The Presidential Cabinet: a handpicked group of leaders running central federal departments, advising the president on everything from defense to diplomacy, agriculture to education.
Article II, Section II, Clause II of the Constitution states that Cabinet positions require Senate approval, which means every single pick doubles as a political test and cause for media frenzy.
In order to become members, Cabinet nominees must go through tons of federal paperwork before being confirmed. They require a White House questionnaire, an FBI background check, and multiple disclosure forms. The nominees go through hours of confirmation hearings, usually before Inauguration Day (January 20), where they must be approved by 51 of 100 Congress senators (Note: This is not to be confused with cabinet-level officials- people such as the director of the CIA who aren’t on the Cabinet but attend official cabinet meetings do not have to go through hearings). It’s a democratic talent show— but with high stakes and no gold trophies.
All of America is tuned in for Trump’s nominations in his second term. Critics of the former President emphasize the aggressive, “boisterous stack of people who can outshine Trump” in the executive branch, according to Politico’s Megan Messerly. Another line of reasoning comes from comparing his previous cabinet to the one he is currently trying to create. The president-elect has claimed he was restrained by the officials around him in his 2016-2020 term, likely leading him to nominate people who have criticized and promoted controversy in the departments they want to lead.
Many of his nominees are loyalists to the administration, and they have proven this by financially and politically supporting his campaigns. However, confirmation hearings can swing swiftly– meaning the confirmation or rejection of these nominees can be altered with just a few people. Proponents of Trump’s non-conventional cabinet, such as Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird, warn that “when voters select a president, they are selecting that president’s vision for a cabinet that will enact his agenda.”
Here’s Trump’s spotlight Cabinet-level picks:
Elon Musk; Government Efficiency
Elon Reeve Musk has been nominated for DOGE- the new Department of Government Efficiency- alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. Previously a Trump critic, Musk had contributed millions of dollars to the administration and claimed to cut two trillion dollars from the federal budget as co-chair.
As a household name, Musk has influence. As soon as his name was announced, immense media coverage on the tech icon followed promptly.
Yes, Trump (chosen as TIME’s 2024 Person of the Year) also falls under this pop culture category. However, Musk comes from a distinct Silicon Valley background that can be useful to a 21st-Century age of innovation. With Musk, Trump may stay ahead of the curve.
Robert F Kennedy Jr.; Department of Health and Human Services Secretary
Successor to one of the most influential democratic families in the United States, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been surrounded by politics his entire life.
“Make America Healthy Again” – an initiative to tackle chronic diseases and corruption in the United States to argue big food & big Pharma- health companies having influence in government and weighing policies in their favor.
Recently, over 75 Nobel Prize winners signed an urgent letter to senators not to confirm Kennedy Jr., calling the nomination a “political attack on science” that would " put the public health in jeopardy and undermine America’s global leadership in the health sciences.”
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Hegseth has been at “Fox & Friends” since 2014 and is a veteran of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During Trump’s first term, Hegseth was a prominent advocate for his policies. Hegseth would run the Pentagon as a Defense Secretary, heading 1.3 million active troops.
Trump has praised Hegseth for being “tough, smart and a true believer in America First–” an agenda attempting to withdraw American troops overseas and bringing justice to combat veterans accused of war crimes.
However, Hegseth may receive opposition from senior military officials in Congress due to his advocacy for his lack of experience (aside from being in the military) in politics and government.
The Verdict
Trump’s Cabinet choices are to reflect his governing style. They embody his commitment to doing things differently, shaking up D.C. in ways that leave a lasting impression on American politics. And perhaps that’s the true art of his deal: keep everyone guessing, for better or worse.
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