On Jan. 20, 2025, former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States of America. When he officially takes office, Vice President-Elect JD Vance and the heads of 15 executive departments will enter alongside him. The most important Cabinet positions are the vice president, secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, secretary of defense and the attor- ney general. The process of naming the Cabinet begins with the president-elect nominating people as heads of each department. Then, the nominee must be confirmed by the Senate by earning a majority vote. Although the Senate has not confirmed Trump’s nominees yet, here are the individuals that Trump has currently selected for his preferred Cabinet.
Vice President-elect: JD Vance
Vice President-elect JD Vance is the current senator of Ohio but his position will not have to be approved by the Senate. Vance was elected to the Senate in 2022 and has recently been a vocal advocate for aid to Ukraine and state-decided abortion laws. Vance plans to cut taxes, strengthen border policies and support Trump’s mass deportation plans.
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio, who is currently serving his third term in the Senate as the senator of Florida, has been nominated by Trump to serve as secretary of state. During Rubio’s time in the Senate, he has authored laws that have extended healthcare benefits to veterans, increased child tax credits and given funding to small businesses. In terms of foreign policy, Rubio is a strong supporter of Israel and believes the U.S. needs to be more aggressive on China, especially in addressing the human rights abuses against the Uyghurs. As secretary of state, Rubio is likely to take action to quickly end Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to The New York Times.
Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent is Trump’s nominee for secretary of the treasury. Bessent is a hedge fund manager who has worked in global wealth management and investment firms. He’s also an advocate for reducing deficit spending and supports Trump’s plans for dramatic tax cuts. Although Bessent defends Trump’s tariff plans, he is expected to push Trump to enact a softer approach towards tariffs, according to CNBC. As secretary of the treasury, Bessent plans to support the undoing of governmental economic regulations and deficit reduction.
Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump selected Pete Hegseth to be his secretary of defense. Hegseth is a former National Guard officer and worked more recently as a host for Fox News. Hegseth is the author of “Battle for the American Mind,” a New York Times bestseller, in which he criticizes progressivism in schools and argues in favor of classical Christian education. But Hesgeth’s nomination has been an uphill battle and his “confirmation by the Senate is in doubt as he faces questions over allegations of excessive drinking, sexual assault and his views on women in combat,” The Associated Press reported. In a podcast, Hegseth said, “We should not have women in combat roles.”
Attorney General: Pam Bondi
Pam Bondi is Trump’s attorney general pick after Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid following sexual misconduct allegations. Bondi and Trump have had a relationship since before Trump’s 2024 campaign, as she served as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment
trial. She was originally a prosecutor before she became the first female attorney general of Florida, a position that she held for eight years. As attorney general, some suspect that Bondi may follow through with Trump’s threats to pursue retribution against political adversaries, according to PBS.
Though his nominees haven’t been confirmed by the Senate, Rubio, Bessent, Hegseth and Bondi are likely to serve in Trump’s cabinet for the next four years.
