump added that he looks “forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans.”

He stated that the commission’s work “will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 – A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence.”

Other positions of note

Trump nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as U.S. Ambassador to Israel. The position requires Senate confirmation.

An outspoken evangelical Christian and ordained Southern Baptist pastor, Huckabee notably ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2008 and in 2016 on a socially conservative platform. In the former cycle he won the Iowa Caucuses in an upset.

Trump stated that Huckabee “loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him.” The president-elect added that Huckabee “will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!”

In addition, Trump nominated real estate investor Steve Witkoff to serve as his Special Envoy to the Middle East. 

“Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud,” declared the 45th and soon-to-be 47th president.

It is unclear whether Witkoff will require Senate confirmation to assume the post.

POLITICO reported that while “special envoys are potentially subject to Senate confirmation” the current Biden-Harris “White House has managed to circumvent that law” as shown through its appointment of longtime Democratic consultant John Podesta as a “climate envoy.”

>> TRUMP PICKS COMMITTED CATHOLIC AS ‘BORDER CZAR’ <<

Trump also announced that four of his well-known campaign aides: James Blair, Taylor Budowich, Dan Scavino, and Stephen Miller, will receive roles in his White House, all of which do not require Senate confirmation. 

Per The Hill, Blair will be Trump’s “deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs,” Budowich the “deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel,” and Scavino “an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff.”

According to FOX News, Miller was named Trump’s “deputy chief of staff for policy and Homeland Security adviser.” 

Well known as a steadfast advocate for border security, Miller served as Senior Advisor to the President and White House Director of Speechwriting during Trump’s first term. In 2021, he founded the conservative nonprofit legal group America First Legal (AFL).

Trump also confirmed that Tom Homan – who was the acting Director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during his first term – will serve as his “border czar,” also a role that does not require confirmation by the Senate.

Like Miller, Homan is known for advocating for strong border security policies. On top of this, CatholicVote noted that Homan is “a Catholic who brings a humanitarian approach to immigration policy.”

Who will Trump nominate in the coming days?

As of Friday evening, top administration roles where Trump has yet to nominate a candidate include the following:

Secretary of the Treasury

Secretary of Agriculture

Secretary of Commerce

Secretary of Labor

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Secretary of Transportation

Secretary of Energy

Secretary of Education – a department which Trump has recently said he plans to eventually abolish

Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Trade Representative

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)