Trump’s picks for Cabinet: Meet the familiar (and controversial) picks

President-elect Donald Trump is announcing Cabinet nominees for his second term in office, including a few controversial candidates who could face strong opposition in Senate confirmations.
Trump’s nominees, all of them allies, are drawing national scrutiny because Cabinet members run major federal agencies, oversee billions of dollars in funding, and advise the president on major issues.
Recess appointments: How Trump could use them for controversial candidates.
They can also influence their departments by altering priorities, promoting one program over another, and shaping political policy.
All nominees are vetted with background checks. The Senate controls the approval process, including hearings for high-level candidates. The vice president and White House chief of staff aren’t subject to Senate approval.
Here are Trump’s Cabinet nominees, so far:
Who: Sean Duffy was named by Trump to head the Department of Transportation.
When: Nov. 18.
More: Duffy is a co-host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business and served as a congressman for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional district in the northwest part of the state from 2011 to 2019, USA TODAY reported.
Senate confirmation required? Yes.
What does the department do? The DOT regulates all major types of transportation in the U.S.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a TV show host who ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, was named as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Nov. 19. Senate confirmation is required.
Steven Cheung, who was Trump’s communications director for the 2024 campaign, was named director of communications by Trump on Nov. 15. Senate confirmation is not required.
Todd Blanche, an attorney who represented Trump in his New York hush money trial, was named as deputy attorney general, the No. 2 official at the Justice Department, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.
Emil Bove, another Trump attorney in the hush money case, will be nominated for principal associate deputy attorney general, the Justice Department’s No. 3 official, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.
D. John Sauer, who argued Trump’s successful immunity case before the Supreme Court, will be nominated as U.S. Solicitor General, Trump said on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.
Jay Clayton, the former chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term, was named as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York on Nov. 14. Senate confirmation is required.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, were named by Trump to lead his new Department of Government Efficiency on Nov. 12. The new department would require an act of Congress to be created, USA TODAY reported.
Mike Huckabee, former Republican governor of Arkansas, was nominated as U.S. ambassador to Israel on Nov. 12. Senate confirmation is required.
William McGinley, an attorney who worked as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump’s first term, was nominated as White House counsel on Nov. 12. Senate confirmation is not required.
Thomas Homan, acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency during Trump’s first term, was nominated to the new position of Border Czar on Nov. 11. Senate confirmation is not required.
Stephen Miller, longtime Trump adviser, was named deputy chief of staff for policy on Nov. 11. Senate confirmation is not required.
Susie Wiles, Trump campaign adviser, was named White House chief of staff on Nov. 7. Senate confirmation is not required.
CONTRIBUTING Anthony Robledo, Kinsey Crowley, Francesca Chambers, Joey Garrison, James Powell, Tom Vanden Brook, David Jackson, USA TODAY
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; whitehouse.org; constitutioncenter.org