Trump’s Swift Cabinet and Staff Appointments Reflect Post-Election Frenzy

President-elect Donald Trump has been busy assembling his Cabinet and senior staff, concluding the week with the nomination of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as head of the Department of the Interior. This department manages significant federal lands and oversees relations with Native American tribes.

Burgum is also set to lead a newly established entity, the National Energy Council, as proposed by Trump. In a mere ten days post-election, Trump has revealed around half of his nominees for the traditional 15 executive departments. His swift announcements come after a decisive victory over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on November 5, totaling a lengthy list of candidates that will require Senate approval.

Among those nominees are some notable and contentious figures, including a Fox News host nominated to oversee the military, a vaccine skeptic for health oversight, and a congressman under a Justice Department investigation proposed as attorney general. Additionally, Trump has filled several senior staff roles with individuals from his 2024 campaign and loyalists from his first term, who do not require Senate confirmation.

On Friday, Trump officially nominated Burgum as Secretary of the Interior. The $18 billion department manages 245 million acres of public land, various wildlife reserves, and energy extraction leasing. Burgum, a former 2024 presidential candidate who ended his campaign early in the year to endorse Trump, has previously filed lawsuits advocating for increased oil and gas leases in North Dakota.

Trump also designated former U.S. Representative Doug Collins of Georgia as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Collins, who has experience in the military and law, would oversee healthcare distribution and services for over 9 million veterans. The department has requested a budget of $369.3 billion for the upcoming year to manage health services and benefits.

Further, Trump has chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which comprises 80,000 employees and oversees significant federal spending on programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Kennedy, known for controversial views on vaccines, previously ran for president in 2024 before stepping down to support Trump.

Trump has also nominated D. John Sauer, his legal counsel, as solicitor general. Sauer has gained attention for successfully arguing cases related to Trump’s presidential immunity. The president-elect’s list continues with the unexpected nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney general, following Gaetz’s resignation from Congress amid investigations into his conduct, reports state. Gaetz has been an ally to Trump and was involved in efforts to contest the 2020 election results.

In a flurry of additional nominations, Trump included former SEC Chair Jay Clayton as a U.S. attorney and Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Senator Marco Rubio has been suggested for Secretary of State while Fox News host Pete Hegseth might lead the Defense department. The president-elect’s plans extend to establishing a new entity dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency, to be led by billionaire Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, though its function remains unclear.