Since Donald Trump’s election victory, the president-elect has started to announce some of his picks for key positions in his cabinet.

Some of Trump’s picks have sparked controversy, starting with Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. Gaetz, now a former member of Congress after he resigned following Trump’s nomination, was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee over an incident where Gaetz allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 17 year old. The House Ethics Committee is still deciding whether or not it should release its findings. 

Trump has also picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his Health and Human Services Secretary, another controversial nominee. Critics of Kennedy call back to his anti-vaccine rhetoric and promotion of consuming products such as raw milk, which has been linked to many bacterial outbreaks. 

Kennedy has been highly critical of the FDA and the CDC, but Kennedy’s supporters claim he champions healthy foods and transparency in  our public food infrastructure. Kennedy says he wants to prioritize chronic diseases through consumer choice and healthy lifestyles.

While not a cabinet position, Trump has also picked Dr. Mehmet Oz, a former TV personality, to serve as administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a position that will directly report to Kennedy.

Fox News host Peter Hegseth is Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth is a former member of the U.S. Army National Guard who left the military after being deemed an “insider threat” for his ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo. The phrase, which has ties to White nationalist groups, translates to “God Wills It.” Hegseth has also said that he does not believe women should serve in combat roles. 

Tulsi Gabbard is Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence, a nomination that has also sparked controversy due to suspicions of her relationship with Russia. Some House democrats have gone as far as to say she is a  “national security threat.” 

Gabbard left the Democratic Party in 2022 and identified as an Independent before joining the Republican Party in October 2024.  

As for other key roles, Trump has selected Marco Rubio to be Secretary of State and appointed Susie Wiles to be his White House Chief of Staff. Wiles was behind Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, which resulted in a decisive win against Kamala Harris. For Secretary of Energy, Trump has also picked f