Who will join the incoming Trump administration?
President Joe Biden will meet with President-elect Donald Trump later this week. The meeting serves as the start of the peaceful transfer of power. FOX 5 NY’s Robert Moses has the details.
NEW YORK – As Trump builds his cabinet for his 2024 campaign, he has tapped two figures from New York: former Rep. Lee Zeldin for the Environmental Protection Agency and Rep. Elise Stefanik as United Nations ambassador.
It’s unclear whether more appointees from New York will join the team, as Trump continues to make key selections.
JUMP TO: What cabinet positions are left?
Here’s a list of the currently empty Trump cabinet seats:
Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior
Republican presidential candidate, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum participates in the first debate of the GOP primary season hosted by FOX News at the Fiserv Forum on August 23, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race.
Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs.
Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day.
In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation.
“There’s just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said.
Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate.
Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command.
“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,” Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Department of Health and Human Services
RFK drops out of Presidential race, endorses Trump
Robert F. Kennedy says he is suspending his independent presidential bid and is backing Donald Trump. Kennedy said Friday in Arizona that his internal polls had shown that his presence in the race would hurt Trump and help Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. He cited free speech, the war in Ukraine and “a war on our children” as among the reasons to try to remove his name from the ballot in battleground states.
AP reports that Trump is set to nominate former presidential candidate and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity. Kennedy dropped his own presidential bid to endorse the now-president-elect, signaling Trump’s confidence after his decisive electoral win and the Republicans’ comfortable Senate majority.
Matt Gaetz, Attorney General
COACHELLA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 12: U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), C, prepares to sign a Trump-Vance sign at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump on October 12, 2024 in Coachella, California. With 24
Matt Gaetz, 42, has been tapped by Trump to serve as attorney general, bypassing more established attorneys who were also considered for the position.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard, former US Representative from Hawaii, during a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Fly Advanced in Lititz, Pennsylvania, US, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. Trump and his allies are telling supporters that t
Tulsi Gabbard, 43, a former Democratic Congresswoman and presidential candidate, has been chosen by Trump to serve as director of national intelligence, continuing his trend of appointing loyal supporters over seasoned professionals in key roles.
“As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!” Trump said in a statement.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 16: Pete Hegseth speaks onstage during the 2023 FOX Nation Patriot Awards at The Grand Ole Opry on November 16, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.
Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Department of Government Efficiency
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”).
“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,” Trump said in a statement on Tuesday.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
OAKS, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 14: South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem walks onto the stage to introduce Donald Trump during a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on October 14, 2024 in Oaks, Pennsylvania. His rival, Democratic presidential
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has been chosen to run the Department of Homeland Security.
Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel
DREXEL HILL, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 29: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee moderates a roundtable discussion with Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Drexelbrook Catering & Event Center on October 29
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is the choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to Israel in the incoming Trump administration, President-elect Trump announced on Tuesday.
Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency
Trump taps Zeldin, Stefanik for key roles
President-elect Donald Trump has selected two prominent New York Republicans for key roles in his incoming administration. Former Congressman Lee Zeldin is set to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, while Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has been nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. FOX 5’s Morgan McKay has more on the appointments and what they mean for the state and national policy.
Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, a longtime supporter with no apparent environmental experience, has been selected to lead the EPA, vowing to restore U.S. energy dominance while protecting access to clean air and water.
Elise Stefanik, United Nations Ambassador
Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, speaks to members of the media ahead of a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Madison Square Garden in New York, US, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. The Republica
New York Representative Stefanik, 40, a top House leader, has been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders since his first impeachment.
Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff
West Palm Beach, FL – November 6 : President of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Dana White, Eric Trump, Susie Wiles and Lara Trump listen as Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks after being declared the winner dur
Wiles, 67, a senior adviser and de facto manager of Trump’s 2024 campaign, has a background in Florida politics, having helped Ron DeSantis win his first gubernatorial race before playing a key role in Trump’s defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.
Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser
UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 26: Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., speaks during the Task Force on the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump hearing in Longworth building on Thursday, September 26, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Waltz, a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida and retired Army National Guard officer, was asked by Trump to be his national security adviser, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’
Former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Thomas Homan speaks during the third day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 17, 2024. Days after he survived an assassina
Homan, 62, a former leader of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under Trump, has been tasked with overseeing the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, a role expected due to Trump’s focus on border issues during his campaign.
Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy
Stephen Miller, former White House senior advisor for policy, speaks during a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Atrium Health Amphitheater in Macon, Georgia, US, on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. A flurry of polls released
Miller, a 39-year-old immigration hardliner and senior adviser during Trump’s first administration, was a vocal spokesperson for mass deportations and played a central role in policies such as separating thousands of immigrant families.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) arrives at the U.S. Capitol October 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Donald Trump is expected to nominate Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as Secretary of State, FOX 13 Tampa reported citing multiple published reports.
The New York Times first reported the possible pick on Monday evening, with a source later telling FOX News that Trump plans to offer Rubio the job.
So far, Trump’s team has not made an official announcement, but several Republican colleagues, including fellow Sen. Rick Scott has publicly congratulated Rubio.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
Moderator and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends during a town hall at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on October
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem reportedly has been selected by Donald Trump for the role of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, CNN and FOX News reported Tuesday. Trump has not made an official announcement.
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Labor
- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
- Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
- Director of the Office of Management and Budget
- Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Administrator of the Small Business Administration
- United States Trade Representative
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
