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Latest on Trump Cabinet picks: Mike Waltz, Lee Zeldin, Stephen Miller earn roles

Kinsey Crowley, Anthony Robledo and James Powel, USA TODAY
Updated
9 min read

As the country waits to see which party will control the House of Representatives, President-elect Donald Trump's administration is coming into view.

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin was tapped to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, while longtime adviser Stephen Miller was named deputy chief of staff for policy.

Trump announced Sunday evening former Immigration Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan will be a part of the administration as "the border czar." And Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., has been named as Trump's nominee for ambassador to the United Nations and she has accepted the offer, USA TODAY reported Monday.

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Trump said Saturday that neither former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will have a role at the start of the new administration. He has yet to name official roles for key campaign allies Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and billionaire Elon Musk, which he has said he would do.

Here is what else we know about the incoming administration:

Explained: Donald Trump may never be sentenced for his 34 convictions

Mike Waltz asked to be national security adviser

USA TODAY reported Monday night that Florida Rep. Mike Waltz has been asked to be Trump's national security adviser.

Waltz was re-elected to his seat for a fourth time on Nov. 5, has held a position on the House Armed Services Committee and served in civilian roles at the Pentagon.

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Waltz has backed Trump's isolationist view of foreign relations, demanding greater military spending from NATO allies and an end to the "blank check" for the war in Ukraine.

The former Green Beret derided Pentagon efforts under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to root extremists from the ranks and has been a hardline critic of so-called "woke ideology" in the military under the Biden-Harris administration.

Rep. Mike Waltz (FL-6) welcomes Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) during the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024.
Rep. Mike Waltz (FL-6) welcomes Sen. Marsha Blackburn (TN) during the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2024.

Lee Zeldin appointed to EPA head

Trump's campaign announced Monday that former Congressman from New York Lee Zeldin will be appointed to be the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency.

"He will set new standards on environmental review and maintenance, that will allow the United States to grow in a healthy and well-structured way," the campaign said in a media advisory.

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Zeldin confirmed he is taking the position in a post on X Monday.

"It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator," he wrote. "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI. We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water."

Stephen Miller named deputy chief of staff for policy

A long-standing immigration adviser to Trump, Stephen Miller has been tapped for deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump's next administration.

CNN first reported the move and Vice President-elect JD Vance congratulated Miller in a post on X.

Miller is known to have helped influence Trump's immigration policies in his first administration and played a key role in the 2024 campaign. Miller was reportedly under consideration to be attorney general.

Stephen Miller speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, October 26, 2024.
Stephen Miller speaks at a rally for former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan, October 26, 2024.

Trump names Tom Homan incoming 'border czar'

In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump said Homan will oversee deportation policy for undocumented immigrants and aviation security. Mass deportation has been a central campaign promise from Trump, who added Hogan would lead deporting undocumented immigrants back to "their country of origin."

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"I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders," Trump said in the post.

Homan sparked controversy in Trump's first term when he implemented the "zero tolerance" policy that separated migrant families.

Rep. Elise Stefanik joins staff

Trump has named GOP rising star Stefanik as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

She has been one of Trump's staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and was among those rumored to be a potential running mate for Trump's 2024 election. The position requires Senate approval.

“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement to USA TODAY.

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), chair of the House Republican Conference, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on Feb. 23, 2024.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), chair of the House Republican Conference, attends the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on Feb. 23, 2024.

Who could be nominated for secretary of state?

These are some of the contenders for secretary of state, according to media reports. The secretary of state is the president's chief foreign affairs advisor and head of the State Department.

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  • Richard Grenell: Grenell is considered one of Trump's closest advisers on foreign affairs, with the Washington Post reporting that Trump refers to him as, "my envoy." Reuters reported that when Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in September, Grenell sat in on the private meeting.

  • Bill Hagerty: The Tennessee senator worked on Trump's 2016 transition team and is well positioned to be confirmed by a Republican Senate, according to ReutersPolitico notes that he has used his role on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to stake a hawkish position on China.

  • Robert O'Brien: O'Brien was Trump's final national security advisor during the first term and has maintained close ties to the president-elect, according to Reuters, who reported that O'Brien met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in May. Politico notes that O'Brien is more friendly to NATO and Ukraine than other potential secretary of state choices.

  • Marco Rubio: The Florida senator would likely have an easy path through the Senate, according to PoliticoReuters notes that Rubio was in consideration to be Trump's 2024 running mate and has similar foreign policy positions to the president-elect.

Who could be nominated for treasury secretary?

These are some of the contenders for secretary of the treasury, according to media reports. The treasury secretary's responsibilities involve formulating and advising financial, economic and tax policy both domestically and internationally:

  • Scott Bessent: The longtime hedge fund investor is among the top candidates for treasury secretary, according to Politico. Two sources close to Trump told Reuters that Bessent met with the president-elect on Friday.

  • John Paulson: The hedge fund manager and founder of New York investment management firm Paulson & Co. is also a contender for the role, according Reuters. The Wall Street Journal previously reported Paulson as a candidate to lead the Treasury Department, with the billionaire investor adding he would work with Musk to slash spending if he claimed the role.

  • Larry Kudlow: The Fox Business financial commentator could also have shot at the position, per Reuters and Politico. He previously served as director of the National Economic Council between 2018 to 2021, and Politico reported he served on an outside group promoting Trump's policies ahead of a second administration.

  • Robert Lighthizer: The attorney and former trade leader's name was also in the mix for the role, according to Reuters and Politico. Having served under Trump's first administration as the U.S. trade representative, he helped oversee Trump's aggressive use of tariffs and efforts to deal with China, Canada and Mexico.

Who could be nominated for attorney general?

After Trump's many accusations that the Justice Department was persecuting him, he is now tasked with selecting an attorney general to lead the department. He is expected to choose someone highly loyal to him, experts previously told USA TODAY, and the following people are in consideration:

  • Sen. Mike Lee: The Utah Senator is being considered most prominently

  • John Ratcliffe: Trump’s former Director of National Intelligence and a former GOP House member from Texas

  • Jeffrey Clark: Former assistant attorney general

  • U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon: Trump-appointed judge who dismissed charges that he mishandled classified documents after leaving the White House

  • Mike Davis: Former counsel for nominations on the Senate Judiciary Committee

  • Mark Paoletta: Former 10-year counsel to a House committee and a White House veteran.

What we know about Trump's administration so far:

  • Chief of Staff: Trump named his senior campaign adviser Susie Wiles as his White House chief of staff, the first woman in history to hold the title. The Florida political consultant largely stays out of the spotlight but has been credited with helping Trump's political comeback.

  • Deputy chief of staff for policy: Long-standing Trump adviser, Stephen Miller has been tapped for deputy chief of staff for policy in Trump's next administration. The 39-year-old served as senior adviser to Trump and director of speechwriting during the Republican's first term in the White House and is credited with shaping Trump’s immigration policies.

  • Ambassador to the UN: Trump nominated Elise Stefanik, a five-term Republican representing a northern New York district, as his pick for UN ambassador. She is the House Republican Conference Chair and a former contender for Trump's running mate.

  • 'Border czar': Trump has appointed Tom Homan to oversee deportation policy and aviation security. Homan was a Border Patrol agent for 34 years and served in Trump's first administration as acting ICE director. He drew controversy for strict immigration enforcement, including the "zero-tolerance" policy which separated families of undocumented immigrants.

  • EPA head: Trump has appointed Lee Zeldin as The Administrator of The United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA). Zeldin was a Congressman for parts of Long Island, New York and ran but lost against Kathy Hochul in the 2022 gubernatorial race.

What are the Cabinet positions?

The Cabinet advises the president on issues related to their respective offices.

These are the Cabinet positions from the 15 executive departments, which must be confirmed by the Senate:

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  • Secretary of State

  • Secretary of Defense

  • Attorney General

  • Secretary of the Interior

  • Secretary of Agriculture

  • Secretary of Commerce

  • Secretary of Labor

  • Secretary of Health and Human Services

  • Secretary of Transportation

  • Secretary of Energy

  • Secretary of Education

  • Secretary of Veterans Affairs

  • Secretary of Homeland Security

  • Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

  • Secretary of Treasury

The Cabinet and presidential advisers also include the vice president, the chief of staff, the ambassador to the United Nations, the director of National Intelligence, the U.S. trade representative, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors, the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the head of the Small Business Administration.

Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, David Jackson, Savannah Kuchar, Victor Hagan, Bart Jansen, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Riley Beggin, Michael Collins, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY; Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump Cabinet picks: Waltz, Zeldin, Stefanik, Miller earn roles

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