President-elect Donald Trump, ahead of his return to power in January, is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration.
Trump began to roll out his nominees and appointees just days after his election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. They include some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.
Trump will have a Republican-controlled Senate and possibly a Republican-controlled House to help usher his picks through. But he’s also urging the incoming Senate leader to embrace recess appointments, which has led to speculation some of his choices may be more controversial.
Here is a running list of whom Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration.
Secretary of state: Marco Rubio
Trump is expected to announce Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Rubio is the vice-chair of the Senate Select Committee on Foreign Intelligence and sits on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. He holds hard-line views on China, Iran and Russia, although like other Republicans he has shifted on support for Ukraine’s war effort to be more aligned with Trump.
Rubio will need to be confirmed by the Senate. Read more about Rubio’s experience here.
‘Border czar’: Tom Homan
Trump announced former Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan will serve as “border czar.”
He will be charged with seeing out the mass deportations Trump promised throughout his campaign.
Homan oversaw ICE under the Trump administration for a year and a half, at a time when the administration’s “zero tolerance” policy led to parents being separated from their children at the border.
“Border czar” is not an official Cabinet position, meaning it won’t need Senate confirmation. Read more about Homan here.
Chief of staff: Susie Wiles
Susie Wiles will be the first female chief of staff for any White House.
Wiles was Trump’s co-campaign manager for his 2024 run. Trump also credited her for her work on his 2016 and 2020 White House bids, though his 2024 bid ran smoother and saw fewer shake-ups.
Wiles is the daughter of legendary NFL Hall of Famer Pat Summerall. She will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post.
Deputy chief of staff for policy: Stephen Miller
Trump is expected to announce that Stephen Miller will become his deputy chief of staff for policy, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Vice president-elect JD Vance seemingly confirmed the news, calling it “another fantastic pick” by Trump.”
Miller is one of Trump’s senior advisers and helped craft his hard-line immigration policies during his first term. He will be key in trying to implement Trump’s 2024 campaign pledge to mass deport migrants illegally living in the U.S.
He will not require Senate confirmation to serve in the post. Read more about Miller’s background here.
Ambassador to the United Nations: Elise Stefanik
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik has been tapped to be Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik joined Congress as a moderate Republican but became one of Trump’s key defenders after his first impeachment and after his 2020 election loss. She joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference.
Stefanik made headlines this past year as she challenged university presidents on their handling of protests over the Israel-Gaza war. She’s also accused the United Nations of antisemitism over some of the resolutions passed amid the conflict.
Stefanik will have to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the role. Read more about Stefanik here.
Environmental Protection Agency administrator: Lee Zeldin
Trump has tapped former New York congressman Lee Zeldin to lead the EPA.
Zeldin represented Long Island’s Suffolk County in the House of Representatives for eight years before launching a failed bid for governor against Democrat Kathy Hochul. Before becoming an elected official, Zeldin was an attorney.
Zeldin has pledged to eliminate regulations at the EPA he claimed are hampering businesses. He also said he wanted to restore energy independence as well as protect access to clean air and water.
Zeldin will need Senate confirmation to serve in the role. Read more about him here.
National security adviser: Mike Waltz
Trump has picked Florida Rep. Michael Waltz to be his national security adviser.
Waltz, who was the first Green Beret elected to the House, sits on the House Intelligence, Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. Before becoming an elected official, Walz served in various national security policy roles.
The national security adviser is appointed by the president with no Senate confirmation needed.
Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
Trump announced he has nominated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
The role, which will need to be confirmed by the Senate, will be a key appointment as tensions remain high in the Middle East. Like David Friedman, Trump’s first ambassador to Israel, Huckabee is an outspoken supporter of the Israeli settlement movement.