Donald Trumps Cabinet

Donald Trump’s 1st and 2nd Cabinets

Donald Trump’s 1st Cabinet (2017-2021)

Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States (2017–2021), presided over one of the most controversial and polarizing administrations in modern American history. His presidency was marked by significant policy shifts, unconventional governance, and an overarching promise to “Make America Great Again.” Donald Trump’s cabinet was central to implementing his agenda, a team composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds, including corporate executives, military leaders, and political outsiders.

The Role of Donald Trump’s Cabinet

Trump’s cabinet played a crucial role in advancing his priorities, which ranged from deregulation and tax reform to immigration and foreign policy. Unlike traditional administrations, Trump often bypassed cabinet members, relying heavily on a close circle of advisors and unconventional decision-making processes. Nevertheless, his cabinet members were instrumental in executing his vision for governance, often reflecting his preference for bold, disruptive approaches to long-standing issues.

Cabinet Positions and Members

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State manages foreign relations and advises the president on international matters.

  • Rex Tillerson (1 Feb 2017 – 31 Mar 2018): A former ExxonMobil CEO, Tillerson sought to modernize the State Department but clashed with Trump over foreign policy decisions.
  • Mike Pompeo (26 Apr 2018 – 20 Jan 2021): Pompeo prioritized a hardline stance on China, Iran, and North Korea while championing the Abraham Accords in the Middle East (Pompeo, 2023).

Secretary of the Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury oversees federal finances, economic policy, and fiscal management.

  • Steven Mnuchin (13 Feb 2017 – 20 Jan 2021): Mnuchin played a central role in implementing Trump’s tax reform, managing economic stimulus efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and negotiating trade deals (Mnuchin, 2022).

Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense oversees national security and military operations.

  • James Mattis (20 Jan 2017 – 31 Dec 2018): A retired Marine Corps general, Mattis emphasized rebuilding military readiness but resigned over disagreements with Trump’s foreign policy.
  • Patrick Shanahan (Acting: 1 Jan 2019 – 23 Jun 2019): Shanahan focused on defense modernization during his brief tenure.
  • Mark Esper (15 Jul 2019 – 9 Nov 2020): Esper oversaw military operations during heightened tensions with Iran and implemented reforms within the Department of Defense.
  • Christopher C. Miller (Acting: 9 Nov 2020 – 20 Jan 2021): Miller managed defense transitions during the final months of Trump’s presidency (Mattis, 2019).

Attorney General

The Attorney General provides legal counsel to the president and executive departments.

  • Jeff Sessions (9 Feb 2017 – 7 Nov 2018): Sessions focused on immigration enforcement and criminal justice reforms but recused himself from the Russia investigation, leading to friction with Trump.
  • William Barr (14 Feb 2019 – 23 Dec 2020): Barr oversaw the Justice Department’s response to the Mueller investigation and defended Trump’s executive authority.
  • Jeffrey Rosen (Acting: 24 Dec 2020 – 20 Jan 2021): Rosen managed legal affairs during a contentious post-election period (Barr, 2022).

Secretary of the Interior

The Secretary of the Interior oversees domestic affairs, including land management and Native American relations.

  • Ryan Zinke (1 Mar 2017 – 2 Jan 2019): Zinke prioritized resource development but faced ethics investigations.
  • David Bernhardt (11 Apr 2019 – 20 Jan 2021): Bernhardt focused on expanding energy exploration on public lands.

Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary of Agriculture oversees agricultural policies and programs.

  • Sonny Perdue (25 Apr 2017 – 20 Jan 2021): Perdue supported trade negotiations benefiting farmers and implemented reforms to strengthen rural economies (Mnuchin, 2022).

Secretary of Commerce

The Secretary of Commerce oversees economic development and trade.

  • Wilbur Ross (28 Feb 2017 – 20 Jan 2021): Ross played a significant role in trade negotiations, including renegotiating NAFTA to create the USMCA.

Secretary of Labor

The Secretary of Labor oversees labor relations, workplace policies, and employment.

  • Alexander Acosta (28 Apr 2017 – 19 Jul 2019): Acosta managed workforce training initiatives and deregulation efforts.
  • Eugene Scalia (30 Sep 2019 – 20 Jan 2021): Scalia emphasized reducing regulatory burdens on businesses (Pompeo, 2023).

Secretary of Health and Human Services

The Secretary of Health and Human Services oversees public health, education, and social services.

  • Tom Price (10 Feb 2017 – 29 Sep 2017): Price resigned following scrutiny over travel expenses.
  • Alex Azar (29 Jan 2018 – 20 Jan 2021): Azar managed the administration’s response to the opioid crisis and COVID-19 pandemic.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development oversees urban development and housing programs.

  • Ben Carson (2 Mar 2017 – 20 Jan 2021): Carson focused on reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing and addressing homelessness (Mattis, 2019).

Secretary of Transportation

The Secretary of Transportation oversees national transportation systems and policies.

  • Elaine Chao (31 Jan 2017 – 11 Jan 2021): Chao managed infrastructure initiatives and deregulation efforts but resigned after the January 6 Capitol riots.

Secretary of Energy

The Secretary of Energy oversees energy policy and development.

  • Rick Perry (2 Mar 2017 – 1 Dec 2019): Perry supported energy independence and nuclear energy development.
  • Dan Brouillette (4 Dec 2019 – 20 Jan 2021): Brouillette advanced energy innovation and international energy cooperation.

Secretary of Education

The Secretary of Education oversees national education policy and federal educational programs.

  • Betsy DeVos (7 Feb 2017 – 8 Jan 2021): DeVos championed school choice and deregulated higher education but faced criticism over policies affecting student borrowers.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs oversees services and programs for military veterans.

  • David Shulkin (13 Feb 2017 – 28 Mar 2018): Shulkin expanded veterans’ access to private healthcare but was dismissed following policy disagreements.
  • Robert Wilkie (30 Jul 2018 – 20 Jan 2021): Wilkie implemented reforms to improve VA healthcare delivery (Barr, 2022).

Secretary of Homeland Security

The Secretary of Homeland Security oversees domestic security and counterterrorism.

  • John F. Kelly (20 Jan 2017 – 31 Jul 2017): Kelly prioritized immigration enforcement and border security.
  • Kirstjen Nielsen (6 Dec 2017 – 10 Apr 2019): Nielsen managed border security during a period of increased migrant arrivals.
  • Chad Wolf (Acting: 13 Nov 2019 – 20 Jan 2021): Wolf oversaw responses to civil unrest and election security concerns.

Key Achievements of Donald Trump’s Cabinet

Economic Growth and Deregulation

Mnuchin and Ross oversaw significant tax reforms and trade agreements, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the USMCA, which redefined trade relations in North America.

National Security

Pompeo and Esper strengthened U.S. foreign policy through the Abraham Accords and military operations against ISIS leaders.

COVID-19 Response

Azar and Mnuchin coordinated economic and public health responses to the pandemic, including Operation Warp Speed, which accelerated vaccine development.

Immigration Reform

Sessions, Nielsen, and Wolf implemented policies to strengthen border security and address illegal immigration, reflecting Trump’s focus on national sovereignty.

Final Summary

Donald Trump’s cabinet, composed of figures like Mike Pompeo, Steven Mnuchin, and Betsy DeVos, played a central role in advancing his administration’s bold and often controversial agenda. Despite facing significant challenges, including a global pandemic and deep political divisions, the cabinet’s efforts left a lasting impact on U.S. policy and governance. To learn more about President Donald Trump, please visit his presidential page.

Donald Trump’s 2nd Cabinet (2025- )

President Donald J. Trump’s Second Cabinet (2025): Composition, Confirmations, and Early Priorities

When Donald J. Trump was inaugurated for his second term on January 20, 2025, his administration moved quickly to fill the executive branch’s top leadership posts. Cabinets do more than staff departments: they translate a president’s priorities into policy, administration, and daily governance. For the Trump 2025 administration, the selection of cabinet and cabinet-level officials reflected a blend of political loyalty, private sector executives, and high-profile political figures who had been prominent in the 2024 campaign and earlier GOP politics. This article examines the composition of the cabinet that began in January–February 2025, the Senate confirmation outcomes, biographical and functional notes for each cabinet position, the confirmation fights and controversies that accompanied several nominations, and the early policy signals that emerged from the full slate of appointees. Sources include Senate confirmation records, official White House announcements, and major contemporary news reporting.

Historical and Political Context

Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 came after a highly polarized 2024 election cycle. Heading into a second term, the president prioritized personnel who were either campaign allies, ideological allies, or private-sector executives perceived as effective managers. The resulting cabinet was both a reflection of internal White House priorities—economics, energy independence, reshaping regulatory agencies—and of strategic political calculations about who could be confirmed by a Senate that was closely divided. Early confirmations were expedited for certain national-security posts to ensure continuity of operations as the administration assumed office.

Composition of the Cabinet (department heads and major cabinet-level officials)

Note: Cabinet-level positions and the exact set of offices designated “cabinet-level” can vary by president. The list below follows the positions President Trump filled and for which the Senate provided advice and consent during January–March 2025, supplemented by official acting designations announced on Inauguration Day.

Department heads (selected positions)

  • Secretary of State: Marco Rubio — Confirmed by the Senate and sworn in January 21, 2025. Rubio’s unanimous confirmation underscored early bipartisan acceptance for this top diplomatic post.
  • Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessent — Confirmed by the Senate and sworn in January 28, 2025. Bessent, a Wall-Street investor and former Soros Fund chief investment officer, was widely reported as Trump’s choice to manage the fiscal agenda and to advise on tax and debt decisions early in the term.
  • Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth — Confirmed by a narrowly divided Senate vote and sworn in January 25, 2025. Hegseth’s confirmation was notable for a tie-breaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance after a 50–50 Senate split. His nomination drew intense scrutiny and opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.
  • Attorney General: Pam Bondi — Confirmed and sworn in February 5, 2025. Bondi, a former state attorney general and leading conservative political figure, was tapped to oversee Justice Department priorities and litigation strategy.
  • Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum — Confirmed and sworn in January 30, 2025. Burgum, the former governor and technology/entrepreneur leader, was positioned to pursue the administration’s energy and land-use priorities.
  • Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick — Confirmed and sworn in February 21, 2025. Lutnick, the Cantor Fitzgerald CEO, brought private-sector financial leadership to Commerce.
  • Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — Confirmed 52–48 by the Senate and sworn in February 13, 2025. Kennedy’s appointment was one of the most closely watched and politically controversial given his prior public positions on vaccines and public-health issues.
  • Secretary of Transportation: Sean Duffy — Confirmed and sworn in January 28, 2025. Duffy was a former congressman whose confirmation was recorded in Senate roll calls.
  • Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright — Confirmed and sworn in February 3, 2025. Wright, described in reporting as an energy-sector executive, was expected to prioritize domestic energy production policies.
  • Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon — Confirmed and sworn in March 3, 2025. McMahon—a prior SBA administrator and business leader—returned to a cabinet post focused on education policy and school choice initiatives.
  • Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Doug Collins — Confirmed and sworn in February 5, 2025. Collins’s role focused on delivery of VA benefits and continued reform priorities for the department.
  • Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem — Confirmed and sworn in January 25, 2025. Noem’s selection signaled continuity on the administration’s emphasis on immigration enforcement and border policy.
  • Secretary of Labor: Lori Chavez-DeRemer — Confirmed and sworn in March 10, 2025. Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation followed committee hearings focusing on workforce and regulatory priorities.
  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Scott Turner — Confirmed and sworn in February 5, 2025. Turner’s portfolio included housing policy, urban development, and homelessness programs.
  • Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins — Confirmed and sworn in February 13, 2025. Rollins, associated with conservative policy institutes, took on agricultural support, trade, and rural policy initiatives.

    Selected cabinet-level officials and agency heads
  • Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Lee Zeldin — Confirmed and sworn in January 29, 2025. Zeldin’s appointment signaled the administration’s priorities to reform or roll back certain regulatory programs and to emphasize energy production. (
  • Director, Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Russell Vought — Confirmed 53–47 and sworn in February 7, 2025. Vought’s selection aligned with fiscal priorities and Project 2025 personnel proposals.
  • Director of National Intelligence (DNI): Tulsi Gabbard — Confirmed and sworn in February 12, 2025. The DNI nomination placed a former Democratic congresswoman in a top intelligence role after a closely contested confirmation.
  • U.S. Trade Representative (USTR): Jamieson Greer — Confirmed February 26, 2025. Greer was charged with trade negotiations and U.S. commercial strategy with partners such as China, the EU, and North American neighbors.
  • Administrator, Small Business Administration (SBA): Kelly Loeffler — Confirmed and sworn in February 19, 2025. Loeffler’s confirmation to a cabinet-level SBA role reflected outreach to business constituencies.
  • United States Ambassador to the United Nations (cabinet-level selection): Mike Waltz — Nominated and later confirmed in 2025 (confirmation press reports indicate a later September 2025 confirmation). Note: an earlier nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik was withdrawn.
  • White House Chief of Staff (cabinet-level role): Susie Wiles — Served as chief of staff in the early months of the administration; her appointment was widely reported and signaled the president’s preference for trusted political operatives in the West Wing.

Confirmation patterns, major fights, and Senate dynamics

The Senate’s role of advice and consent produced a mix of smooth confirmations and hard-fought battles. Marco Rubio’s swift, unanimous confirmation as Secretary of State was among the least contested early outcomes and provided the administration immediate diplomatic credentialing (99–0). By contrast, the defense-secretary nomination of Pete Hegseth was among the most contentious: Hegseth was confirmed by a razor-thin margin after Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote following a 50–50 split in the Senate—an outcome that spotlighted intra-GOP divisions and intense Democratic opposition. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s HHS confirmation (52–48) likewise reflected narrow margins and national attention because of his public positions on vaccines and public health. Other nominees—such as Doug Burgum at Interior and Scott Bessent at Treasury—were confirmed with more comfortable margins (Burgum 79–18; Bessent 68–29), indicating cross-party coalitions in certain cases where nominees brought executive or bipartisan reputations.

Several confirmation battles produced notable political effects beyond the roll calls. The withdrawal of Elise Stefanik’s nomination for U.N. Ambassador, for example, was publicly framed as preserving narrow Republican margins in the House and avoided a potential special-election complication. High-profile controversies—accusations that dogged certain nominees, questions about prior statements or professional backgrounds, and partisan signaling about future policy priorities—amplified Senate hearings into national political events.

Biographical and functional notes

Because cabinet members operate in distinct policy domains, brief functional notes below highlight issues each secretary faced in early 2025 and the relevant experience they brought.

  • Marco Rubio, Secretary of State: Rubio’s long Senate experience and background in foreign-policy committees positioned him to prioritize hemispheric diplomacy and issues such as China, Latin America, and alliance management. His confirmation provided the administration a stable diplomatic lead during early crises.
  • Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury: Bessent’s background in macro investing and financial markets was seen as a choice to manage tax policy debates, debt ceiling negotiations, and international financial relationships. His confirmation came amid discussion of potential tax-policy extensions and deficit considerations.
  • Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense: Hegseth’s narrow confirmation came after contentious hearings. Early priorities reported in the press included boosting readiness, shifting personnel policies, and pursuing reforms to Pentagon strategy. His confirmation highlighted tensions about nominee vetting and standards of conduct.
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of HHS: Kennedy entered HHS with a mandate from the president to pursue a broad public-health agenda emphasizing chronic disease and health-care system changes. His certification faced strong scrutiny because of prior public statements about vaccines. After confirmation, the HHS press office announced his swearing-in and the administration framed him as committed to reforming public-health approaches.
  • Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior: Burgum’s mixed background in state government and tech/entrepreneurship suggested a portfolio focus on permitting reform for energy projects and expanded domestic production on federal lands, consistent with administration priorities. He won a sizable bipartisan confirmation margin.

Policy and administrative implications

The aggregate composition of the cabinet produced several early, observable tendencies:

  1. Pro-energy, deregulatory focus: Multiple selections for Interior, Energy, and EPA administrator suggested coordinated emphasis on expanding fossil-fuel production, easing permitting, and reshaping environmental regulation. The appointments of Doug Burgum and Chris Wright, plus Lee Zeldin at the EPA, signaled rapid moves to prioritize domestic energy projects.
  2. Private-sector management and Wall-Street expertise: The selection of Scott Bessent (Treasury) and Howard Lutnick (Commerce), among others, emphasized private-sector experience as a credential for economic stewardship and trade policy. These choices were aimed at imparting market credibility to fiscal and trade negotiations.
  3. Political loyalty and campaign allies: Several cabinet posts were occupied by individuals with close ties to the Trump campaign, allies from the 2024 cycle, or prominent conservative policy figures—choices that reinforced a governing coalition aligned with the president’s agenda. This factor partly drove both nominations and the administration’s internal coordination.
  4. Confirmation fragility on certain picks: The narrow votes for sensitive national-security or public-health posts illustrated that even with a Republican Senate majority, internal GOP divisions and unified Democratic opposition could make certain confirmations precarious. The Hegseth and RFK Jr. votes were emblematic of this dynamic.

Diversity, representation, and public reaction

News analyses and editorial coverage noted that the 2025 cabinet remained majority White and male overall, with some increases in female representation compared with prior administrations. The roster included a small number of appointees from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds in top roles (for example, Marco Rubio as a Hispanic Secretary of State). Commentators highlighted the symbolic and substantive aspects of representation—both the optics of diversity and the policy consequences for constituencies such as rural Americans, veterans, and industry sectors. Coverage in outlets such as The Washington Post discussed the cabinet’s demographic profile and political signaling.

Limitations, caveats, and evolving developments

Cabinet composition and tenure can change rapidly: nominees can be withdrawn, confirmed members may depart, and acting officials may be designated for periods while permanent nominees await confirmation. This article is based on confirmations and assumed-office records published through early 2025 and on reputable reporting through the spring and early autumn of 2025. For the most current roster or for subsequent resignations and replacements beyond the spring of 2025, readers should consult the official U.S. Senate nominations page, departmental press offices, and the White House announcements (these are primary sources for real-time changes).

Final Summary

President Donald J. Trump’s second cabinet—assembled in the opening months of his 2025 administration—mixed private-sector executives, campaign allies, and high-profile political figures to implement a clear policy agenda: energy expansion, deregulation, fiscal and trade recalibration, and an assertive national-security posture. The confirmation pattern—ranging from unanimous support for some nominees to razor-thin margins for others—revealed the close congressional arithmetic and political fault lines that would shape the administration’s early months. As with any administration, names and roles are subject to change; the cabinet’s early composition and the policy signal’s it sent, however, provided a durable snapshot of presidential priorities and the political realities of governance in a closely divided Washington. For authoritative, up-to-date status on any nomination or cabinet change, consult official Senate records and department press releases.

References (2nd Cabinet)

Associated Press. (2025, January 20). Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet. AP News.

Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, February 13). Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. sworn in as 26th Secretary of HHS [Press release]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Rimmer, P. H., & Blackburn, P., & Morgan, M. (2025, January 27). Senate confirms Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary. CNN Politics / Associated reporting (covered widely). (See: AP/Reuters reporting cited below).

Reuters. (2025, January 24–25). Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to become U.S. defense secretary; Senate advances his nomination. Reuters.

U.S. Senate. (2025). Donald J. Trump cabinet nominations (nomination and confirmation records). United States Senate — nominations database.

White House. (2025, January 20). Designation of acting leaders and inaugural acting appointments [Presidential actions]. The White House.

Washington Post. (2025, February 26). How Trump’s mostly White cabinet compares with others (analysis). The Washington Post.

Ballotpedia. (2025). Donald Trump’s Cabinet, 2025 (compiled list and confirmations). Ballotpedia.

References (1st cabinet)

Barr, W. P. (2022). One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General. New York: Harper.

Mattis, J. (2019). Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead. New York: Random House.

Mnuchin, S. (2022). The Mnuchin Doctrine: Leadership in Crisis. New York: Crown Business.

Pompeo, M. (2023). Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love. New York: Broadside Books.

Woodward, B. (2018). Fear: Trump in the White House. New York: Simon & Schuster.