U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will take office in the White House in January and before his inauguration, Trump has announced several key figures who will join his Cabinet and team.
This includes senior officials who will oversee areas like foreign policy, immigration, and environmental matters.
Several high-profile politicians and businesspeople have been confirmed, including Tesla and X owner Elon Musk and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Here’s who we know will be in Trump’s new team.
Susie Wiles
Following his election win, Trump’s first appointment was his Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. Wiles co-led Trump’s successful campaign.
The White House Chief of Staff is a key role with wide-ranging responsibilities, from developing policy to managing the President’s staff and schedule.
The Chief of Staff also sits in the U.S. Cabinet, alongside the heads of Government departments, and the President and Vice-President.
Wiles will become the first woman to take on the role.
Elon Musk
In a post to Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump announced Tesla CEO Elon Musk and biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy would co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.
Ramaswamy unsuccessfully ran to secure the Republican Party’s nomination for President this year. He dropped out and supported Trump in January.
Trump said the department would “slash excess regulations… and restructure Federal Agencies”. He suggested it would be “’The Manhattan Project’ of our time”, referring to the secret development of nuclear warheads during World War II.
Tom Homan
Trump has appointed Tom Homan, former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as his new “border czar”.
‘Czar’ is a term used to describe a senior government official in a particular area, like climate or immigration.
Homan is currently CEO of the non-profit border security organisation Border911. Its website says it’s made up of “the most distinguished border security experts”.
Defence
Florida U.S. House of Representatives member Mike Waltz will become the National Security Adviser. This role involves advising the President on threats to the U.S. and the country’s relationship with the rest of the world.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Waltz, a former army officer, “understands our adversaries are engaged in hostile economic and military efforts designed to harm [us]”.
On Wednesday, Trump announced Fox News host Pete Hegseth will be his Secretary of Defense. Hegseth will supervise the Department of Defense.
Lee Zeldin
Former House Representative for New York Lee Zeldin is set to become the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA was set up in 1970 under Republican then-President Richard Nixon.
Trump’s campaigned on plans to roll back environmental protections and expand mining of coal, oil, and natural gas.
Zeldin posted on social media calling his new position an “honour”, promising to “restore US energy dominance”.
Kristi Noem
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem will lead one of the largest federal departments — the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The DHS employs more than 260,000 workers and oversees the border force, customs, and emergency management. It currently has an annual budget of over $US60 billion ($AU95 billion).
Noem campaigned extensively for Trump during the election. She was widely considered a leading candidate to be Vice President until the release of her autobiography, where she recounted fatally shooting her dog.
Foreign policy
Florida Senator Marco Rubio is tipped to be Secretary of State, the country’s most senior foreign affairs official.
Rubio, who unsuccessfully ran against Trump to be the Republican candidate in 2016, has called for the U.S. to end funding to Ukraine.
Trump has said he will end Russia’s war in Ukraine in “one day”.
New York Representative Elise Stefanik is set to be named the U.S. ambassador to the UN. Stefanik would represent the U.S. at major UN meetings.
Power
The U.S. Constitution mandates the “separation of powers” between the three branches of Government:
- Executive (President and Cabinet)
- Legislative (Congress)
- Judicial (Supreme Court)
This means that unlike Australia’s Parliament, U.S. Cabinet members appointed to represent Government departments are not allowed to hold House or Senate seats.
If they are confirmed as members of Trump’s cabinet, Waltz, Stefanik, and Rubio will have to give up their seats.
