It’s been about a year since the dust settled on the 2024 election, and if you’ve been watching the news lately, you know the room looks a lot different than it did during the first go-around. Basically, the question of who will be in trumps cabinet isn't a "maybe" anymore—the seats are filled, the Senate has done its thing, and the machinery of the federal government is moving under some very familiar, and some very controversial, hands.
Honestly, it's a bit of a whirlwind. If you remember the first term, there was a lot of turnover, but this time, the picks feel much more "on brand" for the MAGA movement. We aren't seeing as many "adults in the room" or traditional GOP establishment types this time around. Instead, it’s a mix of loyalists, media personalities, and firebrands who were chosen specifically to dismantle what Trump calls the "Deep State."
The "Big Four" and the Power Centers
The top of the pyramid is where things get interesting. You've got Marco Rubio leading the State Department. He was actually one of the first to get through, and he did it with a staggering 99-0 vote in the Senate back in January 2025. People were kinda surprised he got that much bipartisan love, but compared to some of the other nominees, he was seen as a safe, hawkish bet for foreign policy.
Then there’s the money. Scott Bessent is the guy at the Treasury. He’s a hedge fund veteran who basically spent the last year convincing Wall Street that Trump’s tariffs wouldn't tank the global economy.
The Defense and Justice Shakeups
This is where the real drama happened. Pete Hegseth is your Secretary of Defense. Yeah, the guy from Fox News. His confirmation was a nail-biter—51 to 50, with J.D. Vance having to step in to break the tie. It was messy. People were worried about his lack of traditional management experience for a department that has millions of employees, but the administration wanted a "disruptor" at the Pentagon.
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Over at the Department of Justice, things didn't go exactly as planned at first. Remember the Matt Gaetz announcement? That lasted about a week before he withdrew. Now, Pam Bondi is the Attorney General. She’s a longtime Trump ally and former Florida AG who has been in his inner circle for years. She finally got confirmed in early February 2025 with a 54-46 vote.
Who Will Be in Trumps Cabinet: The Non-Traditional Picks
You can't talk about this cabinet without mentioning Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He’s running Health and Human Services (HHS). It’s wild to think about a Kennedy in a Republican cabinet, but here we are. He’s been talking about "Making America Healthy Again," which mostly involves taking on the food industry and vaccine mandates. His confirmation was another close one—52 to 48—mostly because Democrats and some moderate Republicans were terrified of his views on public health.
Then you have Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence. She’s a former Democrat who shifted hard toward Trump. Her job is basically to oversee all the spy agencies. It was a controversial pick, obviously, but she secured the spot with 52 votes in February.
- Susie Wiles: She’s the Chief of Staff. She doesn't need Senate confirmation, but she’s arguably the most powerful woman in DC right now. She’s the one who kept the 2024 campaign on the rails.
- Kristi Noem: The South Dakota Governor is running Homeland Security. She was confirmed early on, 59-34.
- Doug Burgum: He’s at Interior. He’s also heading up a new "National Energy Council," which is basically a way to coordinate all the drilling and energy production Trump wants to ramp up.
- Chris Wright: The Secretary of Energy. He’s a fracking executive, so you can guess what the priority is there.
The Economy and Labor
Howard Lutnick is at Commerce. He’s the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald and has been a huge fundraiser. He’s also been given a lot of power over the tariff strategy. At the Labor Department, Lori Chavez-DeRemer eventually took the helm. She was a bit of a late addition to the "confirmed" list, not officially getting the job until March 2025. She’s seen as someone who can talk to unions, though her path wasn't exactly smooth.
Education and the Environment
Linda McMahon is back. She used to run the Small Business Administration, but now she’s the Secretary of Education. Or, well, she's the person tasked with potentially phasing out the Department of Education entirely. That’s been the talk of the town for months.
On the environmental front, Lee Zeldin is the EPA Administrator. He’s been clear that his mission is "energy dominance," which usually means rolling back some of the Biden-era climate regulations.
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Key Positions and Confirmed Names
| Position | Official |
|---|---|
| Vice President | J.D. Vance |
| Secretary of State | Marco Rubio |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Scott Bessent |
| Secretary of Defense | Pete Hegseth |
| Attorney General | Pam Bondi |
| Secretary of Agriculture | Brooke Rollins |
| Secretary of Transportation | Sean Duffy |
| Secretary of HUD | Scott Turner |
| CIA Director | John Ratcliffe |
Wait, I almost forgot John Ratcliffe. He’s back at the CIA. He held a similar role in the first term, so he was a pretty easy "yes" for most Republicans, getting 74 votes in the Senate.
The Outliers: DOGE and the Advisers
There’s also this thing called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Technically, it’s not an official government department (because that would require an Act of Congress), but Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are running it as an outside advisory group. They are looking for trillions of dollars in "waste" to cut. It’s been a bit of a media circus, but they have the President's ear, which makes them just as influential as most cabinet members.
What This Means for You
So, why does any of this matter? Well, if you’re wondering who will be in trumps cabinet, you’re really asking about how the country is going to be run for the next three years.
- Deregulation: With guys like Chris Wright and Lee Zeldin, expect a massive push to cut red tape in the energy sector.
- Trade: Howard Lutnick and the trade team are very serious about 10-20% across-the-board tariffs. This could change the price of everything from your iPhone to your milk.
- Healthcare: RFK Jr. at HHS means we might see big shifts in how the FDA and CDC operate. Whether that’s good or bad depends on who you ask, but it’s going to be a change.
- Immigration: Between Kristi Noem and the "Border Czar" Tom Homan (who isn't in the cabinet but is extremely high-ranking), the focus is squarely on mass deportations and finishing the wall.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're trying to stay ahead of these changes, here’s what you should probably keep an eye on:
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- Monitor Trade Policy: If you run a business or buy imported goods, watch the Commerce Department. The tariff talk is moving into the implementation phase.
- Health and Wellness: Pay attention to HHS guidelines. RFK Jr. is likely to target food dyes and certain additives, which could change what's on your grocery store shelves.
- Energy Stocks: The "drill baby drill" philosophy is the law of the land now. This is a big shift for the energy market and utility costs.
- Legal Landscape: With Pam Bondi at the DOJ, the focus has shifted toward investigating "lawfare" and refocusing federal law enforcement on domestic issues like crime and border security.
The cabinet is the most visible part of the "Second Term" strategy. It's a group built for speed and loyalty. Unlike the 2017 cabinet, which had a lot of internal friction, this 2026 team is largely in lockstep with the White House. Whether that leads to efficiency or a lack of oversight is the big debate in Washington right now.