President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room on March 3, 2025.Photo:Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty
Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty
PresidentDonald Trump’s government is beginning to take form followinghis inauguration on Jan. 20, but he is still waiting for a few key players to join the team.
A large number of government positions require the U.S. Senate’s approval, including every Cabinet secretary and other Cabinet-level officials.
In order to be formally hired, Trump’s nominees must first undergo confirmation hearings, where senators can grill them on their qualifications and confront them with any concerns. The Senate will then deliberate and, ultimately, schedule votes on whether to approve or deny each of Trump’s nominees.
Among the most controversial nominees wereTulsi Gabbard, the proposed director of national intelligence who has been accused of aligning with foreign adversaries;Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the anti-vaccine Democrat turned MAGA-supporting HHS secretary nominee; andKash Patel, the far-right FBI director nominee whose temperament and experience have been called into question.
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Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Marco Rubio, Donald Trump’s secretary of state nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty
Status:Confirmed
Date of Vote:Jan. 20, 2025
Vote Tally:99-0
The former Florida senator, 53, notably served on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his tenure on Capitol Hill.
02of 23Scott Bessent, Secretary of the TreasuryScott Bessent, Donald Trump’s treasury secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Jan. 27, 2025Vote Tally:68-29Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, a 62-year-old gay man who once supported Al Gore’s presidential campaign and worked as an investor for liberal philanthropist George Soros, has become an unlikely ally of Trump’s who served as an economic adviser for the Trump 2024 presidential campaign.The secretary of the treasury is effectively the chief financial officer of the United States government, in charge of shaping an administration’s economic policy.
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Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
Scott Bessent, Donald Trump’s treasury secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 27, 2025
Vote Tally:68-29
Hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, a 62-year-old gay man who once supported Al Gore’s presidential campaign and worked as an investor for liberal philanthropist George Soros, has become an unlikely ally of Trump’s who served as an economic adviser for the Trump 2024 presidential campaign.
The secretary of the treasury is effectively the chief financial officer of the United States government, in charge of shaping an administration’s economic policy.
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Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, at his Jan. 14 confirmation hearing.Andrew Harnik/Getty
Andrew Harnik/Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 24, 2025
Vote Tally:51-50
Thedramatic confirmation vote, which came late on a Friday night, resulted in a tie after Republican Sens.Lisa Murkowski,Susan CollinsandMitch McConnellbroke from the party to oppose his confirmation. Vice PresidentJ.D. Vance, who acts as president of the Senate, broke the tie, handing him the position.
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Pam Bondi, Attorney General
Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, at her first of two confirmation hearings on Jan. 15.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 4, 2025
Vote Tally:54-46
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was Trump’s second pick to lead the Department of Justice, after the first attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz,quickly withdrew his nominationamid scandal. Bondi underwent two days of confirmation hearings.
05of 23Doug Burgum, Secretary of the InteriorDoug Burgum, Donald Trump’s interior secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Jan. 30, 2025Vote Tally:79-18Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota who challenged Trump in the 2024 presidential primaries, was nominated to serve as a pro-fossil fuel interior secretary.Burgum, 68, previously founded venture capitalist and real-estate development firms. He is reportedly among the richest politicians in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of at least $1.1 billion.
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Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior
Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s interior secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 30, 2025
Vote Tally:79-18
Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota who challenged Trump in the 2024 presidential primaries, was nominated to serve as a pro-fossil fuel interior secretary.
Burgum, 68, previously founded venture capitalist and real-estate development firms. He is reportedly among the richest politicians in the U.S., with an estimated net worth of at least $1.1 billion.
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Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture
Brooke Rollins, Donald Trump’s agriculture secretary nominee, at her Jan. 23 confirmation hearing.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 13, 2025
Vote Tally:72-28
Rollins has an agricultural development degree from Texas A&M University and she formerly served as Trump’s director of domestic policy during his first term.
07of 23Howard Lutnick, Secretary of CommerceHoward Lutnick, Donald Trump’s commerce secretary nominee, at his Jan. 29 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 18, 2025Vote Tally:51-45Billionaire Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick, who helped Trump make staffing decisions for the new administration, was chosen to serve as the secretary of commerce.Lutnick, 63, is the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and acted as a co-chair on Trump’s presidential transition team.
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Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce
Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump’s commerce secretary nominee, at his Jan. 29 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 18, 2025
Vote Tally:51-45
Billionaire Wall Street executive Howard Lutnick, who helped Trump make staffing decisions for the new administration, was chosen to serve as the secretary of commerce.
Lutnick, 63, is the CEO of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and acted as a co-chair on Trump’s presidential transition team.
08of 23Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of LaborLori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary nominee, at her Feb. 19 confirmation hearing.Status:ConfirmedDate of Vote:March 10, 2025Vote Tally:67-32Former Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, 56, was unexpectedly named Trump’s pick for secretary of labor just days after losing her reelection bid. Representing a swing district for one term in the House, she was seen as a generally pro-union Republican, making her addition to a less labor-friendly administration a surprising choice.
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Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Donald Trump’s labor secretary nominee, at her Feb. 19 confirmation hearing.
Date of Vote:March 10, 2025
Vote Tally:67-32
Former Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, 56, was unexpectedly named Trump’s pick for secretary of labor just days after losing her reelection bid. Representing a swing district for one term in the House, she was seen as a generally pro-union Republican, making her addition to a less labor-friendly administration a surprising choice.
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services
Vote Tally:52-48
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who abandoned his independent 2024 presidential campaign to throw his support behind Trump, was nominated to overhaul the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump previously said that he would let the anti-vaccine activist, 71, “do whatever he wants” with government health agencies when he’s sworn in.
As a former Democrat with some fringe beliefs about health, Kennedy wasmet with skepticismfrom members of both parties, making his confirmation process one of the most closely watched.
10of 23Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentScott Turner, Donald Trump’s HUD secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 5, 2025Vote Tally:55-44Former NFL defensive back Scott Turner, 52, previously worked with Trump’s first-term HUD Secretary Ben Carson as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.Turner — who played for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos — served as a Texas state representative from 2013 to 2017. He also founded the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, which aims to support children from low-income families through “sports, mentorship and economic opportunity.”
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Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Scott Turner, Donald Trump’s HUD secretary nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 5, 2025
Vote Tally:55-44
Former NFL defensive back Scott Turner, 52, previously worked with Trump’s first-term HUD Secretary Ben Carson as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
Turner — who played for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos — served as a Texas state representative from 2013 to 2017. He also founded the Community Engagement & Opportunity Council, which aims to support children from low-income families through “sports, mentorship and economic opportunity.”
11of 23Sean Duffy, Secretary of TransportationSean Duffy, Donald Trump’s transportation secretary nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.Samuel Corum/GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Jan. 28, 2025Vote Tally:77-22Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host, was nominated with orders from Trump to stop airlines from considering diversity and inclusion when hiring pilots. Duffy, 53, immediately resigned from Fox when the announcement was made.
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Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation
Sean Duffy, Donald Trump’s transportation secretary nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.Samuel Corum/Getty
Samuel Corum/Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 28, 2025
Vote Tally:77-22
Sean Duffy, a former Wisconsin congressman and Fox Business host, was nominated with orders from Trump to stop airlines from considering diversity and inclusion when hiring pilots. Duffy, 53, immediately resigned from Fox when the announcement was made.
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Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy
Chris Wright, Donald Trump’s energy secretary nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 3, 2025
Vote Tally:59-38
The chief executive of a hydrofracking company, Wright has previously downplayed wildfires as just “hype” and said things like, “There is no climate crisis and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition.” Still, at his confirmation hearing, he vowed to support all “reliable” energy, which would include solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal.
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Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education
Date of Vote:March 3, 2025
WWE co-founderLinda McMahonwas chosen to oversee a federal department that Trump has expressed interest in abolishing. McMahon, 76, played a pivotal role on Trump’s transition team and served as administrator of the Small Business Administration during Trump’s first term.
CNN’sKristen Holmesreported that McMahon was nominated for education secretary after Trump passed her over for commerce secretary, which she wanted.
14of 23Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans AffairsDoug Collins, Donald Trump’s VA secretary nominee, at his Jan. 21 confirmation hearing.Samuel Corum/GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 4, 2025Vote Tally:77-23Former Congressman Doug Collins, who served as a member of the House of Representatives for Georgia’s 9th district from 2013 to 2021, was tasked with overseeing veteran affairs — including benefits, health care, and memorials and cemeteries for veterans.
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Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Doug Collins, Donald Trump’s VA secretary nominee, at his Jan. 21 confirmation hearing.Samuel Corum/Getty
Vote Tally:77-23
Former Congressman Doug Collins, who served as a member of the House of Representatives for Georgia’s 9th district from 2013 to 2021, was tasked with overseeing veteran affairs — including benefits, health care, and memorials and cemeteries for veterans.
15of 23Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland SecurityKristi Noem, Donald Trump’s DHS secretary nominee, at her Jan. 17 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Jan. 25, 2025Vote Tally:59-34Trump unexpectedly nominated South Dakota Gov.Kristi Noemto lead the department of homeland security, which oversees immigration and border security, in addition to anti-terrorism efforts, cyber-security, disaster prevention and the Secret Service. Many believed he would select someone with more border state experience, or someone who has worked in one of the immigration and border-related government agencies.Though Noem will be the official DHS secretary, Trump appointed former ICE leader Tom Homan to serve as his “border czar” and oversee the administration’s mass deportation program. By creating the position of border czar, which is not an official Cabinet role, Trump was able to get Homan into a position of power without needing the Senate’s approval.
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Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Kristi Noem, Donald Trump’s DHS secretary nominee, at her Jan. 17 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 25, 2025
Vote Tally:59-34
Trump unexpectedly nominated South Dakota Gov.Kristi Noemto lead the department of homeland security, which oversees immigration and border security, in addition to anti-terrorism efforts, cyber-security, disaster prevention and the Secret Service. Many believed he would select someone with more border state experience, or someone who has worked in one of the immigration and border-related government agencies.
Though Noem will be the official DHS secretary, Trump appointed former ICE leader Tom Homan to serve as his “border czar” and oversee the administration’s mass deportation program. By creating the position of border czar, which is not an official Cabinet role, Trump was able to get Homan into a position of power without needing the Senate’s approval.
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Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator
Lee Zeldin, Donald Trump’s EPA administrator nominee, at his Jan. 16 confirmation hearing.TING SHEN/AFP via Getty
TING SHEN/AFP via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 29, 2025
Vote Tally:56-42
Former New York Rep.Lee Zeldin, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, was chosen to helm the Environmental Protection Agency and take “swift deregulatory actions” to help American businesses.
17of 23Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and BudgetRussell Vought, Donald Trump’s OMB director nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Jan. 6, 2025Vote Tally:53-47Russ Vought, a co-author of Project 2025, was asked to return to his former role under Trump as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position that helps compile the president’s annual budget and ensure that federal agencies are acting in accordance with the White House.
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Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Russell Vought, Donald Trump’s OMB director nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 6, 2025
Vote Tally:53-47
Russ Vought, a co-author of Project 2025, was asked to return to his former role under Trump as director of the Office of Management and Budget, a position that helps compile the president’s annual budget and ensure that federal agencies are acting in accordance with the White House.
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Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence
Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s national intelligence director nominee, at her Jan. 30 confirmation hearing.Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 12, 2025
One of Trump’s riskiest nominations came when he chose former Hawaii Rep.Tulsi Gabbard, 43,to oversee all of the United States intelligence agencies as the director of national intelligence.
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John Ratcliffe, CIA Director
John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump’s CIA director nominee, at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing.JEMAL COUNTESS/AFP via Getty
JEMAL COUNTESS/AFP via Getty
Date of Vote:Jan. 23, 2025
Vote Tally:74-25
20of 23Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade RepresentativeJamieson Greer, Donald Trump’s trade representative nominee, at his Feb. 6 confirmation hearing.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc/GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 26, 2025Vote Tally:56-43Jamieson Greer was selected to serve as the United States' trade representative after Trump doubled down on his threat to impose steep tariffs on a number of foreign nations.Greer, who served as chief of staff to Trump’s former trade representative, will be in charge of negotiating trade deals and settling the many anticipated trade disputes.
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Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative
Jamieson Greer, Donald Trump’s trade representative nominee, at his Feb. 6 confirmation hearing.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc/Getty
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc/Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 26, 2025
Vote Tally:56-43
Jamieson Greer was selected to serve as the United States' trade representative after Trump doubled down on his threat to impose steep tariffs on a number of foreign nations.
Greer, who served as chief of staff to Trump’s former trade representative, will be in charge of negotiating trade deals and settling the many anticipated trade disputes.
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Elise Stefanik, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump’s U.N. ambassador nominee, at her Jan. 21 confirmation hearing.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty
Status:Finished Confirmation Hearing, Not Yet Voted On
Date of Vote:TBD
Vote Tally:TBD
New York Rep.Elise Stefanik, who earned prominence as the fourth-ranking House Republican, agreed to vacate her role in order to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik replaced Wyoming Rep.Liz Cheneyaschair of the House GOPin 2021, after Cheney wasstripped of her leadership positionfor speaking out against Trump. Stefanik, now 40, was the youngest congresswoman in history at the time of her swearing-in in 2015. Once considered a moderate, she rose the ranks after moving further right to become a fierce defender of the MAGA movement.
22of 23Kelly Loeffler, SBA AdministratorKelly Loeffler, Donald Trump’s SBA administrator nominee, at her Jan. 29 confirmation hearing.Kevin Dietsch/GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 19, 2025Vote Tally:52-46Kelly Loeffler, 54, was nominated to serve as the administrator of the Small Business Administration. The wealthy businesswoman —who once co-owned the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream— previously served 12 months in the U.S. Senate after getting appointed to complete a retired senator’s term. She also co-chaired Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee.
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Kelly Loeffler, SBA Administrator
Kelly Loeffler, Donald Trump’s SBA administrator nominee, at her Jan. 29 confirmation hearing.Kevin Dietsch/Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 19, 2025
Vote Tally:52-46
Kelly Loeffler, 54, was nominated to serve as the administrator of the Small Business Administration. The wealthy businesswoman —who once co-owned the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream— previously served 12 months in the U.S. Senate after getting appointed to complete a retired senator’s term. She also co-chaired Trump’s 2025 inaugural committee.
23of 23Kash Patel, FBI DirectorKash Patel, Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee, at his Jan. 30 confirmation hearing.Anna Moneymaker/GettyStatus:ConfirmedDate of Vote:Feb. 20, 2025Vote Tally:51-49Christopher Wray, who was appointed to a 10-year term as FBI director in 2017, resigned on the final day of Joe Biden’s administration after Trump threatened to push him out.Trump nominated Kash Patel to take Wray’s place, despite that Patel does not meet the minimum criteria for the role that the law demands. Patel, 44, has peddled a number of false conspiracy theories — including about the FBI’s actions — since serving as an adviser in Trump’s first administration. He is known for being fiercely loyal to Trump.
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Kash Patel, FBI Director
Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee, at his Jan. 30 confirmation hearing.Anna Moneymaker/Getty
Anna Moneymaker/Getty
Date of Vote:Feb. 20, 2025
Vote Tally:51-49
Christopher Wray, who was appointed to a 10-year term as FBI director in 2017, resigned on the final day of Joe Biden’s administration after Trump threatened to push him out.
Trump nominated Kash Patel to take Wray’s place, despite that Patel does not meet the minimum criteria for the role that the law demands. Patel, 44, has peddled a number of false conspiracy theories — including about the FBI’s actions — since serving as an adviser in Trump’s first administration. He is known for being fiercely loyal to Trump.
source: people.com
