Project: Presidential Cabinet

Link to Assignment: Presidential Cabinet Project

Part I: The Cabinet

The President’s Cabinet

“The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.”

-Excerpt from obamawhitehouse.archive.gov

Process of Confirmation

“The Constitution divides the responsibility for populating the top positions in the executive branch of the federal government between the President and the Senate. Article II, Section 2 empowers the President to nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint the principal officers of the United States, as well as some subordinate officers.

“These positions are generally filled through the advice and consent process, which can be divided into three stages: 

“1. The White House selects and clears a prospective appointee before sending a formal nomination to the Senate. 

“2. The Senate determines whether to confirm a nomination. For most nominations, much of this process occurs at the committee level. 

“3. The confirmed nominee is given a commission and sworn into office, after which he or she has full authority to carry out the duties of the office.

“The President may also be able to fill vacancies in advice and consent positions in the executive branch temporarily through other means. In some cases, the President may be able to designate an official to serve in a vacant position on a temporary basis under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act or under statutory authority specific to the position. Alternatively, if circumstances permit and certain conditions are met, the President could choose to give a recess appointment to an individual. Such an appointment would last until the end of the next session of the Senate. In practice, recess appointments have become less common in recent years.”

-Excerpt from Congressional Research Service, Appointment and Confirmation of Executive Branch Leadership, March 2021

Part II: Cabinet Positions

Part III: President Trump's Cabinet Confirmation

Research Links

Pete Hegseth

Pete Hegseth - Pete Hegseth's official webpage.  

7 things to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's defense secretary pick - This article provides a broad overview of Hegseth's life and career.  

Pete Hegseth says he won't 'back down' as scrutiny grows over misconduct allegations - This article discusses the problems facing Hegseth's confirmation.

Pete Hegseth's Secret History - This article is critical of Hegseth's past public service.  

Pete Hegseth Is a Distruptive Choice for Secretary of Defense.  That's a Good Thing - This article is supportive of the choice of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense.  

Pam Bondi

The Honorable Pam Bondi - this is Pam Bondi's official webpage.  

Who is Pam Bondi, Trump's attorney general nominee - This article provides a broad overview of Bondi's life and career.  

Pam Bondi, tapped by Trump for AG, still haunted by controversies - This article is critical of the choice of Pam Bondi for Attorney General.

Who is Pam Bondi, Trump's New Pick for Attorney General - This article is supportive of the choice of Pam Bondi for Attorney General.  

Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Representative Chavez-DeRemer - this is Chavez-DeRemer's official webpage.  

What to know about Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump's pick for labor secretary - This article provides a broad overview of Chavez-DeRemer's life and career.

Labor Nominee Chavez-DeRemer: More Trump Loyalist Than Union Ally - This article is critical of the choice for Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor.  

Trump's unusual labor secretary pick - Oregon's Chavez-DeRemer - could have an impact at home - This article is broadly supportive of Chavez-DeRemer to lead the Department of Labor.  

Howard Lutnick

Howard W. Lutnick - This is Howard Lutnick's personal webpage.

What to know about Howard Lutnick, Trump's pick for commerce secretary - This article provides an overview of Lutnick's life and career.  

Donald Trump's commerce secretary pick Howard Lutnick is a Wall Street titan who lost his brother-and nearly 70% of his employees-in the 9/11 attacks - This article is mostly critical of the choice for Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department.  

Markets look to Howard Lutnick, other Trump economic picks for signals on tariffs - This article is mostly supportive of the choice for Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department.

Linda McMahon 

What to know about Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for Education secretary - This article provides a broad overview of the life and career of Linda McMahon.  

Where does Linda McMahon, Trump's education secretary nominee, stand on key issues - This article discusses McMahon's positions on education issues.  

Linda McMahon's background as Trump's pick for education secretary - This article provides a broad overview of McMahon's life.

Top Three Reasons Linda McMahon Should Not Be Secretary of Education - This article is critical of the choice for McMahon to lead the Department of Education.  

Brooke Rollins

The Honorable Brooke L. Rollins - This is Rollins' personal website.

What to Know About Brooke Rollins, Trump's Pick for USDA Secretary - This article provides a broad overview of the life and career of Brooke Rollins.

Trump Selects Brook Rollins as Next Secretary of Agriculture - This article is supportive of the choice of Rollins for Agriculture Secretary.  

Trump taps loyalist Rollins for USDA chief in surprise pick - This article is somewhat critical of the choice for Rollins to lead the Department of Agriculture.

Governor Kristi Noem

South Dakota Governor - This is Kristi Noem's personal webpage.  

What to Know About Kristi Noem, Trump's Pick For Homeland Security Secretary - This article provides a broad overview of the life and career of Kristi Noem.  

Be careful what you wish for, Gov. Noem - This article is critical of the choice of Noem for the Department of Homeland Security.   

What to know about Kristi Noem, the 'border hawk' nominated by Trump to lead DHS - This article is supportive of the choice of Noem for the Department of Homeland Security.