A Look at Trump’s Administration 

As Trump’s inauguration approaches, here are the names he has chosen for his cabinet and key administration roles to date 

By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News

President-elect Donald Trump has ruffled some people’s ideas lately as he has been naming his key cabinet positions and other important roles in his administration. Like them or not, there is one thing we can be sure of and that is the America we are moving into will be very different from the last four years.

We know already some of his choices have been controversial, like Pete Hegseth (former FOX news host) for Defense Secretary and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

And remember former Florida US Rep. Matt Gaetz who stepped down from his seat in that state to accept the Attorney General role, pending confirmation. It turned out Gaetz withdrew his name when news of a federal sex-trafficking investigation came up (there were no charges) and there was also an investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct. 

However, remember this, with the naming of Pam Bondi who was the Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019 that could leave an open space for Gaetz to take another key role in Trump’s administration without having to be confirmed by the Senate. There is also the possibility of his running for Marco Rubio’s senate seat in Florida; since Trump has named Rubio his secretary of state.

According to USA News, “Trump’s transition team signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees after Trump originally proposed skipping traditional FBI background checks and expressed a preference to bypass the traditional Senate confirmation process in favor of recess appointments.”

Here is a list of Trump’s choices for other high-profile seats and some lesser-known seats that will drive the future of America.

Tulsi Gabbard, a former US Representative from Hawaii is being considered as the Director of National Intelligence.

John Ratcliffe has been chosen as the new CIA Director. He has served under Trump before as the National Intelligence Director and is a former member of Congress from Texas.

Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota is Trump’s choice for the Department of Homeland Security overseeing U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

To assist Noem will be Thomas Homan as the Border “czar” and his experience as the ICE Director under Trump will certainly be an asset to his new role.

Kash Patel will take over Christopher Wray’s job as the FBI Director, he is a former Trump administration adviser. 

Michael Waltz, a US Rep. from Florida, has been named as the National Security Adviser.  

Vivek Ramaswamy has been vocal since his run against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination and Trump has said he will name Ramaswamy as the Co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Ramaswamy’s partner will be Elon Musk, who needs no introduction as he has certainly made a name for himself outside of politics as the richest man in the world, and now inside politics as well.

Susie Wiles, a longtime Trump friend and political strategist will take the role of White House Chief of Staff. She is making history by being the first-ever female Chief of Staff.

Other appointees, some needing senate confirmation and others not, include Brooke Rollins being considered for Agriculture Secretary, she is president of the America First Policy Institute.

Former Wrestling Executive Linda McMahon has been tapped for Education Secretary.

Chris Wright, an oil executive, will take the role of Energy Secretary and Former US Rep. from New York Lee Zeldin is being considered for the EPA Administrator.

Howard Lutnick, a Wall Street Executive will be added as the Commerce Secretary, if confirmed.

Kelly Loeffler, will be named as Small Business Administrator. She is a former Republican senator from Georgia and co-chair of Trump’s 2025 inauguration committee.

Jamieson Greer, a trade lawyer ,is being considered for the new role of U.S. Trade Representative.

Scott Turner, a former NFL player has been named as Trump’s choice for Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary while Lori Chavez-DeRemer is being considered for Labor Secretary. 

Many are noting this is an interesting choice since Chavez-DeRemer is a strong supporter of unions in her district.

For the Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a hedge fund billionaire is being considered. He is the founder of Key Square Capital Management. 

In the role of Transportation Secretary, Trump hopes to have Sean Duffy, a former member of Congress and Fox Business host, lead. 

Trump also announced the governor of North Dakota Doug Burgum as his choice for the Interior Secretary role.

Other key seats that will not require confirmation are New York Rep. Elise Stefanik as Ambassador to the United Nations; David Perdue a former US Senator from Georgia will serve as the Ambassador to China; Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor will serve as Ambassador to Israel; former NFL star Herschel Walker was tapped for ambassador to the Bahamas; and Steven Witkoff, a real estate executive, will serve as the special envoy to the Middle East. 

Entrepreneur David Sacks has been named by Trump as the AI and Crypto Czar, former Trump adviser Stephen Miller will take the role of Deputy chief of policy; and, Mehmet Oz (aka Doctor Oz) will serve as the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, coming from his job as a physician and former television host.