PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CABINET
What you need to know about the men and women who have been chosen to lead the administration in 2017.
MIKE PENCE
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESMIKE PENCE
See storyVICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESSWORN IN
The Job: Second top elected official in the country, Senate president and first in the presidential line of succession
-Signed controversial religious freedom bill as Indiana governor that allowed LGBT discrimination
-Attempted to stop Syrian refugees from resettling in Indiana
-Supports anti-abortion policies
-A Democrat as a teen, Pence says he converted to Republican Party after listening to Ronald Reagan
REX TILLERSON
SECRETARY OF STATEREX TILLERSON
See storySECRETARY OF STATECONFIRMED
The Job: Top diplomat for the U.S. concerned primarily with foreign affairs and relations
-CEO of ExxonMobil (Roughly $500 million total assets, some in Russia and China, documents show)
-Faced bipartisan criticism for close ties to Russia and President Putin
-No government or public service experience
-Reportedly considered resigning this summer and called Trump a 'moron' at a Pentagon meeting in July
JAMES MATTIS
SECRETARY OF DEFENSEJAMES MATTIS
See storySECRETARY OF DEFENSECONFIRMED
The Job: Second only to the president in the military chain of command
-Retired Marine general
-Popular among both parties
-Given a waiver by Congress that recent military personnel need to be allowed to serve as Secretary of Defense
-Led the 1st Marine Division advance on Baghdad
-Supports remaining in Iran nuclear deal, which Trump has called "one of the worst and most one-sided" deals ever made by the U.S.
STEVEN MNUCHIN
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURYSTEVEN MNUCHIN
See storySECRETARY OF THE TREASURYCONFIRMED
The Job: Main financial, monetary and tax policy adviser. Includes oversight of the treasury department's law enforcement activities
-Former Goldman Sachs employee & One West bank manager during foreclosure crisis
-Said he would research potential issues stemming from Trump's foreign debts
-Violated the Service Members Civil Relief Act by foreclosing on active-duty military families
-No government experience
JEFF SESSIONS
ATTORNEY GENERALJEFF SESSIONS
See storyATTORNEY GENERALCONFIRMED
The Job: Nation's top law enforcement official and chief lawyer
-One of the Senate's most conservative members
-Has fought to limit LGBTQ protections and was denied a judgeship in 1986 for alleged racist comments
-Does not support a ban on Muslim immigration
-Recused himself from Justice Department's Russia investigation
-On Twitter, Trump has characterized him as "beleaguered" and "VERY weak"
MIKE POMPEO
CIA DIRECTORMIKE POMPEO
See storyCIA DIRECTORCONFIRMED
The Job: Top spy managing the agency responsible for surveillance and intelligence gathering activities abroad
-Said he would not support the use of waterboarding
-Accepted intelligence community's assessment of Russian electoral interference
-Served on the House Intelligence Committee
-As GOP congressman, he supported mass surveillance programs that gathered information on Americans
RYAN ZINKE
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIORRYAN ZINKE
See storySECRETARY OF THE INTERIORCONFIRMED
The Job: Manages federal lands & natural resources, including national parks
-GOP congressman from Montana
-Under at least three seperate Interior Department investigations relating to threatening phone calls made to Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, premature large-scale reassignment of senior officals, and chartered air travel
-Has proposed shrinking at least four National Monuments, including reducing Bears Ears National Monument, an Obama era creation, from 1.35 million acres to 160,000
-Strong supporter of fossil fuels
SONNY PERDUE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURESONNY PERDUE
See storySECRETARY OF AGRICULTUREThe Job: Maintains the safety of domestically sold food, coordinates food availability programs and advises farmers
-Former Georgia governor
-Served on Trump's agricultural advisory committee during the campaign
-Once prayed for rain on the steps of the Georgia Capitol
-A veterinarian by trade
WILBUR ROSS
SECRETARY OF COMMERCEWILBUR ROSS
See storySECRETARY OF COMMERCECONFIRMED
The Job: Promotes American businesses and industries to develop commerce at home & abroad
-Will be in charge of negotiating new trade deals
-No public service record
-Billionaire with vast financial holdings
-Longtime Democratic donor
ALEXANDER ACOSTA
SECRETARY OF LABORALEXANDER ACOSTA
See storySECRETARY OF LABORNOMINATED
The Job: Enforces regulations and laws relating to labor organizations and business-worker disputes
-Dean of Florida International University College of Law
-Was assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division under President George W. Bush
-Would be first Hispanic in Trump's cabinet
-Nominated after Andrew Puzder withdrew from consideration
TOM PRICE
SECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICESTOM PRICE
See storySECRETARY OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICESRESIGNED
The Job: Deal with the nation's health matters
-Tom Price resigned on September 29th, 2017, after it was revealed he had cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in private and military chartered flights
-He had introduced comprehensive Obamacare replacement plans in every Congress since 2009
-Traded more than $300,000 worth of health care stocks during a period in which he sponsored or co sponsored 44 pieces of health care industry legislation
BEN CARSON
SECRETARY OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENTBEN CARSON
See storySECRETARY OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENTCONFIRMED
The Job: Increase home-ownership rates and grow affordable housing
-Former neurosurgeon with no government experience
-Expressed interest in other cabinet posts before being nominated
-Grew up in inner-city Detroit, which Trump has cited as a reason Carson can do the job
ELAINE CHAO
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATIONELAINE CHAO
See storySECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATIONCONFIRMED
The Job: Oversees the nation's federal transportation policies & infrastructure
-Former Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush
-Well liked by politicians on both sides of the aisle
-Supported by portions of Silicon Valley
-Married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
BETSY DEVOS
SECRETARY OF EDUCATIONBETSY DEVOS
See storySECRETARY OF EDUCATIONCONFIRMED
The Job: Primary adviser on federal education policy & programs
-Longtime supporter and advocate for school choice and voucher policies
-Supports requiring the government to pay for private and charter school tuitions
-Refused to rule out defunding public schools
-Intends to revoke Obama-era Title IX guidelines for schools investigating sexual assault
RICK PERRY
SECRETARY OF ENERGYRICK PERRY
See storySECRETARY OF ENERGYCONFIRMED
The Job: Manages nuclear waste and safeguards nuclear armament, in addition to considering environmental protections
-Previously said he wanted to eliminate the Department of Energy (later said he regretted the remarks)
-Pledged to modernize the country's nuclear stockpile
-Wants to promote domestic energy production in "all forms"
-Promised to rely on scientific data when making climate change decisions
JOHN KELLY
WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFFJOHN KELLY
See storyWHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFFThe Job: The President's gatekeeper — manages staff and controls the flow of information and visitors to the President
-Retired Marine four-star general
-Formerly secretary of homeland security
-Replaced former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus on July 31, 2017
DAVID SHULKIN
SECRETARY OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRSDAVID SHULKIN
See storySECRETARY OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRSCONFIRMED
The Job: Oversees management of veteran's health care, cemeteries, monuments & benefits
-Current undersecretary for health at the VA
-Has been praised by veterans organizations
-Would be the first non-veteran to lead the VA
-Vowed to "straighten out the VA"
NIKKI HALEY
U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONSNIKKI HALEY
See storyU.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONSCONFIRMED
The Job: Represents the country on the U.N. Security Council & other U.N. assemblies
-Former governor of South Carolina
-Criticized Russia during her confirmation hearing
-Supports Israel, would have vetoed U.N. resolution condemning settlements
-Pledged to speak up when she disagrees with President Trump
-Does not support a Muslim registry
SCOTT PRUIT
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPASCOTT PRUIT
See storyADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPACONFIRMED
The Job: Enforce environmental regulations & recommending policy
-Has sued the EPA repeatedly as Oklahoma AG
-Believes climate change exists, but disputes effect human activity has had on climate
-Lobbied for oil companies while in office
-Under EPA investigation for the frequency of taxpayer-funded travel to his home state of Oklahoma
ROBERT LIGHTHIZER
U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVEROBERT LIGHTHIZER
See storyU.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVENOMINATED
The Job: Develop, recommend, and negotiate U.S. trade policy
-Former deputy U.S. trade representative under President Ronald Reagan
-Long supporter on tariffs on foreign imports
-Critic of free trade
-Longtime critic of Chinese trade practices
MICK MULVANEY
BUDGET DIRECTORMICK MULVANEY
See storyBUDGET DIRECTORCONFIRMED
The Job: Drafts the president's budget & audits the quality of agency programs
-Fiscal conservative
-Elected in 2010, during the Tea Party wave
-Supported shutting down the government over increasing budgets
-Acknowledged that he failed to pay payroll taxes for a household employee
LINDA MCMAHON
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONLINDA MCMAHON
See storyADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIONCONFIRMED
The Job: Provides support to small businesses and start-ups
-Co-founded pro wrestling company WWE
-Formerly a major donor to pro-Trump super PACs
-Ran two unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate
ANDREW PUZDER
SECRETARY OF LABORANDREW PUZDER
See storySECRETARY OF LABORWITHDREW
The Job: Enforces regulations and laws relating to labor organizations and business-worker disputes
-CEO of fast-food company that owns the Chains Carl's Jr. and Hardees
-Criticized by Brietbart, Numbers USA, others for pro-immigrant views
-Condemned by Democrats, progressive and labor groups as anti-workers rights