On Monday the 20th of January, Donald Trump was sworn in as the new 47th President of the United States. It is fair to say that his second term will be very different from his first one (2017-2020), due in large part to his picks for cabinet positions. The cabinet's job is to serve as the President's primary advisors and are made up of the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments.

Hence, his cabinet members will have a big impact on the policies we see over the next four years. Whilst many of these choices have been dubbed as controversial, what do they really mean for people like you and I?

Note: the Senate confirmations referenced below are up-to-date as of the 15th of February, 2025

Secretary of State - Marco Rubio

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Marco Rubio was unanimously confirmed by the US Senate as the new Secretary of State. His experience includes serving in the House of Representatives, including as Speaker of the House, being a Senator for three terms, and being a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

Having Rubio as the United States' top diplomat leaves a lot of uncertainty when it comes to major global issues, such as the war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, and the growing power of China. Although he seems to hold centrist views and values human rights, President Trump has different opinions when it comes to involvement in foreign matters. For example, Rubio believes that the US should help Taiwan gain independence, while Trump would rather side with China.

Only time will tell whether or not Rubio's views and actions stay consistent, or if he too adopts Trump's approach to foreign policy.

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Attorney General - Pam Bondi

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On paper, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) is highly qualified for the role. Pam Bondi was a corporate lobbyist for many years, just like numerous former Attorney Generals, and even served as Florida's first female Attorney General.

However, Trump's threat to use the DOJ to take revenge on his political enemies raises questions about where Bondi's loyalties truly lie. She has been a longtime Trump supporter and even backed his false claims about the 2020 election being stolen. When the time comes for her to make difficult decisions regarding how the DOJ's power should be used, many are unsure as to what her choice will be.

Defence Secretary - Pete Hegseth

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Arguably one of Trump's most problematic cabinet picks, Pete Hegseth previously served in the United States Army National guard and was a TV presenter notorious for his highly conservative views on Fox and Friends. Dubbed the nation's "least experienced" Defence Secretary by numerous government officials, his position was narrowly confirmed by the Senate following Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote.

There are a few reasons why Hegseth is a controversial choice for such an important role. He was pushed out of being the head of two veterans' affairs organizations due to mismanagement of funds, he has minimal experience with the department, and he has been accused of public intoxication as well as sexual harassment numerous times. Coupled with his views that women and people of color should not serve in the armed forces, it is fair to say that Hegseth's tenure as Defence Secretary will likely be ridden with scandals and problematic decisions.

Treasury Secretary - Scott Bessent

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Scott Bessent, who is the first openly gay Treasury Secretary, was confirmed by the Senate on the 27th of January. Senate Democrats looked upon him favorably due to his experience as the founder and CEO of the successful hedge fund Key Square Capital Management and for teaching economics courses at Yale University.

A longtime Trump supporter and advisor, many of Bessent's views on economic policy align with the president's. For instance, he believes that globalization is the primary reason for inequality in the United States and that high tariffs can help the economy (despite many economists claiming that it would worsen the cost-of-living crisis). During his tenure as Treasury Secretary, we can expect a major banking regulation overhaul, increased tariffs on imported goods, and a new Federal Reserve chairman.

Homeland Security - Kristi Noem

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Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was confirmed as the Director of Homeland Security on the 25th of January. Previously a farmer and small business owner, Noem has been in US politics since 2006.

However, the numerous scandals Noem was involved in while she served as the Governor of South Dakota led many to be skeptical of her appointment. From being banned from Native American lands by tribal leaders to mismanaging disaster relief of a flood and using a state plane for her own personal use, Noem has become notorious for abusing authority. Coupled with her strong views that migrants should be deported, it is clear that her decisions will be controversial.

Education Secretary - Linda McMahon

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Linda McMahon, the Trump transition team co-chair, former head of the US Small Business Administration, and co-founder of the WWE, has been appointed but not yet confirmed for the role of Education Secretary. McMahon is one of Trump's most problematic cabinet picks, with her having no prior experience in the public education sector and even falsely claiming to have a Bachelor's Degree in Education.

One of McMahon's primary goals is to privatize the education sector. Trump himself has said numerous times that he plans to dismantle the Federal Department of Education, and McMahon's plans to cut education funding would be a direct pathway to this. Many educators fear that already struggling public schools will be unable to provide quality education under McMahon.

Labor Secretary - Lori Chavez-DeRemer

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A far less controversial pick compared to his others, Trump has chosen Lori Chavez-DeRemer to oversee the country's Labor Department. She served as a representative from Oregon to the House of Representatives over the past two years, but narrowly lost re-election last year.

In some ways, Chavez-DeRemer's appointment could help the American workforce: her support of pro-union legislation and endorsement from major unions displays her commitment to helping workers. However, with her fierce support of Trump, along with his desire to cut back on Biden-era minimum wage and safety regulations, it is likely that the working class will continue to face challenges.

Health and Human Services Secretary - Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nephew of former US president John F. Kennedy, was recently confirmed to lead the nation's Health and Human Services Department. A former environmental lawyer, Kennedy founded the Waterkeeper Alliance (the world's largest clean water advocacy group) and was even named a "Hero of the Planet" by TIME Magazine in the early 2000s for his influential work.

However, his recent political stances and behaviors are nothing short of concerning, and Kennedy has no real experience in the healthcare sector. During his short-lived presidential campaign last year, he stirred up controversy due to troubling animal-related acts such as dumping a dead bear carcass in Central Park and strapping a dead whale head to his car during a road trip.

Since he will now be overseeing America's healthcare, people are also examining his views on health policy. For example, he is strongly anti-vaccine and has falsely claimed that vaccines cause autism, wishes to remove fluoride from drinking water to the detriment of people's teeth, and even said that COVID-19 only impacts certain races. As such, many are worried about the plight of American healthcare.

This led to a group of over 15,000 medical experts, calling themselves the "Defend Public Health" coalition, writing letters and petitions to discourage senators from voting in favor of Kennedy. However, their efforts were unsuccessful.

Interior Secretary - Doug Burgum

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The Senate recently confirmed Doug Burgum, former North Dakota governor, as the new head of the Department of the Interior. He also used to be a software engineer but sold his company to Microsoft in 2001. Despite many Senators voting in favor of him, Burgum has little experience in land and natural resources conservation.

It is predicted that Burgum will implement Trump's "drill, baby, drill" plan to boost fossil fuel production in the United States. He is also set to chair Trump's new National Energy Council, so it is expected that he will help make fossil fuels more prominent in accordance with the Republican Party's desire to assert America's "energy dominance" and to "unleash American energy".

Veterans Affairs Secretary - Doug Collins

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Former Georgia congressman Doug Collins was confirmed by the Senate as the United States' new Veterans Affairs Secretary. Collins has a fair amount of experience in the military, having served in Iraq and as a US Air Force Reserve Chaplain. To date, he is still an Air Force Reserve Colonel.

Collins has already stated that he would support and help implement the Mission Act, a program crafted during Trump's first term in office. This allows veterans who travel long distances to reach V.A. medical facilities to reap similar benefits at other healthcare centers, in alignment with Collins' comment that "Together, we'll make the VA work for those who fought for us."

Agriculture Secretary - Brooke Rollins

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Conservative lawyer and prominent figure of Trump's first presidency, Brooke Rollins has yet to be confirmed for the role of agriculture secretary. Despite growing up on a farm, concerns have been raised regarding Rollins' lack of farm and food policy experience.

This pick has been particularly controversial, with many arguing that Rollins was chosen for her loyalty rather than true expertise. She is also the CEO and President of the right-wing think tank The America First Policy Institute. Many predict that the AFPI will play a major role in policy decisions during Trump's second term, making Rollins' nomination all the more troubling.

Commerce Secretary - Howard Lutnick

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Howard Lutnick, co-chair of Trump's transition team, has not yet been confirmed for the role of Commerce Secretary. As the chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has been involved in matters related to commerce for a large part of his career.

However, Lutnick's connections to Wall Street pose potential conflicts of interest for him. With roles on boards of various companies involved in almost every aspect of the US economy and even links to cryptocurrency, Democrats fear that Lutnick could tilt the scales in favor of his companies if he is confirmed. Lutnick also plans to help Trump with his plans to impose tariffs on numerous foreign countries.

Transportation Secretary - Sean Duffy

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Recently confirmed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy previously served as a congressman from Wisconsin and was a business host on Fox News. Despite having connections in Congress, Duffy lacks the management experience usually required of a Cabinet member.

Given the issues surrounding the deadly Washington plane crash in January, Duffy has a lot of pressure to manage the fallout of the situation very delicately. As his first few acts in this new role, Duffy swiftly enacted policies to make cars more affordable for Americans, setting a positive precedent for his tenure as Transportation Secretary.

Energy Secretary - Chris Wright

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The chief executive of Denver fracking company Liberty Energy, Chris Wright, was narrowly confirmed as the country's next Energy Secretary. A self-proclaimed "tech nerd turned entrepreneur", many worry that Wright's appointment will worsen the climate crisis.

One of Wright's most troubling acts was when he posted on LinkedIn last year, "There is no climate crisis, and we're not in the midst of an energy transition either". His climate denial tendencies suggest that the next four years will involve a shift back to fossil fuels in the United States. This leaves the state of the environment uncertain, with experts unsure how the climate crisis will be under his tenure.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary - Scott Turner

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Confirmed by a slim margin, Scott Turner has been appointed as the new head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Turner has experience in numerous jobs, having previously been a professional football player, motivational speaker, and a congressman from Texas.

Given the current housing crisis, it is expected that Turner will focus on federal housing programs that aim to make housing more affordable and accessible. He is also critically reviewing how the department runs, with employees bracing for drastic cuts to staffing.

Conclusion

Ultimately, Trump's second cabinet is set to be quite a controversial one. With issues such as the cost-of-living crisis and cases of Bird Flu being detected, this cabinet will certainly have their work cut out for them.

Together, this cabinet has a net worth of over $12 million USD, with many wondering if they will prioritize the needs of the people over their own financial gain. Only time will tell how this cabinet manages the United States' most important departments.