While President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated on January 20th, 2025, his return to the White House will also bring a slew of staffers, aides, and most importantly, cabinet members, with him. Let’s look at some of the major picks Trump has made so far, and explain what each department does.

*All of the following nominees must pass a confirmation vote by the U.S. Senate, and are not guaranteed to pass, but the Senate will have a 53-47 GOP majority when Trump is in office.

Vice President: Senator J.D. Vance (OH)

Although not usually regarded as a cabinet position, the Vice Presidency has massive implications. First, if Trump could no longer serve as President, whether due to death, impeachment and conviction, or resignation, Vance would step in as Acting President for the remainder of the term, second, VPs can be key advisors to the POTUS, most notably with duos like George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, but it’s unclear how big of a role Vance will have in the administration.

Secretary of State: Senator Marco Rubio (FL)

The secretary of state represents the United States to foreign nations, similar to a secretary or minister of foreign affairs in other countries. Rubio ran for President in 2016, and was re-elected to his Senate seat in 2022.

Secretary of Defense: Pete Hegseth

The secretary of defense’s position of command and authority over the military is second only to the POTUS, the commander-in-chief. Hegseth is a Fox News host and former Army National Guard officer.

Attorney General: Pam Bondi (replaced Matt Gaetz)

The AG runs the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and is the chief law enforcement officer of the US. They are the principal advisor to the president on legal matters. Trump originally nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL) for the post, but he was plagued by scandals and congressional inquiries and ultimately dropped out, leading to Trump’s selection of Fmr. Florida AG Pam Bondi.

Secretary of Homeland Security: Gov. Kristi Noem (SD)

Noem will head the United States Department of Homeland Security, which is tasked with ensuring public safety domestically in the US. This position was created by the Homeland Security Act following 9/11. Noem is currently the Governor of South Dakota, was a U.S. Representative, and has been a vocal supporter of Trump for years.

Director of National Intelligence: Fmr. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI)

Gabbard will serve as executive head of the US Intelligence Community and direct and oversee the National Intelligence Program. All 18 IC agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), report directly to the DNI. Gabbard will be the principal advisor to Trump on all intelligence matters. The DNI produces the President’s Daily Brief, a classified document including intelligence from all IC agencies, handed each morning to the president. Gabbard ran for President as a Democrat in 2020 after serving as one of Hawaii’s two U.S. Representatives.

Ambassador to the United Nations: Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21)

Stefanik will lead the U.S. delegation to the United Nations. The U.S. representative serves on the UN Security Council, and in all meetings of the General Assembly. Stefanik has been a close ally of Trump in the U.S. House, representing New York’s 21st district for multiple terms.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) Jr.

RFK Jr., who became well-known after his run for both the Democratic nomination and as an independent candidate for president, then endorsed Trump, and now has been picked to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the main advisor to the president on all health matters.

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI): Kash Patel

The director of the FBI runs the federal law enforcement agency and is responsible for its day-to-day operations. Unlike other cabinet picks, The FBI director is appointed for a single 10-year term by the president. The FBI is an agency within the DOJ, so Patel will report to the attorney general.

These are just a few of the many cabinet/staff positions that Trump has picked, and he still has more to fill. To read more about the cabinet picks, check out the New York Times tracker, which is still updating.