Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty
Back in 2016, Democrats were widely appalled by Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, whom they described as dangerous and “historically unqualified.” Now even a few of Trump’s Republican congressional allies are “stunned and disgusted” over his second-term Cabinet picks, with Matt Gaetz, RFK Jr., and Pete Hegseth drawing the most outrage.
So, does that mean the new Republican Senate majority will refuse to confirm some of Trump’s more brazenly unqualified picks? It’s unclear! Trump has demanded that they let him make recess appointments, and new Majority Leader John Thune said he’s open to letting him bypass the Senate confirmation process.
Here’s a running list of all of Trump’s Cabinet picks so far — along with a few nominees for other top administration positions — arranged from highest to lowest in the line of succession.
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Who: Marco Rubio has served as U.S. senator from Florida since 2011 and is vice-chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He ran for president in 2016 but lost the GOP nomination to Trump.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said in a statement posted to Truth Social:
Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom. He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Rubio is known for his hawkish positions, particularly on China, Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela. But as the Washington Post notes, he’s “generated bipartisan acclaim,” as he might be Trump’s most conventional pick.
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Who: Pete Hegseth is a Fox News host and Army National Guard officer. He served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Guantanamo Bay.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said in a Truth Social post:
Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down…
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: While Hegseth served in the military, he has no experience running anything larger than a small nonprofit. As Defense secretary, he’d be in charge of leading the Pentagon and 1.3 million active-duty troops. He has controversial views on a wide range of topics, from women serving in combat (he’s opposed) to servicemembers accused of war crimes (he wants them pardoned) to handwashing (he doesn’t do it). Also, he was investigated for an alleged sexual assault in 2017. And a fellow servicemember flagged him as a possible “Insider Threat” over a tattoo he has that’s associated with white-supremacist groups. People were pretty stunned by his nomination, at least until Trump announced some other outrageous picks.
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Who: Matt Gaetz was a U.S. representative from Florida who served from 2017 until he resigned from Congress on November 13, 2024, hours after Trump announced his nomination for AG.
Qualifications, According to Trump: In a pair of Truth Social posts, Trump called Gaetz a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney.” He continued:
Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department. On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law …
… Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution. We must have Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency at DOJ. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again.
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Gaetz only practiced law for two years, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. If confirmed, he’d be leading a department that recently investigated him for sex trafficking; the Justice Department inquiry concluded in 2022 with no charges. But the House Ethics Committee was still investigating allegations that Gaetz “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use,” among other things. The committee was set to release a “highly critical report” about Gaetz, but Republicans may bury it. Suffice it to say, he may be the Trump pick least likely to be confirmed.
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Who: Doug Burgum has been the governor of North Dakota since 2016. He’s worth hundreds of millions of dollars, mainly because he sold his software company to Microsoft in 2002. He ran for president in 2024 and became a top Trump surrogate when he dropped out.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He teasingly unveiled the news of Burgum’s impending nomination during an event at Mar-a-Lago on November 14. A day later, he put out a statement announcing that Burgum will be both Interior secretary and head of the newly formed “National Energy Council, which will consist of all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy.”
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Environmental groups raised concerns about Burgum’s lack of experience, coziness with oil billionaires, and commitment to drilling in public lands — but that all fits with Trump’s agenda. This is one of Trump’s more conventional picks.
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Who: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is America’s best-known anti-vaccine activist. He ran for president in 2024 as a Democrat, then as an independent. He dropped out of the race in August 2024 and endorsed Trump, but he still appeared on the ballot in some states.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said on X:
For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: RFK Jr. may be competing with Gaetz for most controversial Trump pick. He has a long history of peddling health-related conspiracy theories: He’s claimed vaccines cause autism, linked depressants to mass shootings, and suggested HIV doesn’t cause AIDS, to name just a few of his false health assertions. And now he may oversee everything from Americans’ health insurance to food safety to the availability of drugs and vaccines.
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Who: Sean Duffy is a former U.S. representative from Wisconsin, current co-host of The Bottom Line on Fox Business, and a contributor on Fox News. He rose to fame on The Real World: Boston and met his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy on Road Rules: All Stars. She is also a Fox News host.
Qualifications, According to Trump: In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump described Duffy as a “tremendous and well-liked public servant” and said:
He will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. He will ensure our ports and dams serve our Economy without compromising our National Security and he will make our skies safe again by eliminating DEI for pilots and air traffic controllers.
The husband of a wonderful woman, Rachel Campos-Duffy, a STAR on FoxNews, and the father of nine incredible children, Sean knows how important it is for families to be able to travel safely, with peace of mind.
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Duffy doesn’t have much transportation policy experience, but as the Washington Post notes, “that is not unusual for people nominated to run the department — current secretary Pete Buttigieg had previously been mayor of his hometown.” Duffy is one of Trump’s least controversial Cabinet picks.
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Who: Chris Wright is the chief executive of Liberty Energy, a Denver-based fracking company. The New York Times described him as a “media-friendly evangelist for fossil fuels who promotes a feel-good message that oil and gas can lift people out of poverty, while disparaging climate science.”
Qualifications, According to Trump: In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump said:
Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has working Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas. Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics.
He also noted that Wright “has known and worked for years with Doug Burgum.” If confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet, both men will be on the new Council of National Energy; Burgum will lead the council and serve as Interior secretary.
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Wright has no government experience and recently declared, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition.” Wright caught Trump’s attention via Fox News appearances, and he and his wife recently held a Trump fundraiser, donating $175,000 each to his joint fund-raising campaign committee. Fracking billionaire Harold Hamm, who has donated $5 million to Trump and is part of the transition team, said Wright was his top choice for Energy secretary. He probably won’t have a hard time getting confirmed.
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Who: Kristi Noem has served as the governor of South Dakota since 2019. Before becoming the South Dakota’s first female governor, she was the state’s sole representative in the U.S. House for eight years.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said in a Truth Social message:
Kristi has been very strong on Border Security. She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times. She will work closely with “Border Czar” Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries…
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Noem hasn’t worked in Homeland Security and does not even have a law-enforcement background. Her nomination is seen “as further indication that the administration’s immigration policy will be run out of the White House,” per Politico. Oh, also she recently announced that she murdered her dog. But Trump’s wild subsequent picks essentially squashed any controversy around Noem.
Who: Doug Collins is a former U.S. congressman from Georgia who served in the House from 2013 to 2021. He is a lawyer and veteran who served in the Iraq war and is currently an Air Force Reserve chaplain.
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Qualifications, According to Trump: He wrote in a statement posted to Truth Social:
Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War. We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemember, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need.
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Collins isn’t an unusual pick, but it’s worth noting that Trump seems to be rewarding him for his loyalty. Four of the eight Republicans who defended Trump during his first impeachment proceeding have been nominated for Cabinet positions, and Collins is one of them.
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Who: John Ratcliffe is a former Texas congressman who served as the director of national intelligence during the final year of Trump’s first term.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said in a Truth Social post:
From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBl’s abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public. When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American People…
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Ratcliffe is a Trump loyalist who defended him during his first impeachment hearings. While serving as director of national intelligence, he declassified unverified Russian intelligence involving Hillary Clinton shortly before the 2020 election. But he reportedly balked at efforts to overturn Trump’s 2020 loss and CNN reported that career intelligence officials are cautiously optimistic about him leading the CIA, as they see him as a “largely professional and potentially less disruptive choice.”
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Who: Lee Zeldin served as U.S. representative from New York from 2015 to 2023. He ran for New York governor in 2022 but was defeated by Democrat Kathy Hochul.
Qualifications, According to Trump: He said in a statement posted to Truth Social:
Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies. He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining th highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet. He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way.
I have known Lee Zeldin for a long time, and have watched him handle, brilliantly, some extremely difficult and complex situations. I am very proud to have him in the Trump Administration, where he will quickly prove to be a great contributor!
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Zeldin has almost no experience relevant to running the EPA, but he does have experience defending Trump in his first impeachment hearings. As The New Republic noted, “Zeldin voted to cut EPA funding, scrap its chemicals risk assessment program, and block the agency from taking action to restrict carbon pollution.” But none of that will keep him from getting confirmed.
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Who: Tulsi Gabbard represented Hawaii in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2021. She is a National Guard veteran who served in Iraq.
Gabbard ran for president as a Democrat in 2020 and endorsed Joe Biden when she ended her campaign. Two years later, she left the Democratic Party and became a regular at right-wing venues like Fox News and CPAC. She endorsed Trump for president in 2024.
Qualifications, According to Trump: In a statement attached to Gabbard’s biography, Trump said:
For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans. As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – she is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Gabbard has no formal intelligence experience and is known for her sympathetic views toward Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad. Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren summed up her critics’ concerns, asking, “Do you really want her to have all the secrets of the United States and our defense intelligence agencies when she has so clearly been in Putin’s pocket?”
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Who: Elise Stefanik is a U.S. representative from New York and the fourth-ranking member in House GOP leadership.
Qualifications, According to Trump: In a statement posted to Truth Social, he said:
Elise is a strong and very smart America First fighter … She was the first Member of Congress to endorse me, and has always been a staunch advocate. Elisa is a senior Member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Intelligence Committee, and led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses. She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nation, delivering Peace through Strength and America Fist National Security policies!
Requires Confirmation: Yes.
Potential Issues: Stefanik has little diplomatic or foreign-policy expertise, aside from serving on House national-security committees. As the New York Times notes, “she has repeatedly accused the U.N. of being plagued by ‘antisemitic rot’ and proposed blocking funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.” Also, she defended Trump in his first impeachment hearings. She shouldn’t have any trouble getting confirmed.
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Who: Elon Musk is the world’s richest person; chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of X and its self-proclaimed “Chief Troll Officer.” He was Trump’s most famous surrogate in the 2024 election and poured $118 million into a pro-Trump super-PAC. Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2024 and endorsed Trump when he dropped out.
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Qualifications, According to Trump: He said, in a lengthy statement that included a quote from Musk and musings on the Republicans’ longtime dream of downsizing the government:
Together these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the “Save America” Movement. “This will send shockwaves through the system, and anyone involved in Government waste, which is a lot of people!” stated Mr. Musk.
It will become, potentially, “The Manhattan Project” of our time.
Requires Confirmation: No, this is an entirely made-up “department” that technically isn’t even in the government.
Potential Issues: Musk and Ramaswamy will only be providing “advice and guidance” on how to drastically restructure and dismantle the federal government. Still, could the two men’s financial interest create massive conflicts of interest? Ethics experts certainly have some questions!
This post has been updated.
