President-elect Donald Trump has made several key picks for his Cabinet, with notable selections including Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, and former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. However, there are still several positions that remain unfilled.
Howard Lutnick, the head of Cantor Fitzgerald and Trump transition co-chair, is reportedly vying for the role of treasury secretary, according to sources familiar with the matter. Meanwhile, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent is also a top contender for the position. Other potential candidates include former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton and Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty, who are considered as 'dark horses' for the role. Clayton is also being considered for secretary of labor.
Discussions surrounding a potential role for North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum have shifted towards the possibility of him serving as an 'energy czar,' sources familiar with the discussions revealed.
Trump has reiterated his intention to close down the Department of Education, a proposal he has been advocating since his 2016 campaign. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana has emerged as a potential candidate to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As of now, Trump has yet to announce his picks for secretaries of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, US trade representative, the Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Small Business Administration.
It remains uncertain what changes Trump will implement within his advisory body. He has appointed tech billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead a proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has expressed criticism towards the Education Department, while Ramaswamy, during his presidential campaign, vowed to reduce the federal workforce by 75%.
