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Donald Trump potential high-level administration appointments, 2017
After Donald Trump was elected president on November 8, 2016, the work of filling almost 4,000 positions in the federal government got underway. Trump's presidential transition team began to recommend who they considered to be the right people to fill key appointments in the next presidential administration, including Cabinet jobs and high-level White House staff. This page tracks the individuals who were considered as potential high-level administration appointments during the transition of power.
"The Cabinet" refers to the officials selected to advise the president on their areas of expertise. This group is composed of 16 members, including the vice president, and seven members whose status has Cabinet-rank.[1] Other high-level appointments are included on this page as well. Some, like secretary of the Army, require Senate confirmation, while others, like national security advisor, do not.
The lists below are organized into four sections:
- Potential Cabinet appointments
- Potential Cabinet-rank appointments
- Potential high-level appointments requiring Senate confirmation
- Potential high-level appointments not requiring Senate confirmation
In each section, we include a list of those who were reported by notable, reliable sources to be considered for the position. The individual who received Trump's initial nomination is noted in each table.
Cabinet appointments
The following tables detail the leading candidates for Cabinet positions as identified by notable, reliable sources during Donald Trump's presidential transition. These tables are divided based on potential administration roles. The leftmost column indicates the individual considered. The middle column details that individual's role notable experience prior to Cabinet consideration. The final column indicates the source linking each individual to the potential Cabinet position. More detailed profiles of individuals can be found by clicking the links in the leftmost column.
The roles are listed in order of succession to the presidency. All Cabinet members, with the exception of the vice president, require confirmation by the U.S. Senate to assume their roles.
Vice President
Mike Pence was elected vice president on November 8, 2016.
Secretary of State
The secretary of state is the top adviser to the president on foreign policy. The duties of the secretary of state include but are not limited to advising the president on diplomatic representatives; negotiating, interpreting and terminating treaties and international agreements; and representing the U.S. in international conferences, organizations, and agencies
| Considered candidates for Secretary of State | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source |
| Rudy Giuliani* | Former mayor of New York City | ABC News |
| John Bolton | Former U.N. Ambassador | The New York Times |
| Bob Corker | Senator from Tennessee, Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee | The New York Times |
| Newt Gingrich** | Former Speaker of the House | The New York Times |
| Zalmay Khalilzad | Former Ambassador to Afghanistan | The New York Times |
| Stanley McChrystal | Former military commander, Afghanistan | The New York Times |
| Richard Haass | President of Council on Foreign Relations | ABC News |
| Nikki Haley | Gov. of South Carolina | The State |
| Tulsi Gabbard | U.S. Rep. from Hawaii | ABC News |
| Mitt Romney | Former Gov. of Massachusetts | Politico |
| David Petraeus | Former Director of CIA | Bloomberg |
| John Kelly | U.S. Marine Corps General | Politico |
Rex Tillerson  |
ExxonMobil CEO | Politico |
| James Stavridis | Retired Navy admiral | Politico |
| Dana Rohrabacher | U.S. Representative from California | Politico |
| Alan Mulally | Former CEO of Ford | Politico |
| *On November 29, 2016, Giuliani pulled his name from consideration for the job. The decision was not made public until December 9, 2016. In a statement, Giuliani said, "This is not about me; it is about what is best for the country and the new administration. Before I joined the campaign I was very involved and fulfilled by my work with my law firm and consulting firm, and I will continue that work with even more enthusiasm. From the vantage point of the private sector, I look forward to helping the President-elect in any way he deems necessary and appropriate."[2] | ||
| **On November 22, 2016, Gingrich indicated to Politico that he would not seek an official White House role, saying, "I've told the President-elect for months that I want to do is sort of be a senior planner."[3] | ||
Secretary of the Treasury
The duties of the secretary of the treasury include but are not limited to: managing economic and fiscal policy; handling government accounting and debt management; promulgating and enforcing tax and tariff laws; assessing and collecting internal revenue; producing currency; and supervising national banks.[4]
| Considered candidates for secretary of the treasury | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Steven Mnuchin |
Former Goldman Sachs executive | Los Angeles Times | |
| Jeb Hensarling | U.S. Representative from Texas | The Wall Street Journal | |
| Thomas Barrack Jr. | Founder of Colony Capital | The New York Times | |
| Tim Pawlenty | Former Gov. of Minnesota | The New York Times | |
| Carl Icahn | Hedge fund manager | ABC News | |
| Jamie Dimon | CEO of JPMorgan Chase | Politico | |
| Jonathan Gray* | Head of global real estate at Blackstone Group | Politico | |
| *Gray told Politico on November 23, 2016, that he was not interested in the position, saying, "I had a terrific meeting and robust policy discussion with the President-elect. It was an honor to be considered for Treasury Secretary but I still have much work to do at Blackstone."[5] | |||
Secretary of Defense
The secretary of defense works with the president and the National Security Council to decide security needs and make necessary plans of action to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the country.[6]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Defense | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Jeff Sessions | Senator from Alabama | Politico | |
| Stephen Hadley | Former NSA advisor | Politico | |
| Jim Talent | Former Senator from Missouri | Politico | |
| Michael Flynn | Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | The New York Times | |
| Jon Kyl | Former Senator from Arizona | The New York Times | |
| Duncan Hunter | U.S. Representative from California | Buzzfeed | |
| Jim Woolsey | Former director of central intelligence | Politico | |
| Tom Cotton | U.S. Senator from Arkansas | The Washington Post | |
| Kelly Ayotte | Outgoing U.S. Senator from New Hampshire | The Washington Post | |
| Jack Keane* | Retired Army General | NPR | |
| James Mattis |
Retired Marine General | Politico | |
| Rick Perry | Former Gov. of Texas | Politico | |
| *According to NPR, Keane was offered the position but declined. | |||
Attorney General
The United States attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States Government and is in charge of the United States Department of Justice.
| Considered candidates for Attorney General | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Rudy Giuliani | Former mayor of New York City | ABC News | |
| Chris Christie | Gov. of New Jersey | ABC News | |
| Pam Bondi | Attorney General of Florida | Buzzfeed | |
| Trey Gowdy | U.S. Representative from South Carolina | ABC News | |
| Jeff Sessions |
Senator from Alabama | ABC News | |
| David Clarke Jr. | Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin | ABC News | |
| Kris Kobach | Kansas secretary of state | Politico | |
| Henry McMaster | Lt. Gov. of South Carolina | The State | |
Secretary of the Interior
The secretary of the interior is tasked with carrying out the department's mission to protect and manage the nation's natural resources and cultural heritage.[7]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of the Interior | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Forrest Lucas | Head of Lucas Oil | Buzzfeed | |
| Robert Grady | Hedge fund manager | Politico | |
| Donald Trump Jr. | Business developer | The Washington Post | |
| Sarah Palin | Former Gov. of Alaska | ABC News | |
| Mary Fallin | Gov. of Oklahoma | Buzzfeed | |
| Jan Brewer | Former Gov. of Arizona | Buzzfeed | |
| Cynthia Lummis | U.S. Representative from Wyoming | Buzzfeed | |
| Harold Hamm | CEO of Continental Resources, an oil company | Buzzfeed | |
| Newt Gingrich* | Former Speaker of the House | ABC News | |
| Richard Pombo | Former U.S. Representative from California | Politico | |
| Mead Treadwell | Former Lt. Gov. of Alaska | Politico | |
| Cathy McMorris Rodgers | U.S. Representative from Washington | The Wall Street Journal | |
| Raul Labrador | U.S. Representative from Idaho | Politico | |
| Ryan Zinke |
U.S. Representative from Montana | Politico | |
| *On November 22, 2016, Gingrich indicated to Politico that he would not seek an official White House role, saying, "I've told the President-elect for months that I want to do is sort of be a senior planner."[8] | |||
Secretary of Agriculture
The secretary of agriculture is tasked with providing leadership on "food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management."[9]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Agriculture | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Sam Brownback | Gov. of Kansas | The New York Times | |
| Chuck Conner | CEO of National Council of Farmer Cooperatives | The New York Times | |
| Sid Miller | Agriculture Commissioner of Texas | The New York Times | |
| Sonny Perdue |
Former Gov. of Georgia | The New York Times | |
| Dave Heineman | Former Gov. of Nebraska | Buzzfeed | |
| Rick Perry | Former Gov. of Texas | Politico | |
| Charles Herbster | Owner of Herbster Angus Farms | Politico | |
| Mike McCloskey | CEO of Select Milk Producers | Politico | |
| Bruce Rastetter | CEO of Summit Agricultural Group | Politico | |
| Kip Tom | Managing Member of Tom Farms | Politico | |
| Don Villwock | President of Indiana Farm Bureau | Politico | |
| Ted McKinney | Director of Indiana Department of Agriculture | Politico | |
| Heidi Heitkamp | U.S. Senator from North Dakota | Politico | |
| Butch Otter | Gov. of Idaho | Politico | |
| Susan Combs | Former Texas Secretary of Agriculture | Politico | |
Secretary of Commerce
The secretary of commerce oversees a department that is designed to promote trade and economic stability.[10]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Commerce | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Chris Christie | Gov. of New Jersey | The New York Times | |
| Dan DiMicco | Former CEO of Nucor, a steel company | The New York Times | |
| Lewis Eisenberg | Former chairman of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | The New York Times | |
| Carl Paladino | Real estate developer in Buffalo, New York | ABC News | |
| Anthony Scaramucci | Hedge fund manager | ABC News | |
| Ray Washburne | Real estate developer in Texas | ABC News | |
| Jack Welch | Former CEO of General Electric | ABC News | |
| David Perdue | Senator from Georgia | Buzzfeed | |
| Mike Huckabee | Former Gov. of Arkansas | Buzzfeed | |
| Jim Talent | Former Senator from Missouri | Buzzfeed | |
| Wilbur Ross |
Investor | Politico | |
| Rick Perry | Former Gov. of Texas | Politico | |
Secretary of Labor
The secretary of labor aims to help workers, job seekers, and retirees by creating standards for occupational safety, wages, hours and benefits and by compiling economic statistics.[11]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Labor during transition | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Victoria Lipnic | Commissioner of Equal Opportunity Employment Commission | Politico | |
| Andy Puzder |
Chief executive of CKE Restaurants | Politico | |
| Lou Barletta | U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania | Politico | |
Trump selected Andrew Puzder as his nominee on December 8, 2016. Puzder withdrew his nomination on February 15, 2017, following reports that he did not have sufficient support in the Republican-controlled Senate to be confirmed.[12][13]
The following individuals were reported to be in consideration for the position after Puzder's withdrawal.
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Labor, February 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Alexander Acosta |
Dean of Florida International University School of Law | Politico | |
| Peter Kirsanow | Former National Labor Relations Board member | Politico | |
| Catherine Templeton | Former South Carolina Director of Labor, Licensing and Regulation | Politico | |
| Joseph Guzman | Professor of Human Resources and Labor at at Michigan State University | Politico | |
Secretary of Health and Human Services
The secretary of health and human services advises the president on health, welfare, and income security plans, policies, and programs of the Federal Government.[14]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Health and Human Services | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Ben Carson* | Former neurosurgeon | The New York Times | |
| Mike Huckabee | Former Gov. of Arkansas | The New York Times | |
| Bobby Jindal | Former Gov. of Louisiana | The New York Times | |
| Rick Scott | Gov. of Florida, former executive at Hospital Corporation of America | The New York Times | |
| Newt Gingrich** | Former Speaker of the House | Buzzfeed | |
| Richard Bagger | Former New Jersey State Senator | Buzzfeed | |
| Tom Price |
U.S. Representative from Georgia | Politico | |
| *According to The Washington Times, Carson turned down an offer to be Health and Human Services secretary on November 15, 2016.[15] | |||
| **On November 22, 2016, Gingrich indicated to Politico that he would not seek an official White House role, saying, "I've told the President-elect for months that I want to do is sort of be a senior planner."[16] | |||
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
The secretary of housing and urban development is "responsible for programs concerned with the Nation's housing needs, fair housing opportunities, and improvement and development of the Nation's communities," according to the Federal Register.[17]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Pamela Patenaude | Director of Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Commission | Politico | |
| Scott Brown | Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts | Politico | |
| Rick Lazio | Former U.S. Representative from New York | Politico | |
| Bob Woodson | Head of Center for Neighborhood Enterprise | The Washington Post | |
| Ben Carson |
Former pediatric neurosurgeon | Politico | |
Secretary of Transportation
The secretary of transportation is responsible for overseeing national transportation policies; negotiating and implementing international transportation policies; regulating United States airlines; and issuing preventative regulations in transportation policy in regard to drug and alcohol abuse.[18]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Transportation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| John Mica | Outgoing U.S. Representative from Florida | Politico | |
| James Simpson | Former commissioner of New Jersey Department of Transportation | Politico | |
| Mark Rosenker | Former chairman of National Transportation Safety Board | Politico | |
| Harold Ford Jr. | Former U.S. Representative from Tennessee | Politico | |
| Elaine Chao |
Former Secretary of Labor | Politico | |
Secretary of Energy
The secretary of energy oversees scientific solutions to energy problems in a department originally designed to unite energy programs and defense programs related to the development of the atomic bomb. The Department of Energy is responsible for the nation's nuclear weapons program.[19]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Energy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| James Connaughton | Former environmental advisor to George W. Bush | The New York Times | |
| Robert Grady | Hedge fund manager | The New York Times | |
| Harold Hamm | CEO of Continental Resources, an oil company | The New York Times | |
| Sarah Palin | Former Gov. of Alaska | ABC News | |
| Kathleen Hartnett White | Former chair of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | ABC News | |
| Kevin Cramer | U.S. Representative from North Dakota | Politico | |
| Kristine Svinicki | Commissioner of U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission | Politico | |
| Rick Perry |
Former Gov. of Texas | Politico | |
| Joe Manchin | U.S. Senator from West Virginia | Politico | |
| Heidi Heitkamp | U.S. Senator from North Dakota | The Washington Post | |
Secretary of Education
The secretary of education is tasked with promoting what he or she sees as educational excellence and ensuring equal opportunity for public schooling.[20] The Department of Education is one governmental department that Trump indicated he would seek to reduce or possibly eliminate.[21]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Education | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Williamson Evers | Education fellow at Hoover Institution | Politico | |
| Ben Carson* | Former neurosurgeon | The New York Times | |
| Luke Messer | U.S. Representative from Indiana | Politico | |
| Tony Zeiss | Former president of Central Piedmont Community College (N.C.) | Politico | |
| Eva Moskowitz | Founder of Success Academy Charter Schools | Politico | |
| Michelle Rhee | Former chancellor of Washington, D.C. public schools | Politico | |
| Mitch Daniels | Former Gov. of Indiana | Politico | |
| Gerard Robinson | Education fellow at the American Enterprise Institute | Politico | |
| Tony Bennett | Former Indiana superintendent of public instruction | Politico | |
| Scott Walker | Gov. of Wisconsin | Politico | |
| Hanna Skandera | New Mexico Secretary of Education | Politico | |
| Betsy DeVos |
Education activist and philanthropist | Politico | |
| Kevin Chavous | Education activist | Politico | |
| *According to The Washington Post, Carson took himself out of consideration for a cabinet appointment on November 15, 2016, saying he would prefer "to work from the outside and not from the inside."[22] | |||
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
The secretary of veterans affairs is tasked with fulfilling the department's mission of "serving and honoring the men and women who are America's veterans."[23]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Jeff Miller | Former chair of House Veterans Affairs Committee | The New York Times | |
| Sam Clovis | Trump campaign co-chair | ABC News | |
| Michael Flynn | Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | ABC News | |
| Duncan Hunter | U.S. Representative from California | ABC News | |
| Joseph Keith Kellogg | Former Lieutenant General and Trump campaign advisor | ABC News | |
| David Petraeus | General | ABC News | |
| Scott Brown | Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts | Politico | |
| Sarah Palin | Former Gov. of Alaska | Politico | |
| Robert McDonald | Secretary of Veterans Affairs | The New York Times | |
| Pete Hegseth | Former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America | National Review | |
| Luis Quinonez | President of MAQ Diversified | Univision | |
| Toby Cosgrove | CEO of Cleveland Clinic | ABC News | |
| Thad Allen | Retired Coast Guard Admiral | Fox News | |
| Michelle Howard* | U.S. Naval Forces Commander in Europe | CNN | |
| Leo MacKay Jr. | Senior vice president at Lockheed Martin | The Washington Post | |
| David Shulkin |
Undersecretary for health at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | NPR | |
| *According to The Washington Post, Howard declined to pursue the position after meeting with Trump in December 2016.[24] | |||
Secretary of Homeland Security
The secretary of homeland security oversees the department's mission, which is to "prevent terrorism and enhance security; secure and manage our borders; enforce and administer our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters."[25]
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security, January 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Michael McCaul | U.S. Representative from Texas | Bloomberg | |
| Joe Arpaio | Outgoing sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona | The New York Times | |
| David Clarke Jr. | Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin | The New York Times | |
| Jeff Sessions | Senator from Alabama | The New York Times | |
| Richard Burr | Senator from North Carolina | ABC News | |
| Rudy Giuliani | Former mayor of New York City | ABC News | |
| Chris Christie | Gov. of New Jersey | Buzzfeed | |
| John Katko | U.S. Representative from New York | Politico | |
| John Kelly |
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General | Politico | |
Trump selected John Kelly, who was confirmed on January 20, 2017. Kelly became White House chief of staff on July 28, 2017. The following individuals were considered to replace Kelly at DHS.
| Considered candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security, July 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Kirstjen Nielsen |
Principal deputy chief of staff to White House chief of staff John Kelly | Politico | |
| Michael McCaul* | U.S. Representative from Texas | Politico | |
| Thomas Homan | Acting director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement | Newsmax | |
| Kris Kobach | Kansas secretary of state | Newsmax | |
| Jeff Sessions | Attorney general | CNN | |
| Elaine Duke | Acting secretary of homeland security | CNN | |
| Tom Cotton | Senator from Arkansas | CNN | |
| James Loy | Former deputy secretary of homeland security | CNN | |
| Rick Perry | Secretary of energy | CNN | |
| Rudy Giuliani | Former mayor of New York City | CNN | |
| Steve McCraw | Head of Texas Department of Public Safety | National Review | |
| Thad Allen | Former commandant of U.S. Coast Guard | National Review | |
| Bob Goodlatte | U.S. Representative from Virginia | National Review | |
| Jim Sensenbrenner | U.S. Representative from Wisconsin | National Review | |
| Trey Gowdy | U.S. Representative from South Carolina | National Review | |
| Jason Chaffetz | Former U.S. Representative from Utah | National Review | |
| Peter Nunez | Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement | National Review | |
| Tom Bossert | White House homeland security advisor | CBS News | |
| Peter King | U.S. Representative from New York | Politico | |
| *According to a Politico article on September 28, 2017, McCaul was removed from consideration because of administration concerns about McCaul's stances on immigration, which they considered to be divergent from Trump's.[26] | |||
Trump nominated Kirstjen Nielsen to replace Kelly on October 11, 2017.[27]
Cabinet-rank appointments
The following tables detail the leading candidates for Cabinet-rank positions as identified by notable, reliable sources during Donald Trump's presidential transition. These tables are divided based on potential administration roles. The leftmost column indicates the individual considered. The middle column details that individual's role notable experience prior to Cabinet consideration. The final column indicates the source linking each individual to the potential Cabinet position. More detailed profiles of individuals can be found by clicking the links in the leftmost column.
White House chief of staff
Reince Priebus, chair of the Republican National Committee, was appointed chief of staff on November 13, 2016.[28] Chief of staff is the only Cabinet-rank appointee not requiring confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
EPA administrator
The EPA administrator oversees a department that develops and enforces regulations; gives grants to nonprofit, educational institutions and state environmental agencies; studies environmental issues; publishes the agency's findings (as well as other educational materials) and sponsors partnerships.[29]
| Considered candidates for EPA Administrator | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Myron Ebell | Director at the Competitive Enterprise Institute | The New York Times | |
| Robert Grady | Hedge fund manager | The New York Times | |
| Jeffrey Holmstead | Former deputy EPA administrator for George W. Bush | The New York Times | |
| Joe Aiello | Director of New Jersey Department of Environmental Proection Divison of Environmental Safety and Quality Assurance | Politico | |
| Carol Comer | Commissioner of Indiana Department of Environmental Management | Politico | |
| Leslie Rutledge | Attorney General of Arkansas | Politico | |
| Mike Catanzaro | Former energy advisor to John Boehner | Politico | |
| Scott Pruitt |
Oklahoma Attorney General | Politico | |
Director of Office of Management and Budget
The director of the Office of Management and Budget is chiefly responsible for helping the president prepare and manage the federal budget across federal agencies.
| Considered candidates for Director of the Office of Management and Budget | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source |
| Mick Mulvaney |
U.S. Representative from South Carolina | CBS News |
| Gary Cohn* | President and COO of Goldman Sachs | The Wall Street Journal |
| David Malpass | President of Encima Global | The Wall Street Journal |
| *On December 13, 2016, Cohn was chosen to head the White House National Economic Council.[30] | ||
U.S. trade representative
The U.S. trade representative develops, implements, and recommends trade policy to the president.
| Considered candidates for U.S. Trade Representative | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Dan DiMicco | Former CEO of Nucor, a steel company | The New York Times | |
| Charles Boustany | Outgoing U.S. Representative from Louisiana | Politico | |
| Robert Lighthizer |
Trade lawyer and deputy USTR under President Ronald Reagan | Politico | |
| Wayne Berman | Lobbyist with Blackstone investment firm | Politico | |
| David McCormick | President of Bridgewater Associates, a global hedge fund | Politico | |
| Jovita Carranza | Former official in Small Business Administration | Politico | |
U.N. Ambassador
The U.N. ambassador heads the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, which assists the president and the Department of State in conducting United States policy at the United Nations.
| Considered candidates for U.N. Ambassador | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Nikki Haley |
Gov. of South Carolina | The Post and Courier | |
| Kelly Ayotte | Departing Senator from New Hampshire | The New York Times | |
| Richard Grenell | Former spokesman for U.N. Ambassador | The New York Times | |
Chair of Council of Economic Advisors
According to the White House, the Council of Economic Advisors is and agency "charged with offering the president objective economic advice on the formulation of both domestic and international economic policy."[31] The chair of the council has typically "provided expert economic advice to the president and attracts a staff of top-flight young economists," according to The Washington Post.[32]
| Considered candidates for Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source |
| Larry Kudlow | Former associate director for economics and planning in the Office of Management and Budget | The Washington Post |
| Kevin Hassett |
Director of research at American Enterprise Institute | Bloomberg |
Administrator of Small Business Administration
On December 7, 2016, Trump chose Linda McMahon, co-founder of WWE, the pro wrestling company, as his nominee to lead the Small Business Association.[33]
High-level appointments requiring Senate confirmation
The following tables detail the leading candidates for high-level appointments requiring Senate confirmation as identified by notable, reliable sources during Donald Trump's presidential transition. These tables are divided based on potential administration roles. The leftmost column indicates the individual considered. The middle column details that individual's role notable experience prior to Cabinet consideration. The final column indicates the source linking each individual to the potential Cabinet position. More detailed profiles of individuals can be found by clicking the links in the leftmost column.
Secretary of the Army
The secretary of the Army follows the direction of the secretary of defense on operations and activities regarding the responsibilities of the U.S. Army.
| Considered candidates for Secretary of the Army | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Van Hipp Jr. | Chairman of American Defense International | Politico | |
| Vincent Viola* | Founder of Virtu Financial | The New York Times | |
| Mark Green** | Tennessee State Senator | Knoxville News Sentinel | |
| Mark Esper |
Senior Executive at the Raytheon Company | U.S. Army | |
| *Viola was nominated on December 19, 2016, but withdrew his nomination on February 3, 2017, citing difficulties separating himself from his businesses. **Green withdrew his nomination on May 5, 2017, after receiving criticism concerning his past comments about LGBT issues and Muslims. | |||
National intelligence roles
National intelligence authority is overseen by two separate administrators, the Director of the CIA and the Director of National Intelligence. Both positions are tasked with working to preempt threats and further US national security objectives by collecting intelligence that matters.
| Considered candidates for National Intelligence roles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Mike Rogers | Former chair of House Intelligence Committee | CNN | |
| Peter Hoekstra | Former chair of House Intelligence Committee | The New York Times | |
| Michael Flynn | Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | The New York Times | |
| Frances Townsend | Former homeland security advisor for George W. Bush | The New York Times | |
| Rudy Giuliani | Former mayor of New York City | Politico | |
| Dan Coats** |
U.S. Senator from Indiana | Politico | |
| Mike Pompeo* |
U.S. Representative from Kansas | The New York Times | |
| *Pompeo was chosen as Trump's nominee to direct the CIA on November 18, 2016. | |||
| **Coats was chosen as Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence on January 7, 2017.[34] | |||
High-level appointments not requiring Senate confirmation
The following tables detail the leading candidates for high-level appointments not requiring Senate confirmation as identified by notable, reliable sources during Donald Trump's presidential transition. These tables are divided based on potential administration roles. The leftmost column indicates the individual considered. The middle column details that individual's role notable experience prior to Cabinet consideration. The final column indicates the source linking each individual to the potential Cabinet position. More detailed profiles of individuals can be found by clicking the links in the leftmost column.
National security advisor
The national security advisor is responsible for overseeing the National Security Council staff, chairing the National Security Principals Committee, providing the president with the daily national security briefing, and coordinating the administration’s foreign policy, intelligence, and military efforts.[35]
| Considered candidates for National Security Advisor | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Notable experience | Source | |
| Michael Flynn |
Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | The New York Times | |
| Mike Rogers | Former chair of House Intelligence Committee | ABC News | |
Footnotes
- ↑ The White House, "The Cabinet," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Giuliani pulls name from contention for secretary of state," December 9, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "JOE and MIKA: Trump WH will not pursue Clinton investigation -- TRUMP’s first 100 days: the power of the pen -- PELOSI’s pushback -- PENCE gets a round of applause at Martin’s in Georgetown -- ASHLEY PARKER to WaPo," November 22, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of the Treasury, "Department of the Treasury history," accessed September 27, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "Blackstone executive Jonathan Gray won't serve as Treasury secretary," November 23, 2016
- ↑ Defense.gov, "Department of Defense 101 Sections," accessed December 5, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of the Interior, "Strategic plan FY 2011-2016," accessed January 2, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "JOE and MIKA: Trump WH will not pursue Clinton investigation -- TRUMP’s first 100 days: the power of the pen -- PELOSI’s pushback -- PENCE gets a round of applause at Martin’s in Georgetown -- ASHLEY PARKER to WaPo," November 22, 2016
- ↑ Department of Agriculture, "Mission Statement," accessed January 14, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "Department of Commerce," accessed October 1, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Department of Labor, "U.S. Department of Labor Historical Timeline," accessed August 29, 2013
- ↑ The Hill, "Trump’s Labor nominee to withdraw: reports," February 15, 2017
- ↑ CNN, "Source: Puzder hearing expected to be canceled as Republicans bolt," February 15, 2017
- ↑ HHS.gov, "Guide to Information Resources," accessed August 11, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Times, "Ben Carson rejects job in Trump administration, says he can ‘best serve’ on the outside," November 15, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "JOE and MIKA: Trump WH will not pursue Clinton investigation -- TRUMP’s first 100 days: the power of the pen -- PELOSI’s pushback -- PENCE gets a round of applause at Martin’s in Georgetown -- ASHLEY PARKER to WaPo," November 22, 2016
- ↑ Federal Register, "Housing and Urban Development Department," accessed June 20, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of Transportation, "Office of the Secretary," accessed December 31, 2013
- ↑ Energy.gov, "A Brief History of the Department of Energy," accessed October 7, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "About Ed: Overview and Mission Statement," accessed October 2, 2013
- ↑ YouTube, "Donald Trump at the SC Tea Party Convention," accessed June 18, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Ben Carson is unlikely to serve in Trump’s Cabinet," November 15, 2016
- ↑ Department of Veterans Affairs, "About VA," accessed January 10, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Why Trump still hasn’t named a leader for the Department of Veterans Affairs," January 9, 2017
- ↑ Department of Homeland Security, "Our Mission," accessed August 27, 2013
- ↑ Politico, "White House ‘back to square one’ in search for DHS secretary," September 28, 2017
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of Homeland Security," October 11, 2017
- ↑ The New York Times, "Donald Trump Picks Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff," November 13, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Our Mission and What We Do," accessed March 14, 2014
- ↑ Fortune, "Donald Trump Taps Goldman Sachs COO Gary Cohn for Key Economic Post," December 13, 2016
- ↑ The White House, "About CEA," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump considers financial pundit Larry Kudlow for Council of Economic Advisors," December 15, 2016
- ↑ CNBC, "Trump picks wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration," December 7, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "Dan Coats Announced as Trump's Pick for Director of National Intelligence," January 7, 2017
- ↑ White House, "Ambassador Susan Rice," accessed January 9, 2017
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