Trump completes Cabinet selections
The president-elect's latest picks include Scott Bessent and Lori Chavez-DeRemer
 
 
What happened
President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend finished identifying the people he wants on his Cabinet, selecting America First Policy Institute chief Brooke Rollins for agriculture secretary on Saturday and Wall Street billionaire Scott Bessent for treasury secretary on Friday. Trump also tapped Scott Turner, a former NFL player and Texas lawmaker, to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (Ore.), a labor-friendly Republican unseated this month, for labor secretary. Russell Vought, a key figure in the controversial Project 2025 blueprint for Trump's second term, was picked to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget again.
Who said what
Trump's "final flurry of Cabinet picks" rounded out what his aides described as a "unified, loyal, MAGA-driven administration," but "scratch the surface and there are at least three distinct factions," The New York Times said: A "revenge team" for the Justice Department, Pentagon and intelligence agencies; a "government shrinkage team" led by Elon Musk; and a "calm-the-markets team" featuring Bessent.
The selections illustrated Trump "trying to balance competing perspectives as he pursues an aggressive and sometimes contradictory economic agenda" including tariffs, tax cuts, slashing government spending and lowering prices, The Associated Press said. They also "showed the internal tensions" between Trump's campaign focus on blue-collar voters and dependence on an "administration staffed by those, who like Trump, enjoy a life of extreme wealth."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Despite Trump's rapid Cabinet selections, his "continued foot-dragging on signing the standard trio of ethics and transparency agreements with the federal government" means that none of those picks can have any access to the department he wants them to lead, Politico said. And the FBI can't start background checks. The unprecedented delay in signing the transition paperwork also allows Trump to "raise unlimited amounts of money" from "interest groups, businesses or wealthy people" whose names will never be made public, the Times said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
- 
 ‘The worry is far from fanciful’ ‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day 
- 
 How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP? How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt 
- 
 Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’ Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 No Kings rally: What did it achieve? No Kings rally: What did it achieve?Feature The latest ‘No Kings’ march has become the largest protest in U.S. history 
- 
 Young Republicans: Does the GOP have a Nazi problem? Young Republicans: Does the GOP have a Nazi problem?Feature Leaked chats from members of the Young Republican National Federation reveal racist slurs and Nazi jokes 
- 
 Push for Ukraine ceasefire collapses Push for Ukraine ceasefire collapsesFeature Talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were called off after the Russian president refused to compromise on his demands 
- 
 Trump eyes regime change in Venezuela Trump eyes regime change in VenezuelaFeature Officials believe Trump’s ‘war on narco-terrorism’ is actually a push to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro 
- 
 ‘Social media is the new tabloid’ ‘Social media is the new tabloid’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day 
- 
 How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda? How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are hindering the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
