Since Donald Trump was announced as president-elect a month ago, his rumored picks for his cabinet have taken the media by storm. With conflicting information coming from a variety of places, it’s important to view the news objectively and understand a bit of background about each of the new officials. I have compiled here my knowledge of a few of the picks so far, and what their selection may entail for the next four years.
Secretary of State: The secretary of state is an incredibly important role for many reasons, one being that the person in that role is fourth in line from the presidency if Trump were to resign or be unable to work for some reason. The role entails serving as foreign affairs advisor to the president, an essential position especially considering the recent conflicts overseas. Trump is expected to name Florida Senator Marco Rubio for this role. Rubio will be the first Latino to serve as secretary of state in the United States’ history.
Attorney General: The attorney general is responsible for representing the country legally. Initially, Florida representative Matt Gaetz was campaigning for the position but withdrew on November 21st after being under fire for allegations of sexual misconduct. He said in a statement on X that his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition”. Now, it is rumored that Trump has chosen former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to replace Gaetz.
Secretary of Health and Human Services: Trump has said he is planning to nominate politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health secretary. RFK Jr.’s policies around vaccination are concerning to some, with people fearing he could curb access to vaccines. Although he would not have the power to ban vaccines, it’s possible that he could make it more difficult to get them.
Secretary of Defense: For the secretary of defense, who will act as the policymaker for defense, Trump has stated that he will choose Fox News host Pete Hegseth. Hegseth’s rhetoric revolves around the military as it is now being too effeminate, and he aims to build strength and make it more lethal. He has faced controversy due to his stances surrounding women’s place in the military, and policies promoting diversity making it too soft.
Clearly, Trump’s progress in selecting members of his cabinet is something to keep an eye on. It’s also a common misconception that these picks are set in stone—any person selected by Trump will have to be approved by the Senate before the decision is final.
In order to officially become cabinet members, candidates first must be appointed by the president. After that, they attend a hearing by the Senate to confirm them. It’s extremely rare for a candidate to be rejected, though, with the last rejection being John Tower in 1989. He was rejected due to circulating rumors about his treatment of women and excessive drinking. Matt Gaetz has recently been under fire for similar reasons, another possible motive for his withdrawal.
It will definitely be interesting to see how these people are received by the senate. Their drastic shift in policy from the leaders under the Biden administration will be a huge adjustment. Either way, it’s always important to stay informed about what is happening in the government, whether or not you are interested in politics!
