Posted December 5, 2024 | by KimS | in 2024 Election, 2024 Presidential Election, Cabinet, DemDaily, Democratic Party, Donald Trump

DemDaily: Update on the Cabinet Contenders

December 5, 2024

President-Elect Donald Trump has announced all his chief Cabinet nominees in record time, some to the surprise of his staff and advisors.

From his Mar-a-Lago resort headquarters, Trump has held court with a revolving door of potential cabinet picks and senior appointments -- loyal sycophants, unqualified and far outside the norm of the traditional choice for the various posts.

There is no shortage of controversial picks, with already two withdrawing their nominations under fire. Trump's decision to bypass the traditional FBI background checks for nominees has already had consequences, with the unchecked, sordid pasts of his first round of nominees splashed across the headlines.

The confirmation hearings will begin immediately after the new Republican-controlled US Senate is sworn in on January 3, 2025.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments which are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. Members of the Cabinet fall in the presidential line of succession and require Senate confirmation. There are also other "Cabinet-level" positions that are determined by the current administration.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments which are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. Members of the Cabinet fall in the presidential line of succession and require Senate confirmation. There are also other "Cabinet-level" positions that are determined by the current administration.

THE CABINET NOMINEES
* Secretary of State: Marco Rubio. Three-term US Senator from Florida and one of Trump's fiercest rivals in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries. Rubio, who sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is a notorious Warhawk known for an aggressive foreign policy approach. Expected to be confirmed.

* Secretary of the Treasury: Scott Bessett. A billionaire hedge fund manager who emerged as a central economic adviser to Trump over the past year. Although Bessent’s policy ideas are in lockstep with conservative economic principles, some Republicans have expressed concern over his history as a protégé and top money manager for George Soros, the billionaire Democratic donor.

* Secretary of Defense (DOD): Pete Hegseth. Controversial Fox News Host and military veteran, known for his advocacy on behalf of former members of the military who have been convicted of war crimes. Among the far-right tattoos he boasts is “Deus Vult,” which translates to “I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

A recently revealed sexual assault case from 2017, and public allegations of a drinking problem have opened up a pandora's box of misconduct allegations against Hegseth from former colleagues and associates. With at least six US Senators planning to vote against his nomination, it would appear to be hanging by a thread. Hegseth, however, said he is moving forward as the presumed nominee, fervently meeting with Senators today, as long as he has the "full" support of Trump. which was confirmed this morning.

DOD Runners Up: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has emerged as the likely heir to Hegseth. A bitter rival of Trump's in the 2024 GOP presidential primaries, it is hard to imagine that meeting, DeSantis' name was proffered by Trump’s transition team. A former Navy lawyer, DeSantis has reportedly expressed interest in the role,

Others: Senator Joni Ernst (IA), Senator Bill Hagerty (TN), Congressman Wesley Hunt (TX), and Elbridge Colby, a former Defense official in Trump's first term and JD Vance ally. Congressman Mike Waltz (FL) is being considered for both the national security adviser position and DOD.

* Attorney General: Pam Bondi. A former Florida attorney general and lobbyist who served on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment and currently leads the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute - which supports Trump's Agenda.

Trump's first choice for Attorney General was disgraced former Florida Congressman and subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation for sexual trafficking and illicit drug use Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination November 21. Congress is still debating the release of the committee's findings.

Trump's first choice for Attorney General was disgraced former Florida Congressman and subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation for sexual trafficking and illicit drug use Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his nomination November 21. Congress is still debating the release of the committee's findings.

* Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota, former presidential candidate and multimillionaire who is a vocal supporter of the fossil fuel industry. Trump announced that Burgum will also chair a new National Energy Council, which the president-elect in a written statement said will "oversee the path to US Energy Dominance."

* Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins. A conservative lawyer and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank created to promote President-elect Trump’s agenda. She was originally considered for Chief of Staff but ultimately lost to Susie Wiles.

* Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick. The billionaire CEO of Wall Street financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has become a close economic adviser to Trump and is leading his transition team.

Lutnick has called for tariffs to protect US industries from foreign competition, lower corporate taxes and an expansion of American energy production. His companies are involved in nearly every sector of the US economy, so expect questions about conflicts of interest during his hearings.

* Secretary of Labor (DOL): Lori Chavez-DeRemer. The former Happy Valley Mayor and first Republican woman to represent Oregon in the US House just lost her bid for a second term. Although a steadfast Republican, she was one of a few GOP members who backed the PRO Act, an expansion of labor rights that was previously passed by the House but not approved by the Senate. The Teamsters union is among her supporters.

* Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS): Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Environmental attorney and 2024 independent candidate. ardent anti-vaccine activist and conspiracy theorist who questioned the origin of the COVID-19 virus. RFK Jr. is a member of the Democratic Kennedy family dynasty, which publicly denounced his views and decision to endorse Trump in August, calling the move a "betrayal.

* Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Scott Turner. A former Texas State Representative, motivational speaker and former NFL football player (first with the Washington Redskins), Turner previously served as the Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.

* Secretary of Transportation (DOT): Sean Duffy. Former Congressman, sports commentator, reality television personality and co-host of The Bottom Line on Fox Business. Duffy (R) represented Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District from 2011 to 2019.

There are more than 4,000 Presidential or "political" appointees, approximately 1,340 of which require Senate approval, including Cabinet secretaries, agency directors and ambassadors.

There are more than 4,000 Presidential or "political" appointees, approximately 1,340 of which require Senate approval, including Cabinet secretaries, agency directors and ambassadors.

* Secretary of Energy (DOE): Chris Wright. Oil industry executive and CEO of Liberty Energy, major campaign donor. Wright, who has expressed skepticism about climate change science, would help lead the Trump administration's promise to roll back climate change policies and clean energy spending implemented by President Joe Biden.

* Secretary of Education: Linda McMahon. Most known as the former executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, which she founded with her husband, Vincent. She ran for Senate in a xxx Senate candidate from Connecticut and, as a major Trump supporter, served as head of the Small Business Administration in his first cabinet.

* Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA): Doug Collins. Former Georgia Congressman and Air Force Chaplain who served in Iraq. A staunch Trump ally, Collins has vowed to "fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they've earned."

* Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem. South Dakota Governor and hardline conservative governor, who sent the state's National Guard to the southern border. Noem also drew national attention for boasting of killing an unruly puppy in her recent book.

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Kimberly Scott
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