US President-elect Donald Trump has added a new name to his cabinet, tapping retired general James Mattis to be his secretary of defense.
He was the second retired general to be picked for the cabinet after lieutenant general Mike Flynn, Trump's choice as national security adviser.
The following is a list of key nominations made by Trump so far:
Cabinet-level
Attorney General: Jeff Sessions, 69
One
of Trump's earliest supporters during the campaign, the
anti-immigration senator from Alabama has a much criticized record on
race relations and was once denied a judgeship amid concerns over past
comments about blacks.
CIA Director: Mike Pompeo, 52
A
strident critic of the Iran nuclear deal, the hawkish Kansas
congressman was elected in 2010 to the House of Representatives, where
he was a member of the hardline Tea Party faction and one of the leaders
of the controversial Benghazi Committee that targeted Trump's
Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton.
Commerce: Wilbur Ross, 79
A
US asset investor and billionaire, Ross is best known for investing in
failing steel and coal firms and selling them for profit. He was once
known as the "king of bankruptcy" for his history of investing in such
businesses.
Defense Secretary: James Mattis, 66
A
retired four star Marine general, Mattis commanded US forces in the
Middle East and Southwest Asia from 2010 to 2013, capping a career as a
combat commander that earned him the nickname "Mad Dog." A scholar of
warfare, he is said to have a particular interest in the challenge posed
by Iran. He opposes the use of torture, bluntly telling Trump in their
first interview he could do better with a pack of cigarettes and a
couple of beers. To become secretary of defense, Mattis would have to
get a congressional waiver from a law that bars generals from serving as
defense secretary for seven years after leaving active duty.
Education: Betsy DeVos, 58
A
wealthy activist and Republican megadonor from Michigan, DeVos is a
champion of alternatives to local government schools, a movement that
advocates the use of tax credits and vouchers to allow parents to opt
out of the public school system.
Health and Human Services: Tom Price, 62
The
Georgia lawmaker and former orthopedic surgeon is a robust critic of
President Barack Obama's signature health care reform law, the
Affordable Care Act, which has provided health coverage to 20 million
Americans.
National Security Advisor: Retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, 57
A
top military counsel to Trump, the retired three-star general, a
veteran of America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has courted
controversy with extreme statements that critics say border on
Islamophobia, but has taken a more flexible line on Russia and China.
Transportation: Elaine Chao, 63
The
Taiwan-born former US labor secretary under president George W. Bush
also served as the deputy secretary of transportation in his
administration. She was the first Asian-American woman to serve in the
cabinet and is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Treasury: Steven Mnuchin, 53
The
Wall Street veteran was a partner at Goldman Sachs before he launched
an investment fund backed by Democratic Party supporter George Soros and
financed Hollywood blockbusters like "Avatar" and "Suicide Squad."
Ambassador to the UN: Nikki Haley, 44
As
South Carolina's governor, Haley rose to prominence when she led
efforts for the divisive Confederate flag to be pulled from the state's
capitol following a 2015 massacre at a historic black church in
Charleston. The daughter of Indian immigrants was sharply critical of
Trump during the election campaign.
Non-cabinet positions
Chief of Staff: Reince Priebus, 44
Head
of the Republican National Committee, Priebus is a seasoned political
operative who can build bridges between Trump and a skittish Republican
leadership, particularly House Speaker Paul Ryan, a longtime ally.
Chief Strategist: Steve Bannon, 63
A
key figure in Trump's victorious election campaign, Bannon served as
the executive chairman of conservative news platform Breitbart, a
favorite news source of the so-called "alt right," an offshoot
conservative movement that embraces a mixture of populism, racism and
white nationalism. His appointment, which does not require Senate
confirmation, has been controversial.
White House Counsel: Donald McGahn
A
former commissioner and chairman of the Federal Election Commission,
McGahn represents "elected officials, candidates, national state
parties, political consultants, and others on political law issues," as a
partner at the Jones Day law firm in Washington.
Key positions still outstanding
State
Trump
has led a contentious search for secretary of state. The prospective
candidates touted most frequently have been erstwhile Trump critic and
former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and outspoken former New York
mayor Rudy Giuliani, along with disgraced general David Petraeus and
Senator Bob Corker.
Homeland Security
Those
believed to be under consideration include Marine General John Kelly;
Fran Townsend, the former Homeland Security advisor to president George
W. Bush; and Congressman Michael McCaul, the head of the House Homeland
Security Committee.
No comments:
Post a Comment