Donald Trump, the newly elected president, is wasting no time building his team as he prepares for his return to the White House. On Friday, Trump announced a series of big-name appointments, including billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as his pick for treasury secretary. Bessent is known for his focus on cutting government spending and reducing the national debt, which he once called a top priority for the country.
Trump also tapped Russell Vought to head the Office of Management and Budget, a role Vought held during Trump’s first term. Vought is a staunch conservative with a strong stance on reducing federal spending. These two picks show Trump’s efforts to balance different ideas while pursuing an economic agenda that includes tax cuts, lower government spending, and tariffs aimed at boosting American industries.
Bessent, 62, is a seasoned Wall Street veteran who once worked for George Soros. He founded his own hedge fund and is known for his strategic thinking, including his role in a famous 1992 bet against the British pound that made massive profits. If confirmed, he’ll be the first openly gay treasury secretary. Bessent has said the U.S. needs to tackle its national debt and even called this election cycle the “last chance” to avoid becoming a debt-ridden economy like some European countries. Despite advocating for spending cuts, he supports extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which are set to expire in 2025.
Meanwhile, Russell Vought, 48, is a familiar face in Trump’s circle. After serving in Trump’s first term, he founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank focused on ending what he calls “woke and weaponized government.” Vought has bold plans to slash government spending by over $11 trillion over the next decade, including cuts to programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and food aid. His ideas reflect his belief that the government has strayed from serving the people and needs to be reined in.
But Trump didn’t stop there. He announced Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican congresswoman from Oregon, as his pick for labor secretary. She’s a rare Republican with strong ties to labor unions and has supported legislation that strengthens workers’ rights. Trump said she’ll play a key role in uniting Americans behind his vision of economic success.
In health and national security, Trump unveiled even more picks. Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News contributor and family doctor, will be nominated as surgeon general. Dr. Dave Weldon, a former congressman, will head the CDC, while Johns Hopkins surgeon Dr. Marty Makary is slated to lead the FDA. These appointments, along with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, show Trump’s focus on shaking up the health system.
Trump’s picks for national security roles include Alex Wong as a deputy national security adviser and Sebastian Gorka as a counterterrorism director. Wong is known for his work on Asia policy, while Gorka, a conservative commentator, is returning after a brief stint in Trump’s first term.
One appointment sure to grab attention is Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who will take on a role focused on improving government efficiency. Musk’s innovative thinking is expected to bring fresh ideas to Washington.
With these announcements, Trump is rapidly assembling his Cabinet, blending familiar faces from his first term with some fresh names. His choices reflect his goals of cutting costs, boosting the economy, and shaking up Washington. Whether or not his nominees get confirmed by the Senate, Trump is clearly determined to hit the ground running.
Here’s a list of Donald Trump’s announced Cabinet picks and key roles for his administration:
- Scott Bessent – Treasury Secretary
- Russell Vought – Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- Pam Bondi – Attorney General
- Matt Whitaker – U.S. Ambassador to NATO
- Linda McMahon – Secretary of Education
- Mehmet Oz – Administrator of Medicare & Medicaid
- Howard Lutnick – Secretary of Commerce
- Sean Duffy – Secretary of Transportation
- Chris Wright – Secretary of Energy
- Doug Burgum – Secretary of the Interior
- Doug Collins – Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Tulsi Gabbard – Director of National Intelligence
- Marco Rubio – Secretary of State
- Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense
- Kristi Noem – Secretary of Homeland Security
- Lee Zeldin – EPA Administrator
- Elise Stefanik – U.N. Ambassador
- John Ratcliffe – CIA Director
- J.D. Vance – Vice President
- Susie Wiles – Chief of Staff
- Tom Homan – “Border Czar”
- Stephen Miller – Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
- Mike Waltz – National Security Adviser
- Mike Huckabee – U.S. Ambassador to Israel
- Steven Witkoff – Special Envoy to the Middle East
- Dan Scavino – Deputy White House Chief of Staff
- Elon Musk – Government Efficiency Role
- Vivek Ramaswamy – Government Efficiency Role
Health Team Additions:
- Dr. Janette Nesheiwat – Surgeon General
- Dr. Dave Weldon – CDC Director
- Dr. Marty Makary – FDA Director
Labor and Housing Picks:
- Lori Chavez-DeRemer – Labor Secretary
- Scott Turner – Housing Secretary
National Security Roles:
- Alex Wong – Principal Deputy National Security Adviser
- Sebastian Gorka – Senior Director for Counterterrorism
These selections reflect Trump’s push to build a team focused on cutting costs, bolstering economic growth, and reshaping government operations.
