Cabinet of Donald Trump

Despite being nominated promptly during the transition period, most cabinet members were unable to take office on Inauguration Day because of delays in the formal confirmation process. By February 8, 2017, President Trump had fewer cabinet nominees confirmed than any prior president two weeks into his mandate, except George Washington.[98][99] Part of the lateness was ascribed to opposition by Senate Democrats and part to delays in submitting background-check paperwork.[100] The last Cabinet member, Robert Lighthizer, took office as U.S. Trade Representative on May 11, 2017, more than four months after his nomination.[101]

There were dozens of potential running mates for Trump who received media speculation (including several from New York where Trump himself resides). Trump's eventual pick of Governor Mike Pence of Indiana was officially announced on July 16, 2016, and confirmed by acclamation via parliamentary procedure amongst delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention on July 19, 2016.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Foreign Relations committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Before Tillerson was sworn in, Tom Shannon served as the acting secretary from January 20 until February 1, 2017.

Tillerson at his confirmation hearing on January 11, 2017

On December 12, 2016, Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil, was officially selected to be the Secretary of State.[111] Tillerson was first recommended to Trump for the secretary of state role by Condoleezza Rice, during her meeting with Trump in late November.[112] Rice's recommendation of Tillerson to Trump was backed up by Robert Gates three days later.[112]

Tillerson's confirmation hearing with the Foreign Relations committee was held on January 11, 2017. During the hearing, Tillerson voiced support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership and opposed a Muslim immigration ban that has been proposed by Donald Trump in the past.[113] Tillerson was approved by the Foreign Relations committee on January 23, 2017, by a vote of 11–10.[114] On Wednesday, February 1, Tillerson was confirmed by the senate 56–43.[115]

John J. Sullivan served as acting secretary from April 1, 2018 until April 26, 2018.

On March 13, 2018, Trump dismissed Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, and announced his nomination of CIA Director Mike Pompeo to the office.[116] Pompeo was confirmed by the Senate on April 26 in a 57–42 vote and was sworn in later that day.[117][118][119]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Finance committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Adam Szubin served as acting secretary from January 20 until February 13, 2017.

Trump announced the selection of investment banker Steve Mnuchin as Secretary of the Treasury on November 30, 2016.[120] The New York Times noted that Mnuchin's selection was surprising, since Trump had attacked the banking industry and Goldman Sachs during the campaign. Mnuchin is the third Goldman alumnus to serve as treasury secretary.[121]

During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on January 19, 2017, Mnuchin was criticized by Democrats due to the foreclosure practices at his company OneWest.[122] Mnuchin also failed to disclose, in required disclosure documents, $95 million of real estate that he owned, and his role as director of Dune Capital International, an investment fund in a tax haven. Mnuchin described the omissions as mistakes made amid a mountain of bureaucracy.[123]

Democrats of the Finance Committee boycotted the vote of Mnuchin and many other nominees in response to Trump's controversial immigration executive order. On February 1, 2017, Republicans suspended committee rules to send the nomination to the Senate floor on an vote of 11–0.[124][123]

Mnuchin was confirmed by the full Senate 53–47 on February 13, 2017. The vote fell along party lines with exception of Senator Joe Manchin as the sole Democratic vote for Mnuchin.[125][126]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Armed Services committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Trump informally announced the selection of General Jim Mattis as Secretary of Defense on December 1, 2016.[127] (The Trump Transition Team formally announced the selection on December 6, 2016.[128]) As with most cabinet roles, the Secretary-designate of Defense undergoes hearings before the appropriate committee of the United States Senate, followed by a confirmation-vote. In the case of Mattis, there was an additional step needed as he had retired from the military three years ago, since statute section 903(a) of the NDAA demands a minimum of seven years as a civilian for Pentagon appointees, therefore Mattis needed a waiver to be allowed to become Secretary of Defense.[129]

During his hearing, Mattis agreed with the assessment that debt was the greatest threat to national security. He placed Russia first among the "principal threats" facing the United States and called Iran "the primary source of turmoil" for unrest in the Middle East. In contrast with Trump's campaign promises, Mattis advocated for maintaining NATO and keeping the Iran Nuclear Deal. He urged for a clear cybersecurity doctrine to be implemented.[130][131][132]

On January 12, 2017, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted, 24–3, to grant the waiver. The full Senate voted, 81–17, to pass the waiver three hours later. After the Trump transition team canceled a meeting between Mattis and the House Armed Services Committee, the waiver narrowly passed the committee by a vote of 34–28. The House voted, 268–151, to grant the waiver.[133] The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Mattis's confirmation on January 18, 2017, by a 26–1 margin, and sent the nomination to the full Senate for consideration.[134] One of Donald Trump's first acts as president was the approval of Mattis's waiver to become Secretary of Defense. After being confirmed by the Senate on the evening of January 20, 2017, by a vote of 98–1, Mattis was sworn in by Vice President Pence on the same evening.[135]

On December 20, 2018, Secretary Mattis announced his intention to resign at the end of February 2019.[136][137] President Trump moved the departure date up to January 1, 2019.[138][139]

Upon the end of Secretary Mattis's tenure on January 1, Patrick M. Shanahan, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, became acting Secretary until June 23, 2019.

Five months later, in May, the White House announced its intent to nominate Shanahan to serve as Secretary of Defense on a permanent basis;[140] by June, Shanahan withdrew, citing family issues.[141]

With Shanahan's withdrawal, President Trump named Mark Esper, the Secretary of the Army, as his replacement as acting Secretary.[141] Once Esper was officially nominated on July 15, he stepped down in accordance with the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998; Richard V. Spencer, the Secretary of the Navy, then became acting Secretary.[142]

Esper was confirmed by the Senate, 90–8, on July 23, 2019; he was sworn in that day.[143]

On November 9, 2020, Esper was removed from his position, and replaced with Christopher C. Miller.[144]

Christopher C. Miller has served as acting Secretary since November 9, 2020.

The nomination of an Attorney General-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Judiciary committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Sally Yates served as acting attorney general from January 20, 2017 until her firing on January 30 of that same year.

On January 30, 2017, Trump appointed Dana Boente, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as acting Attorney General until Jeff Sessions' Senate confirmation.[145] Boente had replaced Sally Yates who was fired by Trump for ordering the Justice Department to not defend Trump's Executive Order 13769 which restricted entry to the United States.[146] Yates claimed that, "At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities [of the Department of Justice], nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful".[147][148] Boente served until the confirmation of Jeff Sessions on February 9, 2017.

Trump's selection of Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama was officially announced on November 18, 2016.

Members of the Democratic party in the Senate had stated their intention to oppose Sessions; that said, successfully defeating the nomination of Sessions would have required peeling away the votes of at least two or three Republican members of the Senate body.[125] Republican members of the Judiciary Committee spoke favorably towards Sessions,[149] as Sessions had been a former member of the Judiciary Committee while serving as senator. Although Democratic party senators, including Elizabeth Warren, criticized Sessions, at least one Democratic Senator, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, stated he would vote to confirm Sessions.[149] Historically, there has never been a sitting senator appointed to cabinet position who was denied that post during the confirmation process.[149]

The confirmation process for Trump's nominee Senator Jeff Sessions was described as "strikingly contentious" by The New York Times;[150] as Senator Mitch McConnell invoked Rule XIX to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren for the rest of the consideration of the nomination. While explaining his use of Rule XIX, McConnell stated that, “She [Warren] was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/02/08/nevertheless-she-persisted-becomes-new-battle-cry-after-mcconnell-silences-elizabeth-warren/ Missing or empty |title= (help) The last three words, ‘Nevertheless, she persisted’ were appropriated by feminist and liberals as a rally cry in favor of women’s rights. McConnell interrupted Warren as she had read a letter by Coretta Scott King opposing Sessions' nomination to a federal judgeship along with several statements which were made by Senator Ted Kennedy in 1986 during Senate hearings on Sessions' nomination. Afterwards, Warren live-streamed herself reading the letter, critical of Sessions, that Coretta Scott King had written to Senator Strom Thurmond in 1986.[151]

On February 8, Sessions was confirmed as United States Attorney General by a vote of 52–47, with all of the Republican senators and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin voting in favor of Sessions' confirmation and all other senators voting against Sessions' confirmation. Sessions' confirmation ended a nomination battle which was described by The New York Times as "bitter and racially charged".[152]

On November 7, 2018 – the day after the 2018 midterm elections – Jeff Sessions resigned as Attorney General at the president's request.[153][154][155]

With the resignation of Sessions on November 7, 2018, Trump appointed Sessions' chief of staff Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney general.[156] Multiple legal challenges to Whitaker's appointment were filed.[157] All were dismissed.

William Barr, a former U.S. Attorney General in the George H. W. Bush administration, was nominated to reprise his former role as the permanent replacement for Sessions. He was confirmed by the Senate in February 2019 by a 54–45 vote.[158] Barr announced that he would resign as attorney general on December 14, 2020, which came into effect on December 23, 2020.[159]

Jeffrey A. Rosen became the acting Attorney General following the resignation of Barr on December 23, 2020.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Kevin Haugrud served as the acting Secretary of the Interior from January 20 until March 1, 2017.

Congressman Ryan Zinke was announced as the nominee for Secretary of the Interior on December 15, 2016.[160] His nomination was approved by a 16–6 vote from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 31, 2017.[161] Zinke was confirmed on March 1, 2017 by a vote of 68–31, becoming the first Navy SEAL to occupy a Cabinet position.[162][163] Zinke resigned as Secretary of the Interior on January 2, 2019. Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt became Acting Secretary of the Interior.[164]

David Bernhardt served as acting secretary from January 2 until April 11, 2019 when he was sworn in.

On February 4, 2019, President Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Interior Deputy Secretary and current Acting Secretary Bernhardt to be the next United States Secretary of the Interior. Bernhardt was confirmed on April 11, 2019 with a 56–41 vote.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Mike Young served as acting secretary from January 20 until April 25, 2017.

On January 18, 2017, Sonny Perdue, former governor of Georgia, was selected to be the Secretary of Agriculture.[165] On April 24, 2017, Perdue was confirmed by the Senate in an 87–11 vote.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

President Trump left this position vacant until Ross was sworn in.

Trump's selection of CEO Wilbur Ross from Florida (formerly of New York) was officially announced on November 30, 2016. Confirmation hearings were originally scheduled for January 12, but were postponed because the Commerce Committee had not yet received the ethics agreement from the Office of Government Ethics and the Department of Commerce.[166] On February 27, 2017, he was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 72–27 vote. He assumed office on February 28, 2017.[27]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Edward C. Hugler served as acting secretary from January 2 until April 28, 2017.

On December 8, 2016, Andy Puzder, then CEO of CKE Restaurants, was officially selected to be the Secretary of Labor. The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee (HELP) delayed Puzder's hearing five times due to missing paperwork from the Office of Government Ethics.[167] It was revealed that before the nomination Puzder employed a housekeeper who was not authorized to work in the U.S. Puzder failed to pay employer taxes. Puzder fired the housekeeper and amended his taxes only after his nomination.[168] Prior cabinet nominations from the Bush and Clinton administrations with undocumented housekeepers have had to withdraw their nominations.

On February 8, 2017, the Office of Government Ethics submitted Puzder's ethics paperwork to Congress.[169] It was also revealed Puzder's ex-wife Lisa Fierstein appeared in disguise on Oprah Winfrey's talk show in the 1980s. In the interview, she alleged Puzder beat her. She later recanted. Fierstein sent a letter to Congress shortly after his nomination stating, "Andy is not and was not abusive or violent." Complying with the HELP committee, the Oprah Winfrey Network produced tapes from the interview for members of the committee to view.[170] Four Republican Senators from the HELP committee - Susan Collins, Tim Scott, Johnny Isakson, and Lisa Murkowski - expressed doubt over Puzder's nomination.[168] On February 15, a day before his scheduled hearing, Puzder released a statement to the Associated Press officially withdrawing his nomination.[171]

Acosta being sworn in as the Secretary of Labor by Vice President Mike Pence, on April 28, 2017.

On February 16, 2017, Alex Acosta, dean of the Florida International University College of Law and former Justice Department attorney, was officially selected to be the Secretary of Labor.[172] On April 27, 2017, Acosta was confirmed by the Senate in a 60–38 vote.

Acosta announced his resignation on July 12, 2019, following widespread criticism of his handling of the prosecution of and subsequent plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein when serving as U.S. District Attorney in Florida. His deputy, Patrick Pizzella, became acting Secretary.[173]

Patrick Pizzella served as acting secretary from July 20 until September 30, 2019.

On July 18, 2019, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Eugene Scalia, the former Solicitor of Labor and the son of Antonin Scalia, to be Secretary of Labor;[174] the nomination became official on August 27.[175]

Almost exactly a month later, on September 26, Scalia was confirmed by the Senate in a 53–44 vote.[176] He was sworn in four days later.[177]

Although historically the nominee also holds meetings with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee, officially the nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Norris Cochran served as acting secretary from January 20 until February 10, 2017.

Trump's selection of Representative Tom Price from Georgia was officially announced on November 28, 2016.[178][179][180] Price was confirmed by the Senate on February 10, 2017, in a 52–47 vote along party lines, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats voting against.[181]

Price resigned on September 29, 2017, amid reports that he had expended more than $1 million of department funds for his own travel on private charter jets and military aircraft.[182] Price is the shortest-serving confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services, with a tenure of just 231 days.[183]

Don J. Wright served as acting secretary from September 29, 2017, until his resignation on October 10, 2017.

Eric Hargan served as acting secretary from October 10, 2017 until January 29, 2018.

On November 13, 2017, President Trump announced via Twitter that Alex Azar was his nominee to be the next HHS Secretary.[184] Azar was the former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under George W. Bush (2005–2007)[185] and president of Lilly USA, LLC, the largest affiliate of global biopharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly and Company from 2012 to 2017. Azar was confirmed by 53–43 vote on January 24, 2018. He took office on January 29, 2018.[186][187]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Craig Clemmensen served as acting secretary from January 20 until March 2, 2017.

On December 5, 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Ben Carson to the position of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[188] During confirmation hearings, Carson was held under close scrutiny for his lack of relevant experience, and because he has been one of the most hostile critics of HUD's role in enforcing anti-discrimination laws.[189] On January 24, 2017, the Senate Banking Committee voted unanimously to approve the nomination, sending it to the Senate floor for a complete vote.[190] On March 2, 2017, Carson was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 58–41 vote.[191]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Michael Huerta served as acting secretary from January 20 until January 31, 2017.

On November 29, 2016, it was reported that President-elect Trump selected former United States Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao of Kentucky as his Secretary of Transportation.[192][193] On January 31, Chao was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 93–6. Her husband, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), only voted present due to the conflict of interest. On January 7, 2021, Chao announced her resignation effective January 11, due to the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.[194]

With the resignation of Chao, her deputy, Steven G. Bradbury became acting Secretary on January 11, 2021.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Energy and Natural Resources committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Grace Bochenek served as acting secretary from January 20 until March 2, 2017.

On December 13, 2016, Rick Perry, former Governor of Texas, was selected to be the Secretary of Energy.[195] During a previous presidential campaign, Perry said he intended to abolish the department.[196] His nomination was approved by a 16–7 vote from the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on January 31, 2017.[197] On March 2, 2017, Perry was confirmed by the United States Senate in a 62–37 vote.[198]

On October 17, 2019, Rick Perry informed President Trump that he planned to resign by the end of the year. On October 18, 2019, Trump nominated the Deputy Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette, to replace him; Perry left in early December.[199]

Dan Brouillette, the Deputy Secretary, served as acting secretary from December 2 until December 4, 2019. He was confirmed by the Senate by a 70–15 vote, on December 2, 2019.[199]

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Phil Rosenfelt served as acting secretary from January 20 until February 7, 2017.

Trump's selection of former RNC member Betsy DeVos from Michigan was officially announced on November 23, 2016.

Originally scheduled for January 11, but was postponed because the Office of Government Ethics had not completed its review of DeVos' financial holdings and potential conflicts of interest.[200] On January 20, the Office of Government Ethics completed their ethics report on DeVos, three days after her hearing with the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions was held. Senate Democrats requested a second hearing for DeVos after the ethics report was released, but committee chair Senator Lamar Alexander denied it. DeVos repeatedly said that she would divest from 102 companies within 90 days if confirmed.[201][202][203] On February 7, 2017, the full senate voted 51–50 – with Vice President Pence casting the tie-breaking vote – to confirm DeVos, with Pence becoming the first vice president to cast the tie-breaking vote for a cabinet nominee [204][205] ever. DeVos resigned on January 7, 2021, due to the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol,[206] effective the next day.

Deputy Secretary Mick Zais succeeded DeVos in an acting capacity on January 8, 2021.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Veterans Affairs committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Robert Snyder served as acting secretary from January 20 until February 14, 2017.

On January 11, 2017, David Shulkin, the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health under President Barack Obama, was selected to be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[207] He was later confirmed by the Senate by a 100 to 0 vote.

In February 2018, the VA inspector general issued a report criticizing Shulkin for misusing department funds to pay for his and his wife's personal travel.[208] On March 28, Trump fired him.[209]

Robert Wilkie served as acting secretary from March 28 until May 29, 2018.

Peter O'Rourke served as acting secretary from May 29 until July 30, 2018.

Trump initially said that he would replace Shulkin with Ronny Jackson, his White House personal physician.[210] Senators expressed skepticism of the nomination due to Jackson's lack of management experience.[211] Current and former employees on the White House Medical Unit accused Jackson of creating a hostile work environment, excessively drinking on the job, and improperly dispensing medication.[212] Trump defended Jackson as "one of the finest people that I have met", but hinted that Jackson might withdraw from being considered for the position.[213] Jackson withdrew his nomination on April 26.[214]

The President nominated Former Defense Undersecretary and VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie on May 18, 2018, to replace Shulkin. Wilkie was confirmed by the Senate on July 23, 2018, with an 86–9 vote.

The nomination of a Secretary-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

On December 7, 2016, John F. Kelly, retired four-star Marine general, was selected to be the Secretary of Homeland Security.[215] He was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 88–11 and sworn in on the evening of January 20. Kelly's term ended on July 28, 2017, following his appointment as White House Chief of Staff.[216]

Elaine Duke served as acting secretary from July 31 until December 6, 2017.

On October 11, 2017, multiple sources reported Trump's interest in nominating Kirstjen Nielsen as Secretary of Homeland Security.[217] She had served as Principal Deputy White House Chief of Staff to Chief of Staff John F. Kelly.[218][219] On December 5, 2017, the Senate confirmed her nomination, by a 62–37 vote.[220] She took office the next day. On April 7, 2019, Nielsen resigned, with effect on April 11.[221] [222]

Kevin McAleenan served as acting secretary from April 11 until November 13, 2019 when he resigned.

Chad Wolf served as acting secretary from November 13, 2019 until he resigned on January 11, 2021.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, succeeded Wolf in an acting capacity on January 12, 2021.[223]

The White House Chief of Staff has traditionally been the highest-ranking employee of the White House. The responsibilities of the chief of staff are both managerial and advisory over the president's official business. The chief of staff is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the president; it does not require Senate confirmation.

Trump's selection of former RNC chair Reince Priebus from Wisconsin was officially announced on November 13, 2016. This role does not require Senate confirmation. The appointment of Steve Bannon as Chief Strategist was announced simultaneously. Although that strategy-role is not a Cabinet-level position in the statutory sense, in an "unusual arrangement"[224] Priebus and Bannon were envisioned by the Trump transition team as being equal partners, and were announced simultaneously.[225][226] With Priebus accepting a role within the administration, Ronna Romney McDaniel was elected to replace Priebus in his former role as RNC chair. Priebus resigned on July 28, 2017.[227]

On July 28, 2017, Trump announced his Secretary for Homeland Security, John Kelly, would serve as his chief of staff.[228] On December 8, 2018, Trump announced that Kelly would be leaving as chief of staff.[229]

OMB Director Mick Mulvaney concurrently served as Acting White House Chief of Staff from January 2, 2019 until March 31, 2020.

Mark Meadows replaced Mick Mulvaney on March 31, 2020.[230]

The nomination of a Director-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Finance then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Maria Pagan served in this position from January 20 until March 2, 2017.

Stephen Vaughn served in this position from March 2 until May 15, 2017.

On January 3, 2017, Robert Lighthizer, a former Deputy United States Trade Representative under President Ronald Reagan, was selected to be the United States Trade Representative.[231] Due to Lighthizer's prior representation of foreign governments with a trade dispute with the United States, he will first need to obtain a special waiver to bypass the Lobbying Disclosure Act. The waiver would need to pass Congress and have the President's signature to assume the position. Congress waived the ban for Charlene Barshefsky, President Clinton's choice for Trade Representative in 1997.[232][233] Lighthizer was confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative on May 11, 2017, by a margin of 82–14.[234][235]

Mike Dempsey served in this position from January 20 until March 15, 2017.

On January 7, 2017, Dan Coats, former senator of Indiana, was officially selected to be the Director of National Intelligence.[236] On March 15, 2017, Coats was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 85–12.[237] On August 15, 2019, Coats resigned from his position as Director of National Intelligence.

Joseph Maguire took over as acting director on August 16, 2019. He resigned on February 21, 2020.

Richard Grenell took office as acting director on February 21, 2020 and resigned to take a position in the 2020 Trump Campaign.

Former Congressman John Ratcliffe was confirmed and assumed the position May 26, 2020.

Like all ambassadorships and all official Cabinet positions, the nominee for this ambassador to the U.N. requires confirmation by the Senate. The nomination of an Ambassador-designate to the United Nations is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Michele J. Sison served in this position from January 20 until January 27, 2017.

Haley sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on January 25, 2017

Trump officially announced Governor Nikki Haley from South Carolina as his selection for this role on November 23, 2016. She was confirmed on January 24, 2017, and subsequently resigned as South Carolina governor. Haley supported Marco Rubio in the Republican primaries and caucuses, but later endorsed Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee.[238] Haley's lieutenant governor, Henry McMaster, who was an early supporter of Trump, was also under consideration for a role in the Trump administration, but since he did not accept such a role, he succeeded to the governorship of South Carolina upon Haley's resignation.[239] On October 9, 2018, Haley announced that she was resigning her position as Ambassador effective at the end of 2018.[240][241]

Jonathan Cohen served in this position from June 8 until November 17, 2019.

On December 7, 2018, Trump nominated Heather Nauert for UN Ambassador.[242] Nauert withdrew her nomination on February 22, 2019.

On February 22, 2019, Kelly Craft was nominated by President Donald Trump to replace Nikki Haley, who had resigned the previous year, as his envoy to the United Nations.[243] The first replacement choice, Heather Nauert, withdrew her nomination. Craft was confirmed on July 31, 2019.

The nomination of a Director-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Budget Committee then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Mark Sandy served in this position from January 20 until February 16, 2017.

On December 13, 2016, Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district, was selected to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.[244]

In his statement to the Senate Budget Committee, Mulvaney admitted that he had failed to pay $15,000 in payroll taxes from 2000 to 2004 for a nanny he had hired to care for his triplets. Mulvaney said he did not pay the taxes because he viewed the woman as a babysitter rather than as a household employee. After filling out a questionnaire from the Trump transition team, he realized the lapse and began the process of paying back taxes and fees. Senate Democrats noted that Republicans had previously insisted that past Democratic nominees' failure to pay taxes for their household employees was disqualifying, including former Health and Human Services nominee Tom Daschle in 2009.[245][246]

Budget Chairman Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) noted on the Senate floor, "According to Senate records from President Jimmy Carter to President Obama, the longest it has ever taken to approve a first budget director for a new president was one week — one week."[247] On February 16, 2017, the Senate confirmed Mulvaney, 51–49.[248]

Russell Vought has served in this position since January 2, 2019.

On February 8, 2017, President Trump outlined the 24 members of the Cabinet with the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency being newly included.[249] The nomination of a Director-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Meroe Park served in this position from January 20 until January 23, 2017.

On November 18, 2016, Mike Pompeo, the Representative of Kansas' 4th congressional district, was officially selected to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.[250] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 23, 2017, with a vote of 66–32.[251] Pompeo was opposed by 30 Democratic Senators while the sole Republican vote against him came from Rand Paul. He was sworn in on the same night by Vice President Mike Pence.

On March 13, 2018, Pompeo was named as secretary designate of the State Department following the dismissal of Rex Tillerson.

Gina Haspel served in this position from April 26, 2018 until May 21 when she was sworn in.

On March 13, 2018, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he would nominate Gina Haspel to be the CIA director.[252] On May 17, Haspel was confirmed by the Senate in a 54–45 vote, officially giving her the post, and making her the first full-time female CIA director.

The nomination of an Administrator-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the Environment and Public Works Committee,[253] then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Catherine McCabe served in this position from January 20 until February 17, 2017.

On December 7, 2016, Scott Pruitt, Attorney General of Oklahoma was selected to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[254][255] In response to the nomination, Pruitt said, "I intend to run this agency in a way that fosters both responsible protection of the environment and freedom for American businesses."[256]

During his January 18 confirmation hearing, Pruitt's testimony openly acknowledged climate change. Pruitt declared the EPA has a "very important role" in regulating carbon dioxide emissions. Pruitt has sued the Environmental Protection Agency as the Attorney General of Oklahoma on more than a dozen occasions. When pressed by Senator Ed Markey on whether he would recuse himself from ongoing lawsuits, Pruitt "would not commit to recusing himself from all the cases he had brought."[257][258] Pruitt deflected questioning from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on the issue of whether human activity is largely responsible for climate change. Stating, "I believe the ability to measure, with precision, the degree of human activity's impact on the climate is subject to more debate on whether the climate is changing or whether human activity contributes to it."[259] Pruitt declined to comment on whether California could set its own emission standards and said he would review the policy.[260]

Amid 15 federal investigations of his conduct ranging from criminal record destruction to corrupt allocation of funds and abuse of power, Pruitt announced he would resign from office on July 6, 2018, leaving Andrew R. Wheeler as the acting head of the agency.[261][262][263]

Andrew R. Wheeler served in this position from July 9, 2018 until February 28, 2019 when he was sworn in.

On November 16, 2018 President Trump nominated Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to the position full-time. Wheeler was confirmed by the senate on February 28, 2019, with a 52–47 vote.

The nomination of an Administrator-designate is reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship and then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Joseph Loddo served in this position from January 20 until February 14, 2017.

On December 7, 2016, Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. and Senate nominee, was selected to be the head of the Small Business Administration.[264][265] McMahon was confirmed by a Senate vote of 81–19 on February 14, 2017.

McMahon earned approval votes from Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy from Connecticut, who had both defeated McMahon in their respective Senate races. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship, said, "Mrs. McMahon made it very clear that she has the experience, understanding and instincts necessary to bolster America's small business community and advocate for much-needed regulatory reforms." [266]

Chris Pilkerton served in this position from April 13, 2019 until January 14, 2020.

On April 4, 2019 President Trump nominated Treasurer of the United States Jovita Carranza to the Small Business Administration, replacing Linda McMahon.[267] Carranza was confirmed by a vote of 88–5 in the Senate on January 7, 2020.[268]

On February 8, 2017, President Trump outlined the 24 members of the Cabinet, excluding the Council of Economic Advisers chairman position.[249] In addition to the chairman, the council had two other members, also appointed by the president, as well as a staff of economists, researchers, and statisticians. Historically, appointees to chair the council have held Ph.D.s in economics, and the role of the group is to provide advice in the form of economic analysis with respect to policy, as distinct from shaping economic policy per se.[269][270]

Trump released a list of his campaign's official economic advisers in August 2016,[271][272] which simultaneously was anti-establishment[273] and therefore leant on those with governmental experience,[274] yet at the same time aimed to include some members of business and finance.[271] Many of the listed names received media attention as potential appointees to the Council of Economic Advisers, or in other Trump administration roles.

Although removed from the Cabinet, the chair-designate, must be reviewed during hearings held by the members of the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and then presented to the full Senate for a vote.

Various other Trump administration appointees are directly involved with economic matters, for example, former director of the National Economic Council Gary Cohn, former National Trade Council director Peter Navarro, SEC chairman Jay Clayton, OMB director Mick Mulvaney, Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and former SBA administrator Linda McMahon. On May 16, 2017, Trump nominated Dr. Kevin Hassett to be chair of the council. He took office on September 13, 2017.