Donald Trump has wrapped up the week by revealing a new set of Cabinet nominations on Friday.

Among the picks, Trump has selected Scott Bessent, the former chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management, to take on the role of Treasury Secretary. In his statement, Trump emphasized that Bessent would play a key role in preserving the U.S. Dollar’s position as the “Reserve Currency of the World.”

Additionally, Trump nominated Russell Vought, who has contributed to Project 2025, for the director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position that will support the president’s agenda. He also appointed Oregon Congressman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to head the Labor Department, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as the U.S. Surgeon General, and motivational speaker Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

On Thursday, Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida and a close associate, was nominated to be the attorney general of the nation. Bondi, who played a role on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term, fills the position previously held by former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who withdrew amid investigations into serious allegations against him.

Gaetz, who denies the accusations, stated that the ongoing investigation has unfairly become a distraction and announced he will not return to Congress in January.

Scott Bessent Selected as Treasury Secretary

Trump has nominated Scott Bessent to be his Treasury Secretary, stating that the former chief investment officer at Soros Fund Management will ensure that no American is “left behind in the next and Greatest Economic Boom.”

“Scott has always supported the America First Agenda,” Trump stated. “As we approach our Great Country’s 250th Anniversary, he will help usher in a new era of prosperity for the United States, strengthening our role as the World’s leading Economy and Hub of Innovation.”

Bessent, a Yale graduate and founder of Key Square Capital Management in 2015, is known for endorsing Trump’s policies on deregulation, enhancing domestic energy production, and tax legislation.

If approved by the Senate, Bessent will provide guidance to Trump on financial, economic, and tax-related issues.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer Appointed to Lead Labor Department

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer from Oregon has been chosen by Trump to oversee the Labor Department.

The one-term representative, who previously served as the mayor of Happy Valley, was unsuccessful in her reelection for Oregon’s 5th congressional district against Democratic challenger state Rep. Janelle Bynum.

“Lori has tirelessly collaborated with both Business and Labor to strengthen America’s workforce and support our hardworking citizens,” Trump stated. “I am eager to work with her to generate remarkable opportunities for American workers, enhance training and apprenticeships, raise wages, and improve working conditions to revive our manufacturing sector.”

Throughout her campaign, Chavez-DeRemer garnered support from the largest federal employees union as well as several public safety unions, including the United Food and Commercial Workers.

Janette Nesheiwat Chosen as U.S. Surgeon General

Trump has nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a medical contributor at Fox News, to be the U.S. Surgeon General.

“Dr. Nesheiwat is a passionate advocate for preventive medicine and public health,” Trump said. “She is dedicated to making affordable, quality healthcare accessible to all Americans and believes in empowering individuals to take control of their health to lead longer and healthier lives.”

Dr. Nesheiwat graduated from the University of South Florida and completed her residency at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, along with emergency room rotations at Johns Hopkins University.

She has also authored “Beyond the Stethoscope: Miracles in Medicine,” a book that shares inspiring recovery stories, demonstrating the transformative impact of prayer and a commitment to healing and service.

Marty Makary Nominated to Head the FDA, Dave Weldon for CDC

Former President Trump has nominated pancreatic surgeon Marty Makary as the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and ex-congressman Dave Weldon to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Currently, Makary is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. He has previously held leadership positions with the World Health Organization Patient Safety Program and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. Additionally, he often provides expert commentary on Fox News.

In a statement, Trump said, “The FDA has lost the trust of the American people and strayed from its core mission as a regulatory body. We need Dr. Marty Makary, a highly respected surgical oncologist and health policy specialist from Johns Hopkins, to help steer the agency back on course.”

Weldon, on the other hand, is expected to manage the CDC, drawing on his extensive medical background and experience as a former congressman. A veteran of the Army, he represented Florida’s 15th congressional district from 1995 to 2009.

Trump noted, “Dave grasps the values of American families and considers health to be of utmost importance. He will work hard to realign the CDC with its essential mission and combat the ongoing epidemic of chronic diseases, promoting better health in America!”

Russell Vought Appointed to Manage the Budget

Trump has also selected Russell Vought for a second term to lead the Office of Management and Budget. Vought previously served as OMB director in Trump’s first term and has experience as both deputy and acting director.

Before assuming this role, he was the vice president of Heritage Action for America, a conservative think tank behind the Project 2025 policy initiative, where he contributed a chapter on the “Executive Office of the President.”

In his role, Vought will be responsible for shaping Trump’s budget proposals and aiding in their implementation across federal agencies.

Scott Turner Nominated for Housing and Urban Development

Scott Turner has been nominated by Trump to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Turner, a motivational speaker associated with the America First Policy Institute—an organization supporting Trump—was a cornerback in the NFL and served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017.

He currently chairs the Center for Education Opportunity at the institute and was previously the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

Overview of Trump’s Appointments So Far

As of Thursday afternoon, here’s a summary of Trump’s nominations for crucial positions in his administration:

• Chief of Staff: Trump has appointed his senior campaign advisor Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff, marking her as the first woman ever to hold this position. Wiles has played a behind-the-scenes role but has been pivotal in Trump’s political resurgence.
• Attorney General: Trump has nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. She was not his initial choice, as he first nominated former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who had to withdraw due to allegations of misconduct. Bondi is notable for being Florida’s first female attorney general.
• Secretary of State: U.S. Senator Marco Rubio from Florida is nominated as Secretary of State, bringing relevant experience from his roles on the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees. He will be the first Latino appointed to this office.
• Director of National Intelligence: Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been nominated; she previously represented Hawaii’s 2nd District from 2013-2021 and ran for president as a Democrat before switching to the Republican party.
• Ambassador to the United Nations: Trump has nominated Elise Stefanik, a five-term Republican representative from New York, for the UN ambassador role. She chairs the House Republican Conference and was once considered for Trump’s vice-presidential pick.
• Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been named to head the Department of Health and Human Services. The independent candidate has been both praised and criticized for his controversial views on vaccines and the origins of COVID-19.
• Secretary of Defense: Trump has chosen former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the position of Defense Secretary. Hegseth is a commentator and an Army National Guard veteran with extensive advocacy work for veterans.
• Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment, is appointed to oversee the Education Department, having previously led the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
• Secretary of Commerce: Trump selected Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, as the commerce secretary, expected to provide insight on job growth and economic development.
• Environmental Administrator of the Protection Agency: Trump has chosen Lee Zeldin as the head of The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zeldin was previously a Congressman representing parts of Long Island, New York, and he ran against Kathy Hochul in the 2022 gubernatorial election but was unsuccessful.
• Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: Trump has appointed his former Director of National Intelligence, John Ratcliffe, as the CIA director. Ratcliffe was a Texas House member before taking the position of national intelligence director at the end of Trump’s first term.
• Secretary of Homeland Security: Trump revealed his selection of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security. This appointment places the staunch conservative governor—who deployed the state’s National Guard to the southern border—into a crucial immigration role.
• Secretary of the Interior: Trump has put forward Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum as his nominee for Secretary of the Interior, responsible for coordinating federal policies across various territories. Burgum had made a bid for the Republican presidential nomination before withdrawing in December and is an advocate for fossil fuel and energy matters.
• Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Trump has nominated former Republican U.S. Representative Doug Collins for the position of secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Collins represented Georgia’s 9th district from 2013 to 2021. A loyal ally of Trump, he also serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and was active during the Iraq War in 2008.
• Secretary of the Department of Energy: Trump is proposing oil industry leader Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and a 2024 campaign contributor, to lead the Department of Energy. Known for his skepticism about climate change science, Wright would join an administration that opposed the climate initiatives and clean energy investments brought in during President Biden’s tenure.
• Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy: Longtime Trump advisor Stephen Miller has been appointed as deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump’s upcoming administration. The 39-year-old has served as a senior adviser to Trump and directed speechwriting during the previous term, and is recognized for influencing Trump’s immigration strategies.
• ‘Border Czar’: Trump designated Tom Homan to take charge of deportation strategies and aviation security. Homan is a former Border Patrol agent with 34 years of experience and was the acting ICE director during Trump’s first term, known for his stringent immigration enforcement methods, including the controversial “zero-tolerance” policy that led to family separations among undocumented immigrants.
• National Security Adviser: Trump appointed Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. Waltz has experience in civilian roles at the Pentagon, has served on the House Armed Services Committee, and has endorsed Trump’s isolationist stance on foreign relations.
• U.S. Ambassador to Israel: Trump announced his intention to nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and a former Fox News host who has previously run for the Republican presidential nomination twice without success. His daughter, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, is currently the governor of Arkansas and was the White House press secretary during Trump’s first term.
• White House Counsel: Trump has selected William McGinley to serve as his White House counsel. McGinley is a partner at the Washington law firm Holtzman Vogel and previously worked as the Cabinet secretary during Trump’s first presidency.
• U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York: Trump has chosen Jay Clayton to be the U.S. Attorney for this district. Clayton had been the chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Trump during his first term.
• Deputy Attorney General: Trump has appointed attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche gained recognition for his vigorous defense of the president-elect in a hush money case in New York and in two federal criminal matters.
• White House Communications Director: Trump named Steven Cheung to be his communications director for the second term. Cheung was a rapid response director during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and was known for his confrontational style, characterizing Trump’s opponents with terms like “snowflakes” and “cucks” afflicted by “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”
• White House Press Secretary: Trump selected Karoline Leavitt as press secretary for his second term, expected to be the youngest individual to ever hold this role.
• Secretary of Transportation: Trump has appointed former reality TV personality Sean Duffy as his choice for Secretary of Transportation. Duffy was a cast member on MTV’s “The Real World,” later served as a congressman for Wisconsin’s 7th district from 2011 to 2019, and co-hosted “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business.
• Federal Communications Commission Chairman: Trump tapped Brendan Carr to head the Federal Communications Commission. Carr, a senior Republican commissioner, contributed to a chapter of Project 2025, a lengthy “presidential transition project” published by the Heritage Foundation.
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator: Trump has appointed physician and well-known TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to oversee the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

What are the Cabinet positions?

The Cabinet is responsible for advising the president on matters concerning their specific areas of authority.

These are the Cabinet positions found within the 15 executive departments that require Senate confirmation:

• Secretary of State
• Secretary of Defense
• Attorney General
• Secretary of the Interior
• Secretary of Agriculture
• Secretary of Commerce
• Secretary of Labor
• Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Secretary of Transportation
• Secretary of Energy
• Secretary of Education
• Secretary of Veterans Affairs
• Secretary of Homeland Security
• Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Secretary of Treasury

The Cabinet and presidential advisors may also include the vice president, the chief of staff, the ambassador to the United Nations, the director of National Intelligence, the U.S. trade representative, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors, the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the head of the Small Business Administration.