- Nomination: Director of National Intelligence
- Net Worth: $500,000-1 million
Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman and military officer, has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Director of National Intelligence, overseeing 18 U.S. spy agencies. Gabbard, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, previously served in the Hawaii Army National Guard, with deployments to Iraq and Kuwait. She represented Hawaii's 2nd congressional district from 2013 to 2021, becoming the first Samoan-American member of Congress.
Initially a Democrat, Gabbard ran in the 2020 presidential primaries, highlighting her opposition to military interventionism. After leaving Congress in 2021, she adopted more conservative positions on issues like abortion and border security, frequently appearing on Fox News. In 2022, Gabbard left the Democratic Party and joined the GOP in 2024, endorsing Trump’s campaign.
- Nomination: Secretary of State
- Net Worth: $1 million
Marco Rubio, a Cuban American from Miami, has served as a U.S. senator from Florida since 2011. A Republican, he was previously Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives and ran for president in 2016, winning some primaries but losing to Donald Trump.
Despite past criticism of Trump, Rubio became a key supporter and influenced U.S. policy on Latin America during Trump’s presidency. In November 2024, Trump selected Rubio as Secretary of State, making him the first Latino to hold the position. Rubio, reelected to the Senate in 2022, endorsed Trump for the 2024 presidential race.
- Nomination: Secretary of Agriculture
- Net Worth: $1-5 million
Brooke Rollins is an American attorney and the current president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. She previously served as the acting director of the United States Domestic Policy Council during the 2016 Trump administration and led the White House Office of American Innovation.
Before her time in the White House, Rollins was the president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) from 2003 to 2018, growing the think tank from a small team to a staff of 100. Rollins has also held positions with Texas Governor Rick Perry, including deputy general counsel and policy director. A strong advocate for criminal justice reform, she has had a significant impact on conservative policy in the U.S. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Rollins as the United States Secretary of Agriculture.
- Nomination: Secretary of Homeland Security
- Net Worth: ~$5 million
Kristi Noem is an American politician, farmer, and author serving as the 33rd Governor of South Dakota since 2019. A Republican, she was previously the U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large district from 2011 to 2019 and served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.
Noem made history as the state's first female governor and gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for her refusal to impose a statewide mask mandate. A rancher, she is also an author, publishing Not My First Rodeo in 2022 and No Going Back in 2024, the latter sparking controversy over her account of killing a family dog. In November 2024, President Donald Trump selected Noem to be his nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security in his second term.
- Nomination: Vice President
- Net Worth: $10 million
J.D. Vance, a politician, attorney, and former Marine, is the vice president-elect of the United States. A Republican, he has served as Ohio’s junior U.S. senator since 2023 and was Donald Trump’s running mate in 2024.
After his military service, Vance graduated from Ohio State and Yale Law School, later working as a lawyer and venture capitalist. Known for his 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance became a strong Trump supporter after initially opposing him in 2016. A national conservative, he opposes abortion and gun control, with his views heavily influenced by Catholic theology and traditional family values.
- Nomination: Secretary of Health & Human Services
- Net Worth: $15 million
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is an American politician, environmental lawyer, and prominent anti-vaccine activist. He is the chairman of Children’s Health Defense, an organization that advocates against vaccines and spreads COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. RFK Jr. is a member of the famous Kennedy family, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy.
Kennedy’s early career focused on environmental law, where he worked with organizations like Riverkeeper and the Natural Resources Defense Council, securing victories against major polluters. He also founded Waterkeeper Alliance in 1999. Despite his environmental successes, his recent work has been controversial, especially his opposition to vaccination policies and public health measures. In 2024, he ran as an independent candidate in the presidential election and was nominated by Trump to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Nomination: Secretary of Defense
- Net Worth: $17 million
Pete Hegseth is an American TV host, author, and former Army National Guard officer who has been chosen as Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. A Fox News commentator since 2014 and co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend from 2017 to 2024, he previously led veterans' groups like Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
Hegseth has been involved in conservative politics since his college days at Princeton. He served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo Bay as a National Guardsman. A Trump supporter since 2016, he advised the president during his first term and influenced Trump’s 2019 pardons of soldiers accused of war crimes.
- Nomination: Department of Government Efficiency
- Net Worth: $1.1 billion
Vivek Ramaswamy is an entrepreneur and founder of the pharmaceutical company Roivant Sciences and also co-founded Strive Asset Management and built his wealth in biotech and finance, with an estimated net worth of $960 million. In 2023, he ran for the Republican presidential nomination but dropped out in 2024 after the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Donald Trump. Trump later announced Ramaswamy would co-lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency with Elon Musk.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a newly formed entity led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, tasked with advising the Trump administration on ways to streamline government operations, reduce spending, and eliminate inefficiencies. It operates outside the traditional government structure, providing recommendations to the White House and the Office of Management and Budget. The DOGE aims to bring a business-like approach to government, focusing on cutting costs, reducing bureaucracy, and improving service delivery.
- Nomination: Secretary of Education
- Net Worth: $3.2 billion
Linda McMahon is an American politician, business executive, and former professional wrestler. She served as the 25th Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, appointed by President Donald Trump. McMahon, along with her husband, Vince McMahon, co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where she served as president and CEO from 1980 to 2009.
In 2016, President-elect Trump nominated her to lead the SBA, and she was confirmed by the Senate in 2017. After stepping down in 2019 to support Trump’s reelection campaign, she became chairwoman of the pro-Trump Super PAC, America First Action. In November 2024, President Trump nominated McMahon to serve as the Secretary of Education in his second administration.
- Nomination: Department of Government Efficiency
- Net Worth: $334 billion
Elon Musk is a groundbreaking entrepreneur who has transformed industries like electric cars, space exploration, and artificial intelligence. He founded companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, and X (formerly Twitter), making a big impact on technology and infrastructure.
Recently, Musk became more involved in politics, donating over $118 million to the Trump campaign before the 2024 election. His influence was so strong that Trump allowed Musk to head the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.
