Following his presidential election victory, President-elect Donald Trump has begun selecting his cabinet and other high-ranking administration officials. Here are the early picks for some key posts overseeing defense, intelligence, diplomacy, trade, immigration, and economic policymaking.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency or Doge for short, which is also the name of a cryptocurrency promoted by Musk. This new department aims to reduce government bureaucracy, cut waste, and restructure federal agencies. Trump said the department will provide outside advice and work with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale reforms.
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Mike Waltz is reportedly asked to serve as Trump’s National Security Advisor. Waltz, a retired US Army Special Forces colonel with 27 years of military service, was elected to Congress in 2018, taking over the seat once held by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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Mike Huckabee, Former Arkansas Governor, is chosen to be the US Ambassador to Israel and has consistently opposed the creation of a Palestinian state in land previously taken by Israel.
Steven Witkoff has been announced as Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East. In his announcement, the latter described him as an “unwavering advocate for PEACE”.
William McGinley will be Trump’s White House Counsel, as announced on Tuesday. “Bill is a skilled and determined lawyer who will help me push forward our America First agenda while standing up for election integrity and opposing the weaponization of law enforcement,” Trump said in a statement.
John Ratcliffe has been selected as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, CIA.
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Pete Hegseth has been chosen as Defense Secretary. Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran, has criticized the “woke” policies of Pentagon leaders, including the top military officer. His appointment was announced on Tuesday.
Marco Rubio will replace Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Known for his stance on foreign policy, Rubio has advocated for a strong approach towards US geopolitical foes, including China, Iran, and Cuba.
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Tom Homan has been appointed as the Border Czar. Homan, who served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first administration, was announced for the role on Sunday night. This move is intended to bolster border security efforts amid ongoing immigration challenges in the US.
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Elise Stefanik has been named the UN Ambassador. The Republican congresswoman was named to the position on Monday.
Lee Zeldin has been appointed as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. The 44-year-old former congressman from New York State accepted the role on Monday. Zeldin served in Congress from 2015 to 2023 and lost the New York governor’s race to Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in 2022.
Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, has been selected as the next Homeland Security Secretary. Trump’s announcement came on Tuesday.
John Ratcliffe has been chosen as the CIA Director. Ratcliffe, who previously served as the Director of National Intelligence, was announced for the role on Tuesday.
These appointments mark the beginning of Trump’s efforts to shape his administration as he prepares to take office.
