By Fiona Espinoza-Castro
Staff Writer
President-elect Donald Trump has begun selecting executive department heads for his administration. His choices include experienced leaders in commerce, technology, educators and political allies, however, some of his picks come from unconventional backgrounds with no public service experience under their belt. His appointments have sparked debates across the country.
Trump announced Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Rubio, a Florida senator elected in 2010 and a leader of the conservative Tea Party movement, is an important figure, as reported by the New York Times, and currently serves on the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Select Committee on Intelligence in the Senate. Rubio has strongly advocated in the foreign policy sector, including bolstering U.S. interests against China, Iran and Cuba.
For attorney general, Trump had previously announced Florida Sen. Matt Gaetz; however, Gaetz withdrew from consideration after it was unclear if his nomination could make it through the Senate. Reuters reported that the president-elect has now chosen Pam Bondi, who was the attorney general for Florida and served in Trump’s administration during his first term.
Trump also announced he plans to nominate Pete Hegseth as the Defense Secretary, despite not having previously held a high-ranking military role. He is a Fox News host and a veteran who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota and a notorious Trump loyalist, has been tapped as the Homeland Security Secretary.
John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who has previously served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term, has been declared C.I.A. director. For the position of Director of National Intelligence, Trump named Tulsi Gabbard. Her previous experience includes being a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, having served in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mehmet Oz has been announced as the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, a choice raising concerns due to his past questionable medical advice. Trump also plans to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an environmental lawyer and vaccine skeptic, as the Health and Human Services Secretary.
The New York Times reported that Trump named Lee Zeldin, a former congressman and 2020 election denier, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator.
Outside of the government, Trump has called on Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The department will serve as a consulting organization focused on three kinds of reforms: regulatory rescissions, cost-effective savings and administrative reductions, all targeted for implementation by government leaders.
DOGE plans to identify federal regulations that go beyond congressional authorizations, relocate some federal agencies outside of the capital and recommend that the government require employees to return to the office five days a week. The department also plans to recommend ending federal spending programs that are not authorized by Congress and prevent the misuse of appropriated funds.
Trump has also announced the following individuals for other roles: Elise Stefanik as U.N. ambassador, Doug Burgum as Interior Secretary, Doug Collins as Veterans Affairs Secretary, Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary & Transition Co-Chair, Sean Duffy as Transportation Secretary, Chris Wright as Energy Secretary, Linda McMahon as Education Secretary & Transition Co-Chair, Susie Wiles as Chief of Staff, and James Blair as Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political, and Public Affairs, according to the New York Times.
Other appointments the New York Times reported include Taylor Budowich as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications & Personnel, Stephen Miller as Homeland Security Adviser & Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Dan Scavino as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Thomas Homan as Senior Immigration Official, Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser, Bill McGinley as White House Counsel, Steven Cheung as White House Communications Director, Karoline Leavitt as White House Press Secretary, Will Scharf as White House Staff Secretary, Sergio Gor as Director of Personnel and Brendan Carr as F.C.C. Chair.
