President-elect Donald Trump has announced almost twenty members of what will be his cabinet and team of advisors, starting with some positions in the White House, but also officials who will be in charge of foreign relations and national security.
The list of officials that the Republican will integrate into his cabinet for the government that begins on January 20, 2025 is expected to continue next week.
Among the surprises that Trump has given is the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”), which will operate externally and will be led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Also noteworthy is the appointment of a “border czar”, a position that will direct efforts in border surveillance and immigration, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to focus actions against organized crime (drug trafficking) and the irregular crossing of migrants.
Among the most problematic nominations that could face challenges in the Senate is the case of former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for sexual activity with minors and drug abuse.
Susie Wiles, Chief of Staff
The first position that Trump announced for his new government was Chief of Staff, a position held by Susie Wiles, one of his main campaign strategists, considered a brilliant and discreet mind in politics.
“She helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history,” Trump said when referring to her, about whom he added that she was “strong, intelligent, innovative and universally admired and respected.”
Wiles, 67, will be the first woman to hold the powerful position in the White House.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a Trump critic and later staunch ally, was nominated as secretary of state.
Rubio is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he has gained important experience on US foreign policy, in addition to also being vice president of the Intelligence Committee.
“Marco is a highly respected leader and a very powerful voice in defense of freedom,” Trump said when announcing the nomination. “He will be a steadfast defender of our nation, a true friend to our allies and a brave warrior who will never surrender to our adversaries.”
Rubio will be the Hispanic to occupy the highest ranking position in the US Government.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy against DOGE
Trump will create the Department of Government Efficiency (“DOGE”), which will be led by X owner Elon Musk and Ramaswamy, who joined the Republican’s campaign.
DOGE’s goal is to “dismantle government bureaucracy, eliminate excessive regulations, cut unnecessary spending, and restructure federal agencies,” a move that means broad influence in the US government.
“It will potentially become ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed of ‘DOGE’ goals for a long time. To drive this kind of dramatic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside the government and will partner with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget to drive large-scale structural reform and create an enterprise approach to the government never seen before,” Trump said.
Musk and Ramaswamy’s work should conclude on July 4, 2026, when they will supposedly achieve a “smaller, more efficient and less bureaucracy” government.
Tom Homan, the “border czar”
During the campaign, Trump defended his strategy to increase border surveillance, continue with the border wall and impose mass deportations, even with the support of the Army.
To coordinate these efforts, he appointed Tom Homan as the “border czar,” a position that will coordinate border security and immigration policies with DHS and other agencies.
Homan is known for his tough stance against irregular immigration and acknowledged being the one who suggested the so-called “zero tolerance” policy at the border, which led to the separation of children from their parents during the first Trump administration.
When he was director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), Homan implemented a policy of deportations even in spaces considered “sacred,” such as around courts and work spaces.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Trump nominated South Dakota Governor and former Congresswoman Kristi Noem to serve as head of DHS, whom the president-elect describes as “very strong on border security.”
“She was the first governor to send National Guard soldiers to help Texas combat Biden’s border crisis,” Trump highlights when announcing the appointment. “He will work closely with ‘border czar’ Tom Homan to secure the border and ensure our American homeland is safe from our adversaries.”
Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff and Policy
Miller is founder and director of American First Legal, an organization he created upon leaving Donald Trump’s first administration, where he was the main immigration advisor from the White House, where he will now be deputy director of Cabinet and Policy.
Among other policies, Miller was an advocate for “zero tolerance” at the border that led to the separation of children from their families and, according to the New York Times, pushed for the implementation of Title 42 before the Covid pandemic occurred. 19.
With America First Legal, Miller joined the lawsuit of 16 Republican governments to argue against the “Keeping Families Together” program, to grant Green Cards to half a million undocumented spouses of Americans. A Texas court canceled the program implemented by the Biden Administration.
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor
As a congressman from Florida, Mike Waltz promoted military actions in Mexico against drug cartels, which sparked criticism in that country about interventionism. He was not the only one to propose such a strategy, but he went one step further by promoting it from Congress.
Now Waltz will be the National Security Advisor in the Trump White House, a key position in the strategy against organized crime and negotiations with other countries, including Mexico.
“Mike is the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress and previously served in the White House and the Pentagon,” Trump noted. “Mike retired as a colonel and is a nationally recognized leader on national security, a best-selling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”
Matt Gaetz, Attorney General
Former Representative Gaetz has been a faithful ally of President-elect Trump, but his nomination has been questioned, due to the investigation he faced in the House Ethics Committee and whose final report could be archived, after pressure from the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson.
“Matt is a very talented and tenacious lawyer, trained at William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress for his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump said. “Matt will end militarized government, secure our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ faith and trust in the Department of Justice that has been shattered.”
Gaezt’s confirmation in the Senate could be complicated due to the investigations against him.
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Another controversial nomination from President-elect Trump is Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, a veteran who hosts Fox News on weekends.
“Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for troops and country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in the principle of ‘America First,'” Trump defended when nominating him. “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice: our military will be great again and America will never surrender.”
Trump indicated that Hegseth is a defender of the “Peace through strength” policy.
Tulsi Gabbard, director of the National Intelligence Office
Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, who was part of the House of Representatives for Hawaii, joined the Republicans and, particularly, the Trump project.
“For more than two decades, Tulsi has fought for our country and the freedoms of all Americans,” Trump said. “She is now a proud Republican! I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, defending our constitutional rights and ensuring peace through strength.”
Gabbard’s critics indicate that she has links with Russia, because at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine she wrote on platform .
A month into the war, Gabbard called for a ceasefire, noting that there were “US-funded biolabs in Ukraine that, if breached, would release and spread deadly pathogens,” a claim made by the Russians and denied by the US Government
Mike Waltz, National Security Advisor
Representative Mike Waltz (Florida) will be the leading voice from the White House on national security matters for the new Trump administration.
“Mike is the first Green Beret to be elected to Congress and previously served in the White House and the Pentagon,” Trump noted. “Mike retired as a colonel and is a nationally recognized leader on national security, a best-selling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism.”
In addition, Waltz has been a defender of the plan to implement a military strategy against cartels in Mexico, an idea also raised by Trump, which could complicate the relationship with that country.
John Ratcliffe, director of the CIA
Former congressman and former Director of National Intelligence (DNI), John Ratcliffe, will take over the leadership of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
“John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior of Truth and Honesty with the American public,” Trump said. “When 51 intelligence officials lied about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, who told the truth to the American people.”
In 2020, Trump presented Ratcliffe with the National Security Medal.
Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health
A vaccine denier and former presidential candidate, Robert Kennedy Jr., was nominated for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
“HHS will play an important role in helping ensure that everyone is protected from the harmful chemicals, contaminants, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming health crisis in this country,” Trump said. .
Kennedy Jr. sought to be the Democratic presidential candidate, but did not obtain support to compete against Joe Biden and when he declined re-election he chose Vice President Kamala Harris, while Kennedy Jr. supported Trump.
Other key positions
The president-elect has appointed close White House staff, such as Bill McGinley, who will be one of his advisors, but also other officials, such as Lee Zeldin, who will be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
He nominated New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Other positions announced are Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee; and the envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.