Confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, 2025

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Trump Administration
(second term)
Donald Trump • J.D. Vance
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Administration: Donald Trump's Cabinet • Confirmation process for Cabinet nominees
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This page provides an overview of the confirmation process for Donald Trump's (R) Cabinet nominees in his second presidential term.

What is the Cabinet?

The Cabinet comes from Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that the president "may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices."[1]

While not explicitly identified in the Constitution, Cabinet secretaries include the 15 agency heads who are in the presidential line of succession. There are other Cabinet-rank positions, such as director of national intelligence and ambassador to the United Nations, that vary by the administration. All of these positions require Senate confirmation. The vice president and White House chief of staff, which do not require Senate confirmation, are also part of the Cabinet.

How does the confirmation process work?

The confirmation process includes several rounds of investigation and review, beginning with the submission of a personal financial disclosure report and a background check. The nominee is then evaluated in a committee hearing, which allows for a close examination of the nominee and his or her views on public policy. Supporters and opponents of the nominee may also testify.[2]

Once committee hearings are closed, most committees have a set amount of time before a vote is taken on whether the nominee is reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation. The nomination will then go to the Senate floor for consideration. Once the nomination is considered by the Senate, unlimited debate is allowed until a majority of the Senate votes to invoke cloture and close debate. Following a vote of cloture, the Senate conducts a simple majority vote on whether to confirm, reject, or take no action on the nomination.[3]

Recent hearings, votes, and nominations

  • December 4, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) as administrator of the Small Business Administration.[4]
  • November 26, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate Jamieson Greer as U.S. trade representative.[5]
  • November 23, 2024: Trump announced he would nominate Brooke Rollins for secretary of Agriculture.[6]


Overview

See also: Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025

The following table provides an overview of the status, confirmation hearings, and committee and Senate votes for each of Trump's Cabinet and Cabinet-rank nominees in his second term. This list of positions is based on the Cabinet-level positions at the start of Trump's first term in 2017.

Overview of confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in his second term
Nominee Position Announced Senate committee Confirmation hearing Committee vote Senate vote Status
Marco Rubio Secretary of State November 13, 2024 Foreign Relations Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Scott Bessent Secretary of the Treasury November 22, 2024 Finance Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense November 12, 2024 Armed Services Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Matt Gaetz Attorney General November 13, 2024 Judiciary N/A N/A N/A Withdrew on November 21, 2024
Pam Bondi Attorney General November 21, 2024 Judiciary Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Doug Burgum Secretary of the Interior November 14, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Brooke Rollins Secretary of Agriculture November 23, 2024 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Howard Lutnick Secretary of Commerce November 19, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Lori Chavez-DeRemer Secretary of Labor November 22, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of Health and Human Services November 14, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
/ Finance		 Pending / Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Scott Turner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development November 22, 2024 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Sean Duffy Secretary of Transportation November 18, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Chris Wright Secretary of Energy November 16, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Linda McMahon Secretary of Education November 19, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Doug Collins Secretary of Veterans Affairs November 14, 2024 Veterans' Affairs Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Kristi Noem Secretary of Homeland Security November 12, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Jamieson Greer U.S. Trade Representative November 26, 2024 Finance Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence November 13, 2024 Intelligence (Select) Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Elise Stefanik U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations November 11, 2020 Foreign Relations Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Russell Vought Director of the Office of Management and Budget November 22, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs / Budget Pending / Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Lee Zeldin Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency November 11, 2024 Environment and Public Works Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
Kelly Loeffler Administrator of the Small Business Administration December 4, 2024 Small Business and Entrepreneurship Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced
John Ratcliffe Director of the Central Intelligence Agency November 12, 2024 Intelligence (Select) Pending Pending Pending Nominee announced


Historical comparison of Cabinet confirmations

Comparison to Biden administration

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Joe Biden (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2021. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Trump's first term

The following chart displays how many days it took for President Donald Trump's (R) first term Cabinet secretaries to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2017. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Obama administration

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Barack Obama (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2009. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Constitution Center, "Presidential Advisors," accessed November 18, 2020
  2. ↑ CRS Report for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  3. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 4, 2019
  4. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, of Georgia, to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)," December 4, 2024
  5. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jamieson Greer as United States Trade Representative (USTR)," November 26, 2024
  6. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Brooke L. Rollins, of Texas, as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture," November 23, 2024
  7. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Scott Bessent as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States," November 22, 2024
  8. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Russell Thurlow Vought as the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB)," November 22, 2024
  9. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as United States Secretary of Labor," November 22, 2024
  10. ↑ X, "Matt Gaetz on November 21, 2024," accessed November 21, 2024
  11. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, as Attorney General of the United States," November 21, 2024
  12. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Howard Lutnick as the United States Secretary of Commerce," November 19, 2024
  13. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Linda McMahon will be the United States Secretary of Education," November 19, 2024
  14. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Sean Duffy, from Wisconsin, is Nominated to Serve as the Secretary of Transportation," November 18, 2024
  15. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Chris Wright as United States Secretary of Energy," November 16, 2024
  16. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, as Secretary of the Interior," November 15, 2024
  17. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," November 14, 2024
  18. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominate Former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as The United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA)," November 14, 2024
  19. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, as The United States Secretary of State," November 13, 2024
  20. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence (DNI)," November 13, 2024
  21. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, as The Attorney General of the United State," November 13, 2024
  22. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces John Ratcliffe as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)," November 12, 2024
  23. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Pete Hegseth to serve in Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," November 12, 2024
  24. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," November 12, 2024
  25. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA)," November 11, 2024
  26. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to Serve in Cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations," November 11, 2024
  27. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Susan Summerall Wiles as White House Chief of Staff," November 7, 2024
  28. ↑ Associated Press, "Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate," July 16, 2024
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