Trump is expected to make Marco Rubio his secretary of state, make Kristi Noem his secretary of homeland security and name Stephen Miller and Mike Waltz to key White House posts.
Topline
President-elect Donald Trump announced Stephen Miller and three other longtime aides will take top White House roles Wednesday, after appointing billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency”—the latest in a flurry of appointments to his Cabinet and White House staff in the days since Trump won the election.Key Facts
Trump has reportedly chosen people for a handful of Senate-confirmed Cabinet-level jobs, and he’s picked a White House chief of staff and a national security adviser, two key roles that don’t require confirmation.
Attorney general and secretaries of defense, state and homeland security are top priorities for Trump, according to The New York Times, citing people familiar with his thinking who said he is keen on candidates who will remove career bureaucrats Trump considers to be part of what he refers to as the “deep state.”
Deputy Chief Of Staff: Dan Scavino
Trump announced Wednesday former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino will return to his role, and also serve as an assistant to the president. Scavino, who worked as a senior adviser for Trump’s most recent campaign and is a longtime Trump communications staffer, was held in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify in the House Jan. 6 committee investigation, but the Justice Department declined to prosecute him.Deputy Chief Of Staff For Legislative, Political And Public Affairs: James Blair
Trump appointed his campaign political director James Blair to the position Wednesday. Blair spearheaded Trump’s grassroots voter outreach efforts and made frequent media appearances during his most recent campaign.Deputy Chief Of Staff For Communications And Personnel: Taylor Budowich
Trump announced Taylor Budowich, who ran the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. super PAC before rejoining Trump’s campaign in August, for the role on Wednesday. Budowich, a spokesperson for Trump’s 2020 campaign, was called to testify in Trump’s federal classified documents case and was also subpoenaed by the House Jan. 6 committee.Homeland Security Adviser And Deputy Chief Of Staff For Policy: Stephen Miller
Trump confirmed on Wednesday previous reports that he was expected to announce Stephen Miller as White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, plus the additional role of homeland security adviser. Miller was a senior adviser to Trump during his first administration and one of the architects of some of his most controversial immigration policies, including his family separation program.Department Of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk And Vivek Ramaswamy
Trump announced Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, will run a new Department of Government Efficiency (or “DOGE”) alongside investor and former Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Trump said in a statement the department—which has not yet been created—will offer “advice and guidance from outside of Government” and focus on “making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency,” including through spending and regulatory cuts. Musk, a vocal Trump backer who donated over $100 million to a pro-Trump super PAC, has pitched the department in the past, seemingly naming it after the meme cryptocurrency dogecoin.Secretary Of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Trump selected Pete Hegseth as his secretary of defense Tuesday, praising his status as a combat veteran and role as a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend. Hegseth was deployed in Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq while serving with the Army National Guard. The veteran is the former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America, a conservative organization that has communicated with Trump on the matter of veterans affairs and received backing from billionaire Charles G. Koch—one of the wealthiest people in the world. Hegseth has also made appearances on various Fox Nation series.Cia Director: John Ratcliffe
Former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as the CIA’s director.
