What is the Presidential Cabinet?
The President’s Cabinet serves as an advisory board for the President. It is made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. These members are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate by a majority vote to confirm the nomination.
Trump is currently in the process of announcing his cabinet nominations. Some of the major positions he has announced so far include Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Homeland Security, Director of National Intelligence, and Attorney General.
Secretary of State
The Secretary of State is the head of the Department of State, whose role is to develop and implement foreign policy. The Secretary serves the President as their top foreign policy advisor and executes the President’s foreign policy. This department represents the United States in communications with foreign nations, develops foreign assistance and military training programs, works to combat international crime, and negotiates and interprets treaties and agreements.
Marco Rubio was announced as Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State. In response to his nomination, Rubio promised to “deliver peace through strength” and to place the “interest of Americans and America above all else.” Rubio currently serves as a Senator from Florida and previously served as a member of Florida’s House of Representatives. He currently serves on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Rubio has taken hard-line stances against China, stating in a Washington Post op-ed that China is the “largest, most advanced adversary America has ever faced.” He has promoted tariffs, technology restriction requirements, and trade barriers against China. On Gaza, Rubio has consistently supported “Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas” and denied support for a ceasefire. On immigration, Rubio supports strong border protections and the deportation of illegal immigrants, claiming that America is being “invaded.”
Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head of the Department of Defense, whose role within the Executive Branch is to bolster national security. The Department of Defense aims to protect national interest through war-fighting, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief services. The Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Pentagon all fall under the Department’s purview. The Defense Secretary is the President’s top advisor, and oversees the nation’s armed forces as. Their authority is second only to the Commander in Chief (President).
Trump named political commentator and Fox News Anchor Pete Hegseth as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth currently hosts the show Fox and Friends Weekend and has appeared on other Fox News daytime and primetime shows. He previously served in the Army as an Infantry Officer in the National Guard. Additionally, Hegseth formerly served as CEO of the veterans advocacy group Concerned Veterans for America. When speaking on the podcast The Shawn Ryan Show, Hegseth stated his belief that “[America] should not have women in combat roles” as he believes men are “more capable.” Additionally, he stated that he wanted to fire army generals who support “any of the DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion]” and he supports a “frontal assault” on DEI policies. He has also stated that the U.S. military would be more effective if it were to create a “real threat of violence.”
Secretary of Homeland Security
As the head of the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Homeland Security advises the President on how to protect the American people from foreign and domestic threats. This department is responsible for preventing terrorist attacks, protecting infrastructure, facilitating trade and travel, responding to natural disasters, and regulating the migration of people in and out of the country. Agencies under the department include U.S Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, FEMA, and Cybersecurity.
Kristi Noem was recently named the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security. She currently serves as the Governor of South Dakota and previously served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the South Dakota House of Representatives. In his statement announcing Noem’s nomination, Trump stated that Noem “has been very strong on border security” and will protect America “from our adversaries.” In response to her nomination, Noem issued a statement promising to “secure our homeland” and falsely condemned illegal immigration alone for “[driving] up crime in the country” and increasing “drugs and human trafficking.”
Director of National Intelligence
The role of the Director of National Intelligence is to advise the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council on national security matters. Additionally, the Director oversees the Intelligence Community’s 18 agencies including the CIA and NSA.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives and ran for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2020 before leaving the party in 2022 to become independent and joining the Republican Party in 2024. Gabbard currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as Lieutenant Colonel.
Attorney General
The Attorney General serves as the head of the Department of Justice and acts as the chief law enforcement officer for the federal government. The Attorney General represents the U.S. in all legal matters.
President-Elect Trump recently nominated Pam Bondi for Attorney General, praising her for work to “stop the trafficking of deadly drugs” and “reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths.” Bondi previously served as Florida’s first woman attorney general. She also worked as a defense lawyer for Trump in 2020 during his first impeachment trial. She currently serves as the Chair of the Center for Litigation for America First Policy Institute, a conservative nonprofit think tank. In November, she filed an amicus curiae brief to appeal the special counsel’s classified documents case against Trump, arguing that the special counsel was unlawfully appointed.
Before nominating Bondi, Trump had first nominated Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. Upon the news of his initial nomination, Gaetz announced his resignation from the House effective immediately. Since 2021, Gaetz has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee on allegations that he “engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use,” used campaign funds for personal use, and accepted bribes. Gaetz has denied all allegations. This past Wednesday, the bi-partisan ethics committee met to discuss whether or not the investigation report should be released to the public. The ethics committee could not come to an agreement about releasing the report, which may force the House to vote on its release. In light of the controversy, Gaetz withdrew from the Attorney General nomination on November 21st. He has since clarified that he does not plan on re-joining Congress.
