President-elect Trump will appoint retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as 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.
President-elect Trump Considerations & Appointed for Cabinet Positions
©Natalie Keshing
Editor-in-Chief
http://www.natswritings.com
About Natalie Keshing
Director of the CIA Mike Pompeo
Attorney General Jeff Sessions
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 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 |
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 |
*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.”[1] |
Secretary of Homeland Security
The Secretary of Homeland Security oversees the department’s mission, which is to prevent terrorism and enhancing security; secure and manage our borders; enforce and administer our immigration laws; safeguard and secure cyberspace; and ensure resilience to disasters.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Homeland Security | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Secretary of Defense James S Mattis
The Secretary of Defense works with the president and the National Security Council to decide security needs, as well as necessary plans of action to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of the country.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Defense | |||
---|---|---|---|
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. |
Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of the Treasury | |||
---|---|---|---|
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.”[2] |
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of the Interior | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 | |
*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 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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Agriculture | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
The Secretary of Commerce oversees a department that is designed to promote trade and economic stability.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Commerce | |||
---|---|---|---|
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Labor | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price
The Secretary of Health and Human Services advises the president on health, welfare, and income security plans, policies, and programs of the Federal Government.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Health and Human Services | |||
---|---|---|---|
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.[4] | |||
**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.”[5] |
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Energy | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 Education Betsy DeVos
The Secretary of Education is tasked with promoting educational excellence and ensuring equal opportunity for public schooling. The Department of Education is one governmental department that Trump indicated he would seek to reduce or possibly eliminate.[6]
Considered candidates for Secretary of Education | |||
---|---|---|---|
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.”[7] |
Secretary of Transportation Elaine L Chao
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.
Considered candidates for Secretary of Transportation | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Van Hipp Jr. | Chairman of American Defense International | Politico |
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
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.
Considered candidates for E.P.A. Administrator | |||
---|---|---|---|
Myron Ebell | Director 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 |
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Dan DiMicco | Former CEO of Nucor, a steel company | The New York Times | |
Charles Boustany | Outgoing U.S. Representative from Louisiana | Politico |
U.N. Ambassador Nikki R Haley
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
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 | |||
---|---|---|---|
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 |
National Security Advisor Mike Finn
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.
Considered candidates for National Security Advisor | |||
---|---|---|---|
Michael Flynn | Former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency | The New York Times | |
Mike Rogers | Former chair of House Intelligence Committee | ABC News |
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Politico, “Blackstone executive Jonathan Gray won’t serve as Treasury secretary,” November 23, 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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