President-elect Donald Trump is quickly assembling his Cabinet and group of senior aides for the next administration, and in the process is roiling Washington with some controversial figures.
Trump announced a flurry of nominations and appointments in his first full week as president-elect, leaving lawmakers scrambling to respond.
Here are five takeaways from the Trump Cabinet so far.
President Trump prioritizes loyalty
The president-elect has long made it clear that loyalty is paramount to those in his orbit, and his past cabinet appointments are a sign that he is rewarding those who have been on his side. .
Nearly every nominee or appointee Trump has made to date has been someone who has defended the president-elect in some way, supported him on the campaign trail, or stood by him during turbulent times.
The four cabinet nominees – Rep. Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.) for ambassador to the United Nations, Lee Zeldin for head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Doug Collins for secretary of Veterans Affairs, and John Ratcliffe for CIA director – are in 2020. He was a member of the impeachment defense team in 2017.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) has been one of Trump's brashest and most vocal defenders since 2016. Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress when Trump shook Washington by nominating the Florida Republican as his attorney general nominee.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard became prominent surrogates for Trump on the campaign trail after supporting him as former Democrats. And Trump's personal criminal lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emile Bove, were selected for top positions at the Justice Department after representing Trump in his hush money trial earlier this year.
The assembled administration is a far cry from the “rival teams” that formed the first group of senior officials during President Trump's first term.
“This certainly seems like a close-knit group,” Marc Short, Trump's first legislative director, said on MSNBC. “They may not like the people who are coming forward, but at the same time I think they acted very quickly.”
Some candidates undermine the agencies they are tasked with leading.
Several Cabinet nominees have used rhetoric in the past that undermines the mission of the agency they were tapped to lead.
Gabbard, a former Democratic lawmaker who was selected as director of national intelligence, has been accused of parroting Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine and of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, who has been involved in the use of chemical weapons against civilians. He refuses to label him as a war criminal.
Gaetz has called for defunding the FBI in the past. Laws introduced That would have abolished the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Both agencies are housed within the Department of Justice and will fall under his authority as Attorney General.
Pete Hegseth was nominated by President Trump to head the Department of Defense. be monitored For writing in a book published earlier this year that women are less suitable for combat roles than men. He was also critical of the Pentagon's efforts to embrace diversity and equity. If confirmed, Hegseth will oversee millions of men and women employed by the Department of Defense.
And Mr. Kennedy, who was chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has been Spreading anti-vaccine conspiraciespromoted the consumption of raw milk and promoted unproven COVID-19 treatments like ivermectin. If approved, Mr. Kennedy would have broad authority over the nation's health authorities and regulatory agencies, which approve vaccines, administer Medicare and Medicaid, and research treatments for various diseases.
Faster pace and clearer vision than in 2016
When Mr. Trump won the White House in 2016, he and his team appeared to have lost ground and were slow to ramp up efforts to staff the new administration.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) was ousted as transition manager shortly after the election, and Trump paraded candidates in and out of Trump Tower as reporters looked on. He did not reveal the names of his first ministerial candidates until November 18, 2016, 10 days after the election.
By contrast, President Trump has moved quickly to name not just key Cabinet members, but also second-level Justice Department officials and senior White House officials, all within about a week of his victory over Vice President Harris. .
Allies took this as a clear sign that Trump knows what he wants this time.
Sean Spicer, who served as White House press secretary during Trump's first term, said: “I think the transition is clearly in a better place than in 2016, because those four years in the wilderness were not wasted.'' .
“The plans, the people, the processes are all well thought out, and the people surrounding him right now are all very committed to advancing the agenda,” he continued. “He no longer has to question their commitment to the agenda.”
Tests await Senate confirmation.
President Trump's nominees, particularly Gates, Gabbard and Kennedy, will be a test for Senate Republicans and a barometer of how independent these senators intend to be from the president-elect.
Republicans are poised to gain 53 seats in the Senate starting in January, meaning President Trump can afford to defect from the party three times, assuming no Democratic support. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) will break the 50-50 split.
Senators in particular often talk about the importance of a serious institution and a check on the House and the executive. But Trump's convincing election victory could increase pressure on lawmakers to comply with the president-elect's wishes.
Even before he released his name, Trump launched a pressure campaign on Senate Republicans to approve the recess appointments no matter who leads the party, a move that has sparked controversy for the president. This effectively bypasses the candidate approval process.
Sen. John Thune (R.S.D.), who was elected Republican leader this week, has not ruled out recessing the session, but he believes that enough Republican opposition could make it procedurally difficult. He also admits that there is.
“This is all a process. But I don't think any of these things are necessarily unexpected. I think you have to keep all options on the table,” Thune told Fox News. told.
“And these candidates deserve their day in court. They deserve a hearing, a confirmation hearing, an opportunity for scrutiny,” he added. “And the Senate will carry out its constitutional role with advice and consent.”
Important position will continue
While many of the most high-profile candidates have already been announced, there are still several cabinet-level positions and top White House positions that President Trump is expected to fill in the coming days.
Most notable is his economic team. Trump still has to announce his picks for Treasury secretary, commerce secretary and U.S. trade representative.
Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick are believed to be the finalists for the Treasury Department, while Robert Lighthizer, who served as trade representative during President Trump's first term and is a strong supporter of tariffs, is a new candidate. He is likely to get a job in the government.
There are also openings available in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Trump pledged during his campaign to shut down the Department of Education, but that would require approval from Congress. It is unclear whether Mr. Trump intends to nominate a head of the department for the time being.
