Who has Trump picked for his Cabinet so far? Marco Rubio, Matt Gaetz among latest nominees
Editor's note: Follow along here for the latest updates on Trump's Cabinet.
President-elect Donald Trump continues to round out his new administration, revealing more positions on Wednesday.
After meeting President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss the transition of power, he confirmed nominations for several key allies joining his Cabinet, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as secretary of state.
The president-elect also announced he wants to bring along Rep. Matt Gaetz and former Rep. Representative Tulsi Gabbard when he retakes office on Jan. 20.
On Tuesday, he announced that Tesla CEO and billionaire endorser Elon Musk will helm what he calls the "Department of Government Efficiency" aside former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
His announcement said the two tech entrepreneurs would offer "advice and guidance from outside the government." The creation of the new department would Congress's help, which is made possible as Republicans have swept both the U.S. House and the Senate this election.
Here's what to know about the latest picks for Trump's Cabinet.
Trump transition live coverage: Latest updates after Trump tapped Gaetz, Rubio, Gabbard
Trump names Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
Trump has settled on nominating U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as the next secretary of state, the president-elect announced on Wednesday.
The Cuban American, who has transformed from a Trump opponent into a close ally, is slated to be the first Latino to hold the position. He brings deep foreign policy experience to the table, currently serving on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has held his Senate seat since 2011.
"As Secretary of State, I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda. Under the leadership of President Trump we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else," Rubio said in a post on X.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida wrote on X Monday that his colleague will serve as the nation's top diplomat in the upcoming Trump Administration. He emphasized that Rubio will "restore American leadership around the world, especially in Latin America, as he represents the United States with dignity and courage!"
Trump nominates Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general
Rep. Matt Gaetz will be nominated as the next attorney general, Trump announced on Wednesday. The firebrand lawmaker, who has represented Florida's 1st congressional district since 2017, will soon oversee the Justice Department that he has long criticized and has investigated him.
The Florida Republican later resigned from office "effective immediately," setting a special election for the western Florida district in motion.
Gaetz accused Attorney General Merrick Garland of weaponizing the the Justice Department against Trump during his presidential campaign. He also alleged that FBI Director Christopher Wray was "blissfully ignorant" about how agents ran their investigations.
The House Ethics Committee has investigated Gaetz following allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. The DOJ ended ended the investigation in February 2023 without charging Gaetz.
Trump hires Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence
Trump also announced he is nominating former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, a Cabinet-level post.
The Army veteran was previously a Democratic U.S. Representative from Hawaii from 2013-2021. She later ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, but switched to the Republican Party this year.
"I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights, and securing peace through strength," Trump said in a statement.
Trump's Cabinet picks so far: What we know
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.
Attorney General: Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been nominated as the next Attorney General overseeing the Justice Department, that he has long criticized.
Secretary of State: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is nominated as the next Secretary of State. He will bring foreign policy experience through his roles in the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A Cuban-American, he is set to be the first Latino person to be Secretary of State.
Director of National Intelligence: Former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is nominated as the director of national intelligence. The former Democratic presidential candidate-turned Republican represented Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District from 2013-2021.
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 United Nations: 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 U.S. 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.
National security adviser: Trump has named Florida Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser. Waltz has held civilian positions at the Pentagon, was on the House Armed Services Committee and has supported Trump's isolationist view of foreign relations.
U.S. ambassador to Israel: Trump announced he is nominating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as his U.S. ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and former Fox News host, who has run for the Republican presidential nomination twice, unsuccessfully. His daughter is Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as White House press secretary during Trump's first presidency.
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: Trump designated his former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Ratcliffe previously was a House member from Texas before serving as director of national intelligence at the end of Trump's first presidency.
Secretary of Defense: Trump nominated Fox News host Pete Hegseth to Defense secretary. A Fox News commentator, Hegseth served in the U.S. Army National Guard and had led veteran's advocacy groups.
Secretary of Homeland Security: Trump announced his choice of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. The pick puts the hardline conservative governor, who sent the state's National Guard to the southern border, in a key role on immigration.
White House Counsel: Trump tapped William McGinley to serve as his White House counsel. McGinley, a partner at the Washington-based law firm Holtzman Vogel, worked as White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first presidency.
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:
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; Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump Cabinet picks: Matt Gaetz, Marco Rubio among the latest