Today's Edition
Washington (AFP)
US President-elect Donald Trump is handing top roles for his future White House to a mix of political allies, firebrands and a few relatively conventional figures.
These are the key nominations, some requiring potentially difficult Senate confirmations -- unless Trump can circumvent scrutiny through a process called recess appointments.
Health Secretary
RFK Jr. -Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a longtime health and environmental campaigner.
'Government Efficiency'
Elon Musk -Musk, the world's richest man, was tapped to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy Trump ally, Vivek Ramaswamy.
Musk says he is targeting $2 trillion in cuts from the federal government's $7 trillion budget, without explaining how.
Secretary of State
Marco Rubio -Trump tapped the Florida senator to be top diplomat.
Defense Secretary
Pete Hegseth -Fox News host and National Guard veteran Hegseth was nominated to lead the world's most powerful military, despite a slim CV.
Hegseth joined Fox News in 2014 and hosts a weekend program. The Pentagon employs some 2.9 million people.
National Security Advisor
Mike Waltz - Congressman and former special forces officer Waltz has been tapped as Trump's top White House foreign policy advisor.
CIA Director
John Ratcliffe -Ratcliffe, who was director of national intelligence at the tumultuous end of Trump's first term, has been tapped to lead the Central Intelligence Agency.
He is seen as somewhat of an institutionalist and a relatively safe pair of hands.
Director of National Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard -Gabbard, a former Hawaii congresswoman, switched sides from the Democrats to back Trump's reelection.
As director of national intelligence, she'd oversee coordination of the 18 intelligence agencies.
Attorney General
Matt Gaetz -A pro-Trump firebrand in Congress.
On Thursday, Trump named his personal attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove as deputies to Gaetz.
John Sauer, who represented Trump during his successful presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court, was also tapped as solicitor general.
Homeland Security Secretary
Kristi Noem -South Dakota Governor Noem, a longtime Trump loyalist, would play a key role in any Trump effort to restrict immigration and deport undocumented migrants.
Veteran immigration official Tom Homan is set to be the country's "border czar."
Secretary of the Interior
Doug Burgum -North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a billionaire businessman-turned-politician like Trump, was picked to lead the Department of the Interior, which oversees federal lands, including their oil and gas production.
Burgum ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary and was on the shortlist of his potential vice presidential picks.
UN Ambassador
Elise Stefanik -New York congresswoman Stefanik is a vocal Trump ally. She was among the first to be nominated as the president-elect rolled out his choices.
Others
Environmental Protection Agency: Former congressman Lee Zeldin.
White House Chief of Staff: Trump campaign manager Susie Wiles.
Veterans Affairs secretary: Iraq war veteran and former Georgia congressman Doug Collins.
Treasury, Commerce, Education, Agriculture: No announcement yet.
