Large site logo

To Open The Sky

The Front Pages of Christopher P. Winter
Work in progress
Sleepy Trump
Trump Somnolent

Trump's Choices for Cabinet and other High-Level Officials

First and Second Terms Compared

3/06/2025

Donald Trump1 is in the process of selecting cabinet officials and certain other high-level staffers for his second term — a portion of the 4,000-odd positions in his administration that must be filled. Here is a table describing the cabinet officials proposed by Trump, listed in order of succession, in his first term and his second. I give brief backgrounds, confirmation dates & votes, and net worth (if known). Names given for his first term are the original choices; his first administration is notable for high turnover. Only when a second-term choice is confirmed will I add it to the list.

Below this list are the appointed positions, which do not require Senate confirmation. Given in alphabetical order by last name. Again, only the original choices from his first term are given.

Position
Old Pick: Background Confirmed Vote (Y/N) Worth New Pick: Background
Vice President
Michael Pence   JD Vance
Born 1959. Former governor of Indiana (2013-2017); previously a US Representative from Indiana's 2nd district for six terms (2001-2013). Holds a degree in history (Hanover Coll.) and a J.D. (McKinney Law School). Raised Catholic, became a born-again Christian in college. 1/20/2017 N/A $0.5M Born 1984. Served in the Marine Corps as a military journalist (2003-2007). Holds a Bachelor's degree (Ohio State) and a J.D. (Yale Law School). Worked as a corporate lawyer and a venture capitalist before winning a US Senate seat in 2022. Opposed Trump during 2016 but did a 180. A follower of Curtis Yarvin. Married to Usha Chilukuri, a Hindu, who he met at Yale. Converted to Catholicism in 2019. Has a German Shepherd dog.
1/20/2025 N/A $11.3M
Secretary of State
Rex Tillerson   Marco Rubio
Born 1952 in Texas. Worked as a busser in OSU student union. Picked cotton on weekends. Made Eagle Scout. Played drums in the high school band. Earned scholarship from Univ. of Texas Longhorns band. Earned a B.S. in civil engineering in 1975 (UT Austin). Joined Exxon as a production engineer, Became chairman & CEO in 2006, replacing Lee Raymond. Lobbied against Rule 1504 of Dodd-Frank, which required disclosure of payments to foreign governments. In 2017, Congress overturned Rule 1504 an hour before Tillerson was sworn in as Secretary of State. 2/01/2017 56-43 $0.5M Born 1971 in Florida. Graduated from HS in 1989. Earned a B.A. in political science from Univ. of Florida and a J.D. from Univ. of Miami law school. Served in Florida State House from 2000 to 2006, as speaker from 2004. Left due to term limits. Taught at Florida International University. Elected to US Senate in 2010. Began presidential bid in 2015, suspended it after Trump won Florida primary. Then won second Senate term in 2016 and third term in 2022, defeating Val Demings. A China hawk, he is banned from entering China.
1/20/2025 99-0 $5.0M
Secretary of the Treasury
Steven Mnuchin   Scott Bessent
Born 1962 in New York City. Earned a degree in economics in 1985 (Yale University). While at Yale, worked as a trainee at Salomon Brothers and lived in New Haven's Taft Hotel. Former Goldman Sachs partner and hedge fund manager. Led group that purchased failing IndyMac residential lender in 2009. Renamed OneWest, the bank had Mnuchin as CEO and chairman. One year later it was profitable, and it became the largest bank in southern California, with assets of $27 billion. In 2015, Mnuchin sold OneWest to CIT Group for $3.4 billion, remaining as CEO until he was nominated for Treasury Secretary. During his tenure, OneWest foreclosed on 36,000 California homes, earning Mnuchin the label of "foreclosure king." 2/13/2017 53-47 $0.5M Born 1962. Earned a degree in political science from Yale University. While at Yale, was an editor for The Yale Daily News, president of Wolf's Head Society, and treasurer for the class of 1984. He was chairman of the 1984 Yale Alumni Fund and assistant to the director of athletics. After graduation, worked at various investment firms. Joined Soros Fund Management in 1991, becoming a leading member of the team that made billions for the firm in arbitrage. Bessent hosted a fundraiser for Al Gore in 2000. Has donated to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In 2016, donated $1 million to Donald Trump's inauguration fund. In 2023 and 2024, donated $1 million to Trump's campaign. Hosted fundraisers that brought in more millions for Trump. Proposed a plan for Trump plan for Trump modeled on Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's "Three Arrows" economic policy.
1/27/2025 68-29 $1.0B
Secretary of Defense
James Mattis   Pete Hegseth
Born 1950 in Pullman, WA. Earned a B.A. in history from Central Washington University in 1971 and a Master of Arts in international security affairs from the National War College of National Defense University in 1994. Enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1969. Noted for his interest in the study of military and world history. He required his Marines to be well-read in the culture and history of regions where they were deployed. Served in southern Afghanistan, becoming the first Marine Corps officer to command a Naval Task Force in combat. Commanded the 1st Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the Iraq War. Believing a need for restraint in war is key to defeating an insurgency, he said: "Every time you wave at an Iraqi civilian, al-Qaeda rolls over in its grave." In July 2010, was recommended by SecDef Robert Gates to replace David Petraeus as commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and formally nominated by President Obama on July 21. Retired from the military in 2013. Served on General Dynamics board and as an Annenberg Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution. Served as Secretary of Defense 2017-2019. Resigned effective 2/28/2019 after Trump abruptly decided to pull U.S. troops out of Syria. Trump, incensed, forced him out at the end of 2018. His book Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, published 2019, called for an international foreign policy. 1/20/2017 98-1 $3.65M Born 1980 in Minnesota. Graduated from Forest Lake Area HS in 1999 as class valedictorian. Earned a B.A. in politics from Princeton University in 2003. Wrote for the university's conservative magazine, the Princeton Tory. As the magazine's publisher, he wrote in 2002 that he "strove to defend the pillars of Western civilization against the distractions of diversity." After graduation, was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Minnesota National Guard and worked as a Bear Sterns analyst. In 2013, earned a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Deployed to Guantánamo Bay Naval Base and to Iraq, where he earned a Bronze Star. Returned to duty in 2012 as a Captain, deployed to Afghanistan. Left the service with the rank of major assigned to the Army Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Was executive director of Concerned Veterans for America from 2013 to 2016; the group advocates more privatization of the VA Department. Reportedly urged Trump to pardon convicted war criminals. Joined Fox News in 2014, resigning when nominated to be Secretary of Defense.
1/24/2025 50-50 $6M
Attorney General
Jeff Sessions   Pam Bondi
Born 1946 in Selma, AL. Became an Eagle Scout in 1964, and later earned the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award for his many years of service. Attended Wilcox County High School, then Huntingdon College in Montgomery, earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1969. Was student body president and active in the Young Republicans & the marching band. He attended the University of Alabama School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1973. Nominated by Reagan in 1981 to be US Atty for Alabama's Southern District, he served 12 years. Prosecuted 3 Black men in 1985 for voter fraud; all were acquitted. Nominated by Reagan in 1986 to be a district judge in Alabama, he was not confirmed by the Senate. Alabama Attorney General (1995-1997). Elected to US Senate 1997; served until 2017 when he became US Attorney General. Disbanded the National Commission on Forensic Science. He properly recused himself from the "RussiaGate" investigation — but recommended that FBI director Comey be fired. Resigned in 2018 at Trump's behest. 2/08/2017 52-47 $6M Born 1965 in Florida. Graduated from C. Leon King High School in Tampa. Earned a BA with a criminal justice major from the University of Florida in 1987 and a JD from the Stetson University College of Law in 1990. Bondi was admitted to the Florida Bar in June, 1991. Became Florida Attorney General in 2010, reelected 2014. Led lawsuit to overturn the PPACA. Defended a Florida measure banning same-sex marriage. Considered joining a New York lawsuit against Trump University, but did not after a $25,000 campaign donation from Trump in 2013. Her term ended in 2018. As a private citizen, supported the White House Counsel in Trump's first impeachment. in 2020, supported Trump's claims of large-scale voter fraud in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
2/04/2025 54-46 $2M
Secretary of the Interior
Ryan Zinke   Doug Burgum
Born 1961 in Bozeman, MT, and raised in Whitefish. He was an Eagle Scout. He was a star athlete at Whitefish High School and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon in Eugene. Earned a B.S. in geology in 1984 and graduated with honors. Earned a master's degree in business administration from National University in 1993 and a Master of Science degree in global leadership from the University of San Diego in 2003. Zinke served as a U.S. Navy SEAL from 1986 to 2008, undergoing specialized naval warfare training and taking part in secret operations. In 2004, Zinke was deputy and acting commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula. In 2006, he was selected to establish the Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, serving as dean of the graduate school until his retirement from active duty in 2008. Served in the Montana senate 2009-2013, Zinke advocated increased coal production but saw climate change "a threat multiplier for instability in the most volatile regions of the world." In 2013, hosted a radio show in which he promoted conspiratorial theories including birtherism. In 2014, won Montana's at-large seat in the US House, where he advocated more fossil fuel use and expressed doubt about climate change. Served as Interior Secretary 2017-2019, when he resigned amid scandal. (Replaced by his deputy David Bernhardt, an oil industry lobbyist.) Returned to the US House in 2022. 3/01/2017 68-31 $6M Born 1956 in Arthur, ND. Graduated from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1978. While in college, started a chimney-sweeping business. Later studied at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he befriended Steve Ballmer, who became CEO of Microsoft. Completed his MBA from Stanford's Graduate School of Business in 1980. After graduating, worked as a consultant with McKinsey & Company in Chicago. In March 1983, started accounting software company Great Plains Software in Fargo. Sold the company to Microsoft in 2001, becoming Senior Vice President of Microsoft Business Solutions Group. Left Microsoft in 2007. Ran for governor in 2016, winning with 75% of the vote. He won in 2020 with 65% of the vote, but declined a third term, running for president instead. As interior secretary, strongly supports fossil fuels and wants resource extraction on federal lands.
1/30/2025 80-17 $1.1B
Secretary of Agriculture
Sonny Perdue   Brooke Rollins
Born 1946 in Perry, GA. played quarterback at Warner Robins High School and was a walk-on at the University of Georgia. In 1971, earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, and worked as a veterinarian before becoming a small business owner, eventually starting three small businesses. After serving as a member of the Houston County Planning & Zoning Commission in the 1980s, Perdue ran as a Democrat for the 18th District seat in the Georgia General Assembly. He defeated Republican candidate Ned Sanders in 1990 and served until 2002. After changing parties in 1998, he won his last two terms as a Republican. He subsequently won two terms as Georgia Governor. His education reforms moved Georgia out of last place in SAT scores. However, he opposed environmental regulations and passed tough laws against illegal immigrants. Ineligible to run for a third consecutive term as governor, he founded Perdue Partners, which facilitated the export of U.S. goods and services. Trump nominated him for Agriculture Secretary in January 2017. He was confirmed 87-11 on 24 April. During his tenure, Perdue focused on helping new farmers get started in agriculture. In December 2018, he changed the nutrition standards for school lunches to allow more refined grains, allow milk with added sugar, and increased sodium. In July 2019, he ordered two USDA agencies—the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture—to move from USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Two-thirds of the reassigned USDA employees chose to quit rather than accept relocation. In August 2019, Lewis Ziska, a USDA plant physiology climate scientist, quit after department administrators attempted to impede the publication of one of his studies in the journal Science Advances. Ziska described the department as internally fearful of Perdue's open skepticism towards climate change. Perdue is currently Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. 4/24/2017 87-11 $0.5M Born 1972 in Glen Rose, TX. Graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in agricultural development in 1994. While at Texas A&M, Rollins was the first woman elected student body president. She also served as the speaker pro tempore of the Student Senate, the chair of the Texas A&M Judicial Court, as a Fish Camp counselor, and was Cotton Bowl Classic Queen. In 2007, Rollins became the first female speaker at the College Station Aggie Muster, which honors deceased Texas A&M former students. She earned a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, graduating with honors. After graduating from law school, Rollins served as deputy general counsel, ethics advisor, and policy director to Texas Governor Rick Perry. She subsequently worked for several years at Hughes & Luce, LLP in Dallas and clerked under U.S. Federal District Court judge Barbara M. Lynn. Rollins was president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, an Austin-based conservative think tank, from 2003 through 2018. During her tenure at TPPF, the think tank grew from 3 staffers to 100. In 2011, Texas Monthly named Rollins one of the 25 most powerful Texans. In February 2018, Rollins replaced Reed Cordish as Trump's assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives and as a member of the Office of American Innovation. She was influential in the passage of the First Step Act, legislation that reforms the nation's prison system and seeks to reduce recidivism. In May 2020, Trump named her acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council. After Trump's defeat in 2020, Rollins became president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, founded in 2021 to promote Trump's public policy agenda. She is also a leader of the Save America Coalition, launched in 2021 to oppose President Biden's $3.5 trillion economic proposal. She was confirmed as Agriculture Secretary in February 2025, the first woman after Ann Veneman.
2/12/2025 72-28 $3M
Secretary of Commerce
Wilbur Ross   Howard Lutnick
Born 1937 in Weehawken, NJ. Attended Xavier High School, a Catholic school, and a college-preparatory school in Manhattan. Ran track and was captain of the rifle team, graduating in 1955. In 1959, he earnved a bachelor's degree from Yale College. At Yale, Ross worked at the radio station and edited one of the literary magazines. His faculty adviser at Yale helped him get his first summer job on Wall Street. In 1961, he earned a Master of Business Administration degree at Harvard Business School. He worked at various financial firms, then joined Faulkner, Dawkins & Sullivan, an institutional securities research firm, where he rose to become president of its investment banking operation. The firm was sold to what became Shearson Lehman. Began employment with the New York City office of Rothschild & Co, where he ran the bankruptcy restructuring advisory practice, in 1976. By 1998, Ross was involved in eight of the 25 biggest bankruptcies to date, including Drexel Burnham Lambert, Texaco, Public Service of New Hampshire (now Eversource Energy), and Eastern Air Lines. When Trump's three casinos in Atlantic City faced foreclosure from lenders. Ross, who was then the senior managing director of Rothschild & Co, represented investors in the casinos. Along with Carl Icahn, Ross convinced bondholders to strike a deal that allowed Trump to keep control of the casinos. 2/27/2017 72-27 $0.5M Born 1961 in Jericho, NY. Lutnick was a senior in high school when his mother died of lymphoma in 1978.[3] The following year, Lutnick entered Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania.[3] During his first week at school, Lutnick's father died after a nurse treating him for colon and lung cancers accidentally gave him 100 times the dose of chemotherapy drugs that he was supposed to receive.[6][3] Now orphans, Lutnick and his two siblings "felt abandoned by his relatives", and instead relied on themselves for support.[6][3] Lutnick, then 18, was forced to hire a lawyer to settle the debt his father left behind.[3] The president and dean of Haverford, an institution priding itself on a Quaker heritage, called Lutnick a week after his father's death and offered him a full scholarship for his education there.[7] Lutnick went on to graduate from the school with a degree in economics, in 1983.
1/20/2025 51-45 $1.5B
Secretary of Labor
Alexander Acosta   Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Born 1969 in Miami, FL, the son of immigrants from Cuba. Attended Gulliver School in Miami. Earned a B.A. degree in economics from Harvard College in 1990, and a J.D. degree cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1994. Was a law clerk to Samuel Alito, then a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1994-1995). Worked at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, DC, specializing in employment and labor issues. While in Washington, Acosta taught classes on employment law, disability-based discrimination law, and civil rights law at the George Mason University School of Law. Held four Sentae-confirmed positions in the GW Bush administration: Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (2001-2002); member of the National Labor Relations Board (2002-2003); Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (August 2003-2005); US attorney for the Southern District of Florida (2005-2008?). In that role he successfully prosecuted high-profile suspects including Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist involved in various financial crimes. Acosta was also involved in the unusually lenient 2008 plea deal with Jeffrey Epstein and others, which halted an FBI investigation into their crimes and sealed the indictment. In 2009, Acosta became the second dean of Florida International University College of Law. He became chairman of U.S. Century Bank in Florida on 31 December 2013. Trump nominated him for Labor Secretary on 16 February 2017; he was confirmed on 27 April. The Miami Herald reported on Epstein's plea deal in late 2018. Epstein was arrested in 2019, and Acosta resigned the same month after a public outcry. (Andrew Puzder, CEO of CKE Restaurants, was Trump's first choice for Labor Secretary. He withdrew under pressure. So did Todd Ricketts, a finance-industry businessman, nominated to succeed Acosta.) 4/27/2017 60-38 $0.4M Born 1968 in Santa Clara, CA. Graduated from Hanford High School in 1986. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Fresno. She is a private pilot, as is her anethesiologist husband. Chavez-DeRemer was elected to the city council of Happy Valley, OR, in 2004. She was elected mayor in 2010 and reelected in 2014. She served as mayor until 2018. She ran for an Oregon House seat in 2016 and lost, explored a gubernatorial bid in 2017 but dropped out, ran again for Oregon's House in 2018 and lost again. In 2022, she won Oregon's 5th district seat in the US House. In that role she was the only Republican co-sponsor and one of three congressional Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) strongly opposed by business groups. She ran in 2024 but did not win reelection. Trump nominated her to be Labor Secretary on 22 November 2024. During her hearing for this position she walked back her support for an important part of the PRO Act. She was confirmed on 10 March 2025.
3/10/2025 67-32 $9.6M
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tom Price   Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Born 1954 in Lansing, MI. Grew up in Dearborn, MI where he attended Adams Junior High and Dearborn High School. Earned his B.A. (1975) and M.D. (1979) degrees from the University of Michigan. Completed a residency in orthopedic surgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and settled in Roswell, GA. Entered private practice in 1984; returned to Emory as an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery in 2002. He was the director of the orthopedic clinic at Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital. Member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, a conservative group that is anti-vax (thinks vaccination is a cause of autism), opposes Medicare, and denies HIV causes AIDs. Member of Georgia Senate 1996-2005. Member of US House 2005-2017. Opposes abortion and voted to defund Planned Parenthood. A Tea Party member, he would replace the ACA and overhaul Medicare and Social Security. Resigned from HHS September 2017 under pressure over expensive airplane trips. 2/10/2017 52-47 $0.5M Born 1954 at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. A nephew of President John F. Kennedy, he was raised at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, MA and at Hickory Hill, the family estate in McLean, VA. Graduated from the Palfrey Street School, a day school in a Boston suburb, in June 1972. Graduated from Harvard University 1976 with a B.A. in American history and literature. Earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1982 and a Master of Laws from Pace University in 1987. Kennedy struggled with drug abuse after his father's murder. At various times he used marijuana, cocaine and heroin, and was involved with an unsavory crowd. Became an assistant DA in Manhattan in 1982. Resigned July 1983 after failing the bar exam. Charged with Heroin possession in Rapid City, SD in September 1983, he pled guilty and was sentenced to 2 years probation with community service, for which he volunteered with the NRDC. In 1984, began volunteering with the group that became Riverkeeper in 1986, and when admitted to the New York bar in 1985 he became its senior attorney. In 2000, insisted on rehiring William Wegner, who had been fired when convicted of several felonies. Kennedy resigned from Riverkeeper in 2017. With a number of other Riverkeeper veterans, he founded Waterkeeper Alliance in 1999; it became the umbrella group for 344 Waterkeeper programs. Its "Clean Coal is a Deadly Lie" campaign began in 2001 and filed dozens of lawsuits against mining practices. Expanding his legal protection of the environment, he founded Kennedy and Madonna LLP in 200 with partner Kevin Madonna. The firm achieved notable victories. But in 2005, Kennedy opposed the Cape Wing project, arguing that its electricity would cost $0.25 per kWh. Following various other ventures, he was considered for top environmental jobs in government. He began a presidential run as a Democrat in April 2023, but dropped out in August and endorsed Trump. After winning the presidency, Trump nominated Kennedy for HHS. Despite serious defects, including responsibility for measles deaths in Tonga due to his criticism of vaccines, Kennedy was confirmed as HHS Secretary on 2/13/25 by a vote of XXX
2/13/2025 52-48 $15M
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Dr. Ben Carson   Scott Turner
Born 1951 in Detroit, MI. His parents separated in 1959 and he moved with his mother and brother to Boston. There, he and his brother attended a two-4oom schoolhouse run by the Berea Seventh-day Adventist church. In 1961 they moved back to Detroit to the house his mother received in her divorce settlement. He and his brother struggled in public schools, but improved when his mother made them read and report on two library books per week. The family's fortunes gradually improved, and Carson attended prominently Black Southwestern High School grades 9-12. He did well academically there, played euphonium in the band and attained the rank of cadet colonel in the Army JROTC. He applied to Yale University and was offered a full scholarship, graduating in 1973 with a B.A. in psychology. He entered the University of Michigan medical School that year, struggling at first but persevering until he began to excel academically. He graduated with an M.D. degree in 1977 and was accepted by Johns Hopkins medical school neurosurgery program, completing the final year as chief resident in 1983. After serving at a hospital in Australia as Senior Registrar 1983-4, he returned to Johns Hopkins and was appointed the director of pediatric neurosurgery. He turned in some impressive performances and retired in July 2013. After taking part in various business ventures, he ran for president in 2015 but withdrew in March 2016. He joined Trump's transition team as vice chairman, then served as HUD Secretary 2017-2021. He is the author of 6 books and now lives in Florida. 3/01/2017 58-41 $0.5M Born 1972 in Texas, Turner grew up in the Dallas area. He played football and ran track at Pearce High School, graduating in 1990. He earned a full academic and athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois, winning plaudits on the football field there. He graduated with a degree in speech communications in 1995. He played professionally with three NFL teams, and served as an advisor to NFL management. After retiring from football, he accepted a full-time job in Cong. Duncan Hunter's office. In 2012, he won the 33rd District seat in the Texas House, serving until 2017. Trump appointed him director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, created by Executive Order 13853, in 2019. He became HUD Secretary in 2025. Turner and his wife Robin are members of Prestonwood Baptist Church, where he serves as an associate pastor.
2/05/2025 55-44 $1.24M
Secretary of Transportation
Elaine L. Chao   Sean Duffy
Born 1953 in Taipei, Taiwan and raised in New York State. Attended Syosset High School in Syosset, New York, and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen at the age of 19. Earned a B.A. degree in Economics from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School. Chao was a vice president for syndications at Bank of America Capital Markets Group in San Francisco, and an international banker at Citicorp in New York. In 1986, became Deputy Administrator of the Maritime Administration in the Department of Transportation. From 1988 to 1989, served as chairwoman of the Federal Maritime Commission. In 1989, George H.W. Bush nominated her to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation; she served from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1992, she was the director of the Peace Corps. She was the first Asian Pacific American to serve in any of these positions. She expanded the Peace Corps' presence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia by establishing Peace Corps programs in Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Russia. Served as president and CEO of United Way of America 1982-1986. Was Secretary of Labor during the George W. Bush administration 2001-2009, his only cabinet member to serve eight years. At Labor, expanded the recovery of back wages and proposed quadrupling fines for mine safety violations. Following the Bush administration, served as a director on a number of corporate and non-profit boards. Resigned from the board of Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2015 because of its plans to significantly increase support for the Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal" initiative. Resigned from Trump's cabinet on 7 January 2021, following the attack on the Capitol. 1/31/2017 93-6 $0.5M Born 1971 in Hayward, WI. Earned a marketing degree from Saint Mary's University and a J.D. degree from William Mitchell College of Law. Performed at various athletic events in his youth and held titles in pole-climbing. Latter appeared in various reality-TV shows including ESPN's Great Outdoor Games. Appointed Ashland County district attorney in 2002 and won the elective post in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. Was on the Republican slate of Wisconsin electors for the 2008 presidential election. In 2010, won election to the US House for Wisconsin's 7th district, serving 3 terms. In 2011, voted to eliminate the Davis-bacon Act wage requirements for federal projects. Served on the Select Investigative Panel on Planned Parenthood. Supported Trump's initial ban on Muslim entry to the US. In July 2018, called the retaliatory tariffs from Europe, China, Canada and Mexico "economic terrorism." Resigned his House seat September 2018 to care for an ailing daughter. Confirmed 77-22 as Transportation Secretary on 28 January 2025. On his first day on office, ordered his department to rescind and replace all existing corporate average fuel economy standards and eliminate the electric vehicle mandate.
1/28/2025 77-22 $0.635M
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Dr. David J. Shulkin   Doug Collins
Born 1959 at the Fort Sheridan US Army base in Highland Park, IL, where his father was an Army psychiatrist. Earned a BA from Hampshire College in 1982, and an MD degree from Medical College of Pennsylvania (since merged into Drexel University) in 1986. Did his medical internship at Yale School of Medicine, and his residency and fellowship in General Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Presbyterian Medical Center. He was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. Shulkin specialized in health care management. He was President and CEO of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, president of Morristown Medical Center, and vice president of Atlantic Health System Accountable Care Organization. During his career he also held academic positions including Chairman of Medicine and Vice Dean at Drexel University College of Medicine, and Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Nominated by Barack Obama in 2015, he was renominated by Trump in 2017 but fired by Trump in 2018 amid controversies including Shulkin's requirement that all legal settlements with employees be approved by top-level Department officials. Turmoil ensued over 3 new nominees until Robert Wilkie was confirmed a second time. 2/13/2017 100-0 $0.5M Born 1966 in Gainesville, Georgia. Graduate of North Hall High School. Earned a B.A. in political science and criminal law from North Georgia College & State University in 1988. Attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, receiving his M.Div. in 1996. Collins also earned his J.D. from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School in 2007. Interned with Georgia US Rep. Ed Jenkins, then worked as a salesman selling safety products to Georgia state and local governments. Served two years as a US Navy chaplain in the late 1980s. From 1994 to 2005, was a senior pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church. After 9/11, Collins joined the USAF Reserve Command, where he presently serves as a chaplain (Colonel). Deployed to Balad Air Base for five months in 2008 with the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia. Served 3 terms in the Georgia House (2007-2013). In 2012 and 2016, won a 9th district seat in the US House. His percentages were 55% and 76% respectively. Ran in the special election for a Georgia US Senate seat but lost in the primary, subsequently alleging fraud. In December 2020, joined 125 other House Republicans to sign an amicus brief supporting a lawsuit contesting the presidential election result in Pennsylvania. Nominated by Trump for VA Secretary November 2024; confirmed on 4 February. Appointed interim head of the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel on 11 February.
2/04/2025 77-23 $1.5M
Secretary of Homeland Security
John F. Kelly   Kristi Noem
Born 1950 in Boston, MA. Served a year in the US Merchant Marine. Enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1970. Discharged 1972 to attend college. Returned in 1975, completed OCS and was commissioned a 2nd Lt on 27 December 1975. Graduated from the Univ. of Massachusetts Boston. In 1984, earned an M.A. in National Security Affairs from Georgetown School of Foreign Service. Graduated from National Defense University in 1995 with a M.S. in strategic studies; was selected as Commandant's Liason to US House and promoted to Colonel. In 1999, served as special assistant to Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Joined the 1st Marine Div. in 2002, serving as Asst. Div. Cdr, often deployed to Iraq. After numerous other posts, Kelly was confirmed by the Senate as General and took the lead of U.S. Southern Command for four years, with oversight of Guantánamo. Lost his son to combat in Afghanistan. Nominated by Trump to head Homeland Security on 7 December 2016. 1/20/2017 88-11 $5M Born 1971 in Watertown, SD. Graduated from Hamlin High School; was crowned South Dakota Snow Queen in her senior year. Attended Northern State University 1990-1994; did not graduate, leaving early to help run the family farm after her father died. Later took classes at the Watertown campus of Mount Marty College and at South Dakota State University, and online classes from the University of South Dakota. Earned a B.A. in political science from South Dakota State University in 2012 while serving as a U.S. Representative. Served in the South Dakota House of Representatives (2007-2011). Won her state's at-large seat in the US House in 2011. Elected governor of South Dakota in 2018; served until 2025.
1/25/2025 59-34 $5M
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Scott Pruitt   Lee Zeldin
Born 1968 in Danville, KY. Grew up in Lexington. Played football and baseball at Lafayette High School, earning a baseball scholarship to the University of Kentucky, Transferred to Georgetown College in Kentucky and graduated in 1990 with bachelor's degrees in political science and communications. He then moved to Tulsa, OK, where he attended the University of Tulsa College of Law, earning a J.D. in 1993. Started Christian Legal Services, a solo legal practice in Tulsa focused on defending Christians in religious liberty cases. Elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 1998. There, he chaired a task force for the American Legislative Exchange Council. Strove to limit workers' compensation and sponsored a bill that imposed drug tests on workers involved in on-the-job accidents. Twice introduced legislation to give fathers' "property rights" over fetuses, meaning a pregnant woman would need the consent of the father prior to an abortion. Left the state senate in 2006. Became Oklahoma Attorney General in 2010 with 65% of the vote. Dissolved the AG's Environmental Protection Unit, stating that "the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality — not the Office of Attorney General — has primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing environmental laws in Oklahoma. Sued the Obama administration over its immigration policy, the PPACA, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In 2012, kept Oklahoma out of the mortgage settlement reached by 49 other states with five national lenders. Pruitt's 2013 reelection campaign was chaired by Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources. Ran unopposed in the primary and was reelected in 2014. Sued the EPA a total of 13 times. Received $300,000 in donations from the oil & gas industry. In March, 2014, joined a lawsuit targeting California's ban on the sale of eggs laid by caged hens kept in restrictive conditions. The suit was rejected on the basis that other states lacked standing. In April 2015, Pruitt told school superintendents that schools can lawfully allow the dissemination of religious literature on campus. In 2015, the Oklahoma Supreme Court rejected Pruitt's defense of a Ten Commandments Monument on the state Capitol grounds. In 2016, joined Nebraska in suing to restrict Colorado's law on marijuana. The Guardian reported in July 2017 the close relationship between Pruitt and various Koch brothers-backed advocacy groups. Confirmed as EPA director, Pruitt chose former members of Senator Jim Inhofe's (R-OK) staff as his top three deputies. Removed scientists from EPA's Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) and from other positions. Studies found he had made the agency business-friendly. A Harvard University analysis found it would likely "cost the lives of over 80,000 US residents per decade and lead to respiratory problems for many more than 1 million people." Andrew Wheeler, a former coal industry lobbyist, was confirmed as Deputy Administrator in April 2017. He became acting Administrator when Pruitt resigned amid various financial scandals in July 2018. 2/17/2017 52-46 $0.5M Born 1980 in East Meadow, NY. Raised in Suffolk County, NY and graduated from William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, NY in 1998. Earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the SUNY University at Albany in 2001 and a J.D. from Albany Law School in May 2003. In 2004, he was admitted to the New York State Bar. Received an Army ROTC commission as a second lieutenant, and served in the US Army 2003-2007. In 2007, transitioned from active duty to the Army Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In 2007, became an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Ran a general-practice law firm in Smithtown, NY (2008-2010). Was elected to New York's 3rd State Senate district in 2010, defeating Democratic incumbent Brian Foley. Voted against the Marriage Equality Act and the New York Dream Act, and would, he said, have voted against the NY SAFE Act, a gun control bill that later became law but was in Virginia on Army Reserve duty. In 2014, won election to the US House, serving until 2022. Ran for New York Governor in 2022, but lost to Kathy Hochul. Sworn in as 17th EPA administrator on 29 January 2025. During his gubernatorial campaign, he pledged to reverse New York state's 2015 ban on hydraulic fracturing. In 2022, he voted against the Inflation Reduction Act. He had "expressed doubts about the severity" of climate change in 2014. In April 2018, Zeldin said he did not support the Paris Agreement, expressing concern about "other countries that are contributing to very adverse impacts on our climate but not having the level of responsibility that they need to have in stepping up and making a positive change in their own countries." However, during his confirmation hearing for EPA Administrator, Zeldin stated that climate change is a real issue and needs to be addressed.
1/29/2025 56-42 $0.44M
Office of Management and Budget Director
Mick Mulvany   Russell Vought
Born 1967 in Alexandria, VA and grew up in Charlotte, NC. Attended Charlotte Catholic High School. Majored in international economics, commerce and finance at Georgetown University as an Honors Scholar of the School of Foreign Service. Graduated with honors in 1989. Earned a J.D. at the University of North Carolina law school, focusing on antitrust law in 1992. After serving in a private law firm 1992-1997, he joined his family's real estate business. Elected to the SC House in 2006, to the state Senate in 2008, and to the US House seat for SC's 5th district in 2010, serving until 2016. Aligned with the Tea Party movement, he opposed abortion rights and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. At OMB, sought to influence Trump to cut Social Security and Medicare. Cut the CFPB's power and funding as much as he could. Became acting WH Chief of Staff in December 2018. 2/15/2017 52-49 $5M Born 1976. Earned a BA from Wheaton College and a JD from the George Washington University Law School. Confirmed 50-49 as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on 28 February 2018. Became acting Director in January 2019 and confirmed as director 51-45 in July 2020. In 2019, defied a subpoena to testify before Congress in relation to the administration's impounding funds allocated for Ukraine. A self-proclaimed Christian nationalist, he started the Center for Renewing America, an organization dedicated to "a consensus of America as a nation under God" and to opposing critical race theory. Was the architect of Project 2025.
2/06/2025 53-47 $5M
Energy Secretary
Rick Perry   Chris Wright
Born 1950 in Haskell, TX. Attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the BSA. Earned a B.S. in animal science from Texas A&M University in 1972. Upon graduation, was commissioned as a USAF officer. Completed pilot training February 1974. Left the Air Force at the rank of Captain in 1977, returning to Texas to work at his father's cotton farm. Elected to the Texas House as a Democrat from District 64 in 1984, serving 3 terms. Supported Al Gore in the 1988 presidential election. Became a Republican in 1989. Served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner (1990-1997) and as Lieutenant Governor (1999), becoming Governor when George W. Bush resigned. Served for 14 years. Ran for president in 2012 and 2016. As Energy Secretary, supported Trump's ban on transgender serving in the military and proposed reducing sexual assault in Africa by using fossil fuels for lighting. Left the office December 2019. 3/02/2017 62-37 $0.5M Born 1965. Grew up in Colorado. Earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. in electrical engineering from MIT. Was a graduate student in electrical engineering there and at UC Berkeley. Founded shale gas production company Pinnacle Technologies in 1992 and served as CEO until 2006. In April 2024, testified that the SEC rule requiring disclosure of GHG emissions was unlawful and that risks of extreme weather were decreasing. Donated $228,390 to Trump's campaign in 2024.
2/03/2025 59-38 $171M
Secretary of Education
Betsy DeVos   Linda McMahon

Born Elizabeth Prince in 1958, the eldest child of Elsa & Edgar Prince. Grew up in Holland, MI, where her father founded Prince Corporation, an automobile parts supplier. Educated at Holland Christian High School, a private school located in Holland. Graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI with a B.A. in business economics in 1979. Grew up as a member of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Has been a member & elder of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids. Participated in the Michigan Republican Party since 1982. Served 16 consecutive two-year terms as local precinct delegate since 1986. Was a Republican National committeewoman for Michigan between 1992 and 1997 and served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party from 1996 to 2000. Ran again for party chairman in 2003 and was elected to the post without opposition. Like other DeVos family members, she strongly opposed government limits on political donations and spending, regarding them as limits on free speech. During the 2016 Republican primaries, initially donated to Jeb Bush & Carly Fiorina before supporting Marco Rubio. In March 2016, DeVos described Donald Trump as an "interloper" who "does not represent the Republican Party."

In business, DeVos chairs the privately held Windquest Group that invests in technology, manufacturing, and clean energy. She and her husband founded it in 1989. They are investors in and board members of Neurocore, a controversial group of treatment centers offering biofeedback therapy for disorders such as depression, attention deficit disorder, autism, and anxiety.

Trump's transition team announced DeVos as the nominee to be the next secretary of education on 23 November 2016. The announcement was criticized by The Detroit Free Press, The New Yorker, and the American Federation of Teachers. In general, it was panned by teachers' unions and praised by fans of school choice. More than 300 state lawmakers from across the US objected in a letter to the Senate. A quarrelsome hearing drew mockery when DeVos suggested certain schools might need guns to ward off grizzly bears. Ahead of her confirmation vote, Democrats filibustered by speaking on the floor for 30 hours. The final vote was 50-50, a tie broken by Mike Pence. At the start of her tenure, DeVos cut the team investigating fraud in for-profit schools from 12 to 3, and named the former head of DeVry Education Group to lead it. DeVry was one of the schools being investigated. She also undid several Obama administration policies designed to protect student loan borrowers. During the pandemic, she diverted millions of dollars to private and religious schools and asserted that there was no danger to students attending in person.

 2/07/2017 51-50 $579M

Born 1948 in New Bern, NC to parents who both worked at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. An only child, she grew up as a "tomboy" playing basketball and baseball. She married Vince McMahon soon after graduating from Havelock High School; they had been dating through their hhigh school years. She enrolled at East Carolina University in 1966, obtaining a bachelor's degree in French in a teacher education program. In 1969 the couple moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where McMahon worked as a receptionist at the corporate law firm of Covington & Burling; she translated French documents, trained as a paralegal in the probate department, and studied intellectual property rights. The family struggled financially and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1976. By 1979, Vince was promoting wrestling events at the Cape Cod Coliseum. He purchased it in 1980 and founded Titan Sports Inc. to promote hockey games and other sporting events as well as wrestling. In 1982 Vince McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling, the parent company of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from his father. He soon expanded by broadcasting matches on television. In 1983, the McMahons moved to Greenwich, CT.The WWF grew rapidly and evolved into WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

Linda McMahon was appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Jodi Rell in January 2009. In September 2009, she resigned as CEO of WWE to run as a Republican for a US Senate seat from Connecticut. She spent $50 million of her own money on the campaign, defeating her primary opponents but losing to Richard Blumenthal in the general. She maintained a high profile after her defeat and ran in 2012, again winning the primary but losing the general — this time to Chris Murphy. She then committed to becoming a fundraiser for Republicans, donating to groups like American Crossroads and associating with mega-donor Paul Singer. In 2016, McMahon donated $6 million to Rebuilding America Now, a Super PAC aimed at electing Donald Trump as president, and in 2015-2016, gave $1.2 million to Future 45, a Super PAC funding anti-Bernie Sanders advertisements. After winning, Trump nominated McMahon to head the Small Business Administration. She was confirmed by a vote of 81-19. She was credited her with improving the SBA's offices' emergency call centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, hiring an additional 3,000 people to work them, and revamping the administration's online presence. She resigned in April 2019 to chair America First Action, a pro-Trump Super PAC.

McMahon was confirmed as United States secretary of education with a 51-45 vote.
3/03/2025 51-45 $11.3M
Director of National Intelligence
Dan Coats   Tulsi Gabbard
Born 1943 in Jackson, Michigan. Graduated from Jackson High School in 1961. Earned a B.A. degree in political science at Wheaton College in 1965. Following military service (Army Corps of Engineers, 1966-68), enrolled at the Indiana University School of Law. Serving as associate editor of the Indiana Law Review, completed his J.D. in 1972. Worked for then-Congressman Dan Quayle (1976-1980) as Quayle's district representative. When Quayle defeated incumbent Democrat Sen. Birch Bayh, Coats won Quayle's seat in the House and served 1981-1988. When Quayle was elected Vice President in 1988, Coats was appointed to his Senate seat and won a special election in 1990 and a full term in 1992. Did not run in 1998. Worked for international law firm Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand (2000-2001). Was George W. Bush's ambassador to Germany (2001-2005). In private life 2005-2010. In 2007, as a lobbyists for Cooper Industries, worked to block the closure of a tax loophole worth hundreds of millions to the company. Served again as Senator 2011-2016. As DNI, on 16 July 2018 reaffirmed the consensus that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. In January 2019, released the official threat assessment; the threats included election interference by hostile states and the increasing impacts of climate change. Was fired by Trump in August 2019. 3/15/2017 85-12 $0.5M Born 1981 in Leloaloa, Ma'opütasi County, on American Samoa's main island of Tutuila. Moved to Hawaii 1983, where the family had lived before. Spent two years at a girls' school in the Philippines, but was mostly home schooled. As a teenager, adopted the Hindu faith. Worked for Stand Up For America (SUFA), founded by her father after the 9/11 attacks. She was also associated with her father's The Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values, an anti-gay marriage political action committee. She worked briefly as an educator for the Healthy Hawai'i Coalition, which promoted protection of Hawaii's natural environment. Subsequently, she worked as a self-employed martial arts instructor. Dropped out of Leeward Community College, where she was studying television production, in 2002 to run for the Hawaii state legislature, becoming at 21 he youngest woman ever elected as a U.S. state representative. Graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in international business. In July 2004, deployed for 1-year tour in Iraq with the Medical Company, 29th Support Battalion, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Hawaii Army National Guard, earning a Combat Medical Badge in 2005. Was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal from the United States and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency.[ Completed Accelerated Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy at the top of her class in March 2007, stationed in Kuwait as an Army Military Police platoon leader (2008-2009). Promoted to Major in 2015, she served in the Hawaii Army National Guard until transferred to the 351st Civil Affairs Command, an Army Reserve unit assigned to the Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command, in June 2020. Promoted to Lt. Col. June 2021, commanded the 1st Battalion, 354th Regiment, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to her Wikipedia article, she also served concurrently in the US House 2013-2021.
2/12/2025 52-48 $0.5M
Central Intelligence Agancy Director
Mike Pompeo   John Ratcliffe
Born 1963 in Orange, CA. Played forward on the basketball team at Los Amigos High School in Fountain Valley, CA, graduating in 1982. Majored in engineering management in the US Military Academy at West Point, NY, graduating first in his class in 1986. Served in the U.S. Army (1986-1991) as an armor officer, tank platoon leader, cavalry troop executive officer, and squadron maintenance officer with the West Germany-based 2nd Squadron, 7th Cavalry in the 4th Infantry Division. Earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, in 1994. Worked as a lawyer for Williams & Connolly in Washington until 1996. Moved to Wichita, KS, where he and three friends from West Point acquired some aircraft parts makers and, with seed money from Koch Industries, formed Thayer Aerospace. Sold his interest in the company in 2006 to become president of Sentry International, an oilfield equipment manufacturer that partnered with Koch Industries. Represented the 4th district of Kansas in the US House from 2011 until becoming CIA Director. At his confirmation hearing, failed to disclose links between his company in Kansas and a Chinese government-owned firm. In August 2017, took direct command of the Counterintelligence Mission Center, the department which had helped to launch an investigation into possible links between Trump associates and Russian officials. Trump nominated him to become Secretary of State after Rex Tillerson left that position in March 2018. Gina Haspel became CIA Director after Pompeo was confirmed as Secretary of State. 1/23/2017 66-32 $0.5M Born 1965 in Mount Prospect, IL. Graduated from Carbondale Community High School in Carbondale, IL; from the University of Notre Dame in 1987 with a B.A. in government and international studies; and from the Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law) with a J.D. in 1989. Worked as a lwyer in private practice, leaving to join the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of Texas in 2004. In May 2007, Ratcliffe was named interim U.S. attorney for the district. He returned to private law practice when Rebecca Gregory was confirmed by the Senate as the permanent U.S. attorney for the district in April 2008. Ratcliffe's campaign Web site said that as a federal prosecutor he "personally managed dozens of international and domestic terrorism investigations involving some of the nation's most sensitive security matters" and "put terrorists in prison." There is no evidence Ratcliffe ever prosecuted a terrorism case. In 2009, Ratcliffe became a partner with former attorney general John Ashcroft in the law firm Ashcroft, Sutton, Ratcliffe. In 2012, Ratcliffe was part of Mitt Romney's transition team, helping to vet potential Presidential appointees. In late 2013, challenged Ralph Hall to win the primary for Texas 4th district. Ratcliffe won handily and ran unopposed in the general election. He served until 2020; his committee assignments included Judiaiary and Homeland Security. In January he joined the team defending Trump in his impeachment trial. He stated, "This impeachment is an assault on due process. It's an assault on the separation of powers. It's unconstitutional." Ratcliffe was nominated by Trump in February 2020 to replace Dan Coats as DNI. He was confirmed on 21 May 2020 by a vote of 49-44. During this term, he declassified information that implicated Hillary Clinton in a scheme to damage Trump; the intelligence community had rejected the charge as baseless. During the time Trump was out of office, Ratcliffe was a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, contributed to Project 2025 and the America First Policy Institute, and spoke at Trump/Vance campaign fundraisers. He was confirmed as CIA Director on 23 January 2025.
1/23/2025 74-25 $11M
Federal Bureau of Investigation director
James Comey   Kash Patel
Born 1960 in Yonkers, NY. The family moved to Allendale, NJ in the early 1970s. Attended Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale. Graduated with honors from the College of William and Mary in 1982, majoring in chemistry and religion. In his senior thesis Comey analyzed the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr and the televangelist Jerry Falwell, emphasizing their common belief in public action. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School in 1985. After law school, Comey clerked for then-US district judge John M. Walker Jr. in Manhattan. Then, he was an associate for Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in their New York office. He joined the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he worked from 1987 to 1993. While there, he was Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and helped prosecute the Gambino crime family. From 1996 to 2001, Comey was Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney in charge of the Richmond Division of the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In 1996, Comey acted as deputy special counsel to the Senate Whitewater Committee and was lead prosecutor in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing case. While in Richmond, Comey was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Richmond School of Law. Comey was US attorney for the Southern District of New York January 2002 to December 2003, when he became Deputy Attorney General. He was acting AG in March 2004 while John Ashcroft recovered from surgery; he refused pressure by White House officials Alberto Gonzales and Andrew Card to reauthorize domestic wiretapping. In 2005, he endorsed a memorandum that approved the use of 13 "enhanced interrogation methods, but rejected a second memo that allowed them in combination. Comey was general counsel and senior vice president for Lockheed Martin (2005-2010) when he joined the senior management committee at Bridgewater Associates, a Connecticut-based investment management firm. After leaving Bridgewater in 2013, he was appointed by Columbia University Law School as a senior research scholar and Hertog fellow on national security law. President Obama nominated Comey in May 2013 to replacing outgoing Robert Mueller as FBI Director. He was confirmed in July to a ten-year term. Trump fired him on 9 May 2017. 7/29/2013 93-1 $14M Born 1980 in Garden City, NY. Graduated from Garden City High School. Earned a BA in history and criminal justice from the University of Richmond in 2002. Completed his JD at Pace University School of Law in 2005, and obtained a certificate in international law from University College London in 2004. Moved to Florida and was admitted to the Florida Bar in April 2006. Worked as a public defender (2006-2014), first in the Miami-Dade County public defender's office and later as a federal public defender. Became a trial attorney in the USDOJ National Security Division, where he also served as a legal liaison to the Joint Special Operations Command. In 2017, Patel was appointed senior counsel on counterterrorism at the House Intelligence Committee. There, assisting chair Devin Nunes, Patel's role in opposing investigation of Trump included authoring the discredited Numes memo which, according to The New York Times, "galvanized President Trump's allies and made Mr. Patel a hero among them." Patel joined Trump's NSC staff in 2019, working in the International Organizations and Alliances directorate, and in July 2019 became senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate, a new position created for him. Some at NSC, including Fiona Hill, raised concerns that Patel was outside his purview by acting as Trump's liason to Ukraine. In February 2020, Patel became a principal deputy to Acting DNI Director Richard Grenell. Acting Director Richard Grenell. In November 2020, Trump named Patel chief of staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller, a move that followed Trump's firing of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Patel reportedly argued that Esper was disloyal to Trump by refusing to deploy military troops to Washington to quell the George Floyd protests. Patel remained at the Pentagon for three months. Trump proposed Patel as a potential leader for either the FBI or CIA in early 2021, contemplating installing Patel as either CIA deputy director or acting director, which would have required firing existing director Gina Haspel. This was resisted by Attorney General William Barr. In his last weeks in office, Trump planned to fire CIA deputy director Vaughn Bishop and replace him with Patel, but was talked out of doing so by Haspel, backed by Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Pat Cipollone. CNN reported in January 2025 that there were numerous incidents of Patel mishandling classified information. He is known to be among the most ardent supporters of Trump. In his book Government Gangsters, Patel criticizes the "deep state" and includes a list of sixty people he claims are prominent members. He has said he wants to turn FBI headquarters into a museum. Two days before his confirmation hearing, twenty-three former Republican officials released a letter stating that his confirmation would be "a grievous mistake that would endanger the FBI's integrity and compromise its critical mission." Patel was confirmed on 20 February 2025.
2/20/2025 51-49 $1.5M
Small Business Administration Director
Linda McMahon   Kelly Loeffler

Born 1948 in New Bern, NC to parents who both worked at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. An only child, she grew up as a "tomboy" playing basketball and baseball. She married Vince McMahon soon after graduating from Havelock High School; they had been dating through their hhigh school years. She enrolled at East Carolina University in 1966, obtaining a bachelor's degree in French in a teacher education program. In 1969 the couple moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland, where McMahon worked as a receptionist at the corporate law firm of Covington & Burling; she translated French documents, trained as a paralegal in the probate department, and studied intellectual property rights. The family struggled financially and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1976. By 1979, Vince was promoting wrestling events at the Cape Cod Coliseum. He purchased it in 1980 and founded Titan Sports Inc. to promote hockey games and other sporting events as well as wrestling. In 1982 Vince McMahon purchased Capitol Wrestling, the parent company of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from his father. He soon expanded by broadcasting matches on television. In 1983, the McMahons moved to Greenwich, CT.The WWF grew rapidly and evolved into WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment).

Linda McMahon was appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Education by Governor Jodi Rell in January 2009. In September 2009, she resigned as CEO of WWE to run as a Republican for a US Senate seat from Connecticut. She spent $50 million of her own money on the campaign, defeating her primary opponents but losing to Richard Blumenthal in the general. She maintained a high profile after her defeat and ran in 2012, again winning the primary but losing the general — this time to Chris Murphy. She then committed to becoming a fundraiser for Republicans, donating to groups like American Crossroads and associating with mega-donor Paul Singer. In 2016, McMahon donated $6 million to Rebuilding America Now, a Super PAC aimed at electing Donald Trump as president, and in 2015-2016, gave $1.2 million to Future 45, a Super PAC funding anti-Bernie Sanders advertisements. After winning, Trump nominated McMahon to head the Small Business Administration. She was confirmed by a vote of 81-19. She was credited her with improving the SBA's offices' emergency call centers in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, hiring an additional 3,000 people to work them, and revamping the administration's online presence. She resigned in April 2019 to chair America First Action, a pro-Trump Super PAC.

 2/14/2017 81-19 $500M

Born 1970 in Bloomington, IL and raised at the family farm in Stanford, IL. Graduated from Olympia High School in Stanford, where she was in the marching band, ran cross-country and track, and played varsity basketball. Earned a B.S. in marketing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Gies College of Business in 1992. After graduating, she worked as a district account manager for Toyota. Loeffler graduated with an MBA in international finance and marketing from DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in 1999.

After earning her MBA, Loeffler worked for Citibank, William Blair & Company, and the Crossroads Group. In 2002, she joined financial services firm Intercontinental Exchange to work in investor relations. She married the firm's CEO, Jeffrey Sprecher, in 2004. Loeffler was eventually promoted to senior vice president of investor relations and corporate communications. In 2018, she became the chief executive officer (CEO) of Bakkt, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Exchange. In 2010 she bought a minority stake in the WNBA Atlanta Dream but sold it in February 2021 amid controversy over her stance on the Black Lives Matter movement. Open Secrets records large donations made by her and her husband to Republican candidates and Super PACs including a Trump 2020 reelection super PAC.

When sitting Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson announced he would resign at the end of 2019, Dan Kemp appointed Loeffler to the seat. Calling herself the most conservative Republican in the Senate, she clove to Trump, opposed abortion and voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. After witnessing the storming of the Capitol, she changed her mind and voted to certify the election of President Biden. In the special election for the remaining two years of her term, Loeffler was defeated by Raphael Warnock.
2/05/2025 52-46 $800M

Notes:

1 Estimated net worth: $6.2 billion
2 A Forbes report in 2021 put the total worth of President Biden's cabinet at $118 million. Trump's cabinet could exceed $1 billion in net worth. His first-term cabinet hit $6.2 billion.
3 Net worth estimates are drawn from the New York Times, which relied on the officials' financial disclosure statements. The Times article dates from April 2017. Figures in shaded boxes come from other sources.

Sources

Trump 1.0

Trump 2.0
Valid CSS! Valid HTML 4.01 Strict To contact Chris Winter, send email to this address.
Copyright © 2025 Christopher P. Winter. All rights reserved.
This page was last modified on 23 March 2025.