Trump begins selecting new leaders for administration positions 

After winning the 2024 presidential election, U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump’s next big move is to fill his administration with integral leaders who will support him over the next four years.

Trump admits he was hampered by internal conflict during his initial term in office but has now turned his attention to selecting allies who align with his strategies.

The president-elect is aiming to announce all of his cabinet-level picks by Thanksgiving, a goal he’s on pace to meet, according to a person familiar with the ongoing selection process.

After Trump’s return to the White House, he must appoint about 4,000 officials, including the heads of 15 executive departments which make up the U.S. Cabinet and will advise the president and implement policies.

These appointments require Senate confirmation, and typically, these votes occur shortly after the president’s inauguration, which will take place on Jan. 20.

Key nominations

On Nov. 13, Trump officially began announcing his cabinet nominations, stating for U.S. Department of State Secretary of State he would nominate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), making him the first Latino in the role.

Rubio is a three-term senator from Florida and a senior Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, as well as a finalist to be Trump’s running mate on the Republican ticket last summer.

“He will be a strong advocate for our nation, a true friend to our allies and a fearless warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump mentions of Rubio during the announcement.

Trump continues with his nomination of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News commentator and military Veteran to head the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Hegseth, known for opposing military policies, could fulfill Trump’s promise to remove military leaders he views as promoting progressive ideals.

“Hegseth has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for the country and is tough, smart and a true believer in America first. With Hegseth at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice – our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” Trump continues. 

Trump praises Hegseth’s military record as an Army combat Veteran who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

Nominations continue

During Trump’s announcements, he confirmed Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD) is his pick to run the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Noem is known for her strong stance on border security and was the first governor to send National Guard troops to assist Texas at the southern border. 

Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND) has been named as Trump’s nominee for the position of U.S. Department of Interior secretary.

Hailing from an oil-rich state, Burgum is expected to help Trump open public lands to greater drilling.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump names Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Kennedy will be in charge of a critical agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and Medicare and Medicaid programs.

“For too long Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation and disinformation when it comes to public health,” Trump states in a post on his Truth Social media platform.

Former Congressman Doug Collins (R-GA) is Trump’s choice to run the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Collins is a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command and served in Congress between 2013-21.

Continuing with his nominations, Trump names Liberty Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Chris Wright to oversee the U.S. Department of Energy.

Trump also mentions Wright will serve on the newly-created National Energy Council, which will be chaired by Burgum.

After sorting through names on his shortlist for U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary, Trump names former U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) for the leadership role.

Duffy served as a U.S. House Representative for Wisconsin’s seventh Congressional district between 2011-19.

Possible nominees

It is expected Trump will name former Small Business Administration Director Linda McMahon to lead the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Nominee names swirling around to lead the U.S. Department of Treasury include former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick and Scott Bessent, an American investor and hedge fund manager. 

Numerous names have been circulating around who Trump will select to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well.

Among these names are Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, Indiana Farmer and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Agencies for Food and Agriculture Kip Tom and current House Ag Chairman Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R- PA).

Trump’s potential picks for U.S. Department of Education secretary include Louisiana State Superintendent Cade Brumley and Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walter.

Trump’s search for a U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary is widening and names being considered include Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan and former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors Kevin Warsh.

Over the next few weeks, Trump will be naming his leadership nominee for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Labor.

Prominent non-cabinet positions

Trump continues to name his nominees for non-cabinet selections including former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (R-HI) as the director of national intelligence. 

Trump’s 2024 Presidential Campaign Co-Chair Susie Wiles has been named for the White House chief of staff position, and former Police Officer and U.S. Immigration and Customs Endorsement Director Tom Homan will be in charge of the nation’s borders.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) could be the next UN ambassador, while former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) will secure the position of ambassador to Israel.

Additionally, Trump’s nominees include former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY) as the next Environmental Protection Agency administrator, U.S. Rep Mike Waltz (R-FL) as the national security adviser and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and American Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will head the new Department of Government Efficiency.

The nominations continue with former U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to be the Central Intelligence Agency director.

Dan Scavino, a senior aide during Trump’s first term and a point person for the president-elect’s social media, will serve as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff, while former White House Cabinet Secretary William McGinley is named for Trump’s White House counsel.

Among Trump’s final nominations are Real Estate Investor Steven Witkoff serving as the special envoy to the Middle East and Writer Karoline Leavitt named as the new White House press secretary.

Information in this article was up-to-date as of Nov. 21, but is subject to change.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.