Confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, 2025

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Trump Administration
(second term)
Donald Trump • J.D. Vance
Administration: Donald Trump's Cabinet • Confirmation process for Cabinet nominees • Confirmation votes by senator • Executive orders and actions • Key legislation • Ambassadors • Special envoys • Multistate lawsuits • Supreme Court emergency orders
Transition: Transition • What happens during a presidential transition? • Certification of electoral votes • 2024 presidential election
First term: Transition • Confirmation process for Cabinet nominees • Cabinet • Administration

This page provides an overview of the confirmation process for Donald Trump's (R) Cabinet nominees in his second presidential term.

How many Cabinet members have been confirmed?

As of May 1, 2025, 21 Cabinet members had been confirmed. Trump's announced nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Waltz, had not yet had a committee hearing.

What is the Cabinet?

The Cabinet comes from Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the Constitution, which states that the president "may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices."[1]

While not explicitly identified in the Constitution, Cabinet secretaries include the 15 agency heads who are in the presidential line of succession. There are other Cabinet-rank positions, such as director of national intelligence and ambassador to the United Nations, that vary by the administration. All of these positions require Senate confirmation. The vice president and White House chief of staff, which do not require Senate confirmation, are also part of the Cabinet.

How does the confirmation process work?

The confirmation process includes several rounds of investigation and review, beginning with the submission of a personal financial disclosure report and a background check. The nominee is then evaluated in a committee hearing, which allows for a close examination of the nominee and his or her views on public policy. Supporters and opponents of the nominee may also testify.[2]

Once committee hearings are closed, most committees have a set amount of time before a vote is taken on whether the nominee is reported to the Senate favorably, unfavorably, or without recommendation. The nomination will then go to the Senate floor for consideration. Once the nomination is considered by the Senate, unlimited debate is allowed until a majority of the Senate votes to invoke cloture and close debate. Following a vote of cloture, the Senate conducts a simple majority vote on whether to confirm, reject, or take no action on the nomination.[3]

Upcoming and recent hearings, votes, and nominations



Overview

See also: Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025

The table below displays the progress of Trump's Cabinet nominees who have not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as of March 27, 2025, along with the percentage total of nominations that had completed each stage of the process across Trump's 22 Cabinet-level nominees that require Senate confirmation.

Overview of confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in his second term
Nominee Nominated? Hearing held? Passed committee? Confirmed by Senate?
Michael Waltz Yes check.svg
Percentage total complete 100% 95% 95% 95%


The following table provides an overview of the status, confirmation hearings, and committee and Senate votes for each of Trump's Cabinet and Cabinet-rank nominees in his second term.

Overview of confirmation process for Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in his second term
Nominee Position Announced Senate committee Confirmation hearing Committee vote Senate vote Status
Marco Rubio Secretary of State November 13, 2024 Foreign Relations January 15, 2025 Favorable (22-0) 99-0 Confirmed on January 20, 2025
Scott Bessent Secretary of the Treasury November 22, 2024 Finance January 16, 2025 Favorable (16-11) 68-29 Confirmed on January 27, 2025
Pete Hegseth Secretary of Defense November 12, 2024 Armed Services January 14, 2025 Favorable (14-13) 51-50 Confirmed on January 24, 2025
Matt Gaetz Attorney General November 13, 2024 Judiciary N/A N/A N/A Withdrawn on November 21, 2024
Pam Bondi Attorney General November 21, 2024 Judiciary January 15-16, 2025 Favorable (12-10) 54-46 Confirmed on February 4, 2025
Doug Burgum Secretary of the Interior November 14, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources January 16, 2025 Favorable (18-2) 80-17 Confirmed on January 30, 2025
Brooke Rollins Secretary of Agriculture November 23, 2024 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry January 23, 2025 Favorable (23-0) 72-28 Confirmed on February 13, 2025
Howard Lutnick Secretary of Commerce November 19, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 29, 2025 Favorable (16-12) 51-45 Confirmed on February 18, 2025
Lori Chavez-DeRemer Secretary of Labor November 22, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions February 19, 2025 Favorable (13-9) 67-32 Confirmed on March 10, 2025
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of Health and Human Services November 14, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
/ Finance		 January 30, 2025 / January 29, 2025 N/A / Favorable (14-13) 52-48 Confirmed on February 13, 2025
Scott Turner Secretary of Housing and Urban Development November 22, 2024 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs January 16, 2025 Favorable (13-11) 55-44 Confirmed on February 5, 2025
Sean Duffy Secretary of Transportation November 18, 2024 Commerce, Science, and Transportation January 15, 2025 Favorable (28-0) 77-22 Confirmed on January 28, 2025
Chris Wright Secretary of Energy November 16, 2024 Energy and Natural Resources January 15, 2025 Favorable (15-5) 59-38 Confirmed on February 3, 2025
Linda McMahon Secretary of Education November 19, 2024 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions February 13, 2025 Favorable (12-11) 51-45 Confirmed on March 3, 2025
Doug Collins Secretary of Veterans Affairs November 14, 2024 Veterans' Affairs January 21, 2025 Favorable (18-1) 77-23 Confirmed on February 4, 2025
Kristi Noem Secretary of Homeland Security November 12, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs January 17, 2025 Favorable (13-2) 59-34 Confirmed on January 25, 2025
Jamieson Greer U.S. Trade Representative November 26, 2024 Finance February 6, 2025 Favorable (15-12) 56-43 Confirmed on February 26, 2025
Tulsi Gabbard Director of National Intelligence November 13, 2024 Intelligence (Select) January 30, 2025 Favorable (9-8) 52-48 Confirmed on February 12, 2025
Elise Stefanik U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations November 11, 2024 Foreign Relations January 21, 2025 Favorable (Voice Vote) N/A Withdrawn on March 27, 2025
Michael Waltz U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations May 1, 2025 Foreign Relations TBD TBD TBD Announced
Russell Vought Director of the Office of Management and Budget November 22, 2024 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs / Budget January 15, 2025 / January 22, 2025 Favorable (8-7) / Favorable (11-0) 53-47 Confirmed on February 6, 2025
Lee Zeldin Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency November 11, 2024 Environment and Public Works January 16, 2025 Favorable (11-8) 56-42 Confirmed on January 29, 2025
Kelly Loeffler Administrator of the Small Business Administration December 4, 2024 Small Business and Entrepreneurship January 29, 2025 Favorable (12-7) 52-46 Confirmed on February 19, 2025
John Ratcliffe Director of the Central Intelligence Agency November 12, 2024 Intelligence (Select) January 15, 2025 Favorable (14-3) 74-25 Confirmed on January 23, 2025


Historical comparison of Cabinet confirmations

Comparison to Biden administration

See also: Joe Biden's Cabinet

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Joe Biden (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2021. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Trump's first term

See also: Donald Trump presidential Cabinet, 2017-2021

The following chart displays how many days it took for President Donald Trump's (R) first term Cabinet secretaries to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2017. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.

Comparison to Obama administration

The following chart displays how many days it took for the Cabinet secretaries of President Barack Obama (D) to be confirmed after the inauguration in 2009. This chart includes the main 15 Cabinet positions.


Historical comparison of Cabinet announcements

The following chart shows how long it took the projected winner of four recent presidential elections—Barack Obama (D) in 2008, Donald Trump (R) in 2016, Joe Biden (D) in 2020, and Donald Trump (R) in 2024—to announce their nominees for Cabinet and Cabinet-rank positions.

  • White House chief of staff was the first position to be announced by all four with Obama and Trump ahead of his second term taking the shortest time (2 days after the election) and Biden the longest (8 days after the election).
  • Trump had named all 23 Cabinet nominees as of December 4, 2024. At this point after election day, Biden had announced seven Cabinet-level positions in 2020, Trump had announced 13 in 2016, and Obama had announced nine in 2008. It took Trump 72 days to name all 23 of the nominees for these positions in 2016.
  • Trump announced these nominees an average of 11.9 days after election day. Biden's average for the same positions was 39.6 days after election day, Trump's first term average for these positions was 30.9 days after election day, and Obama's average was 36.4 days after election day.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Constitution Center, "Presidential Advisors," accessed November 18, 2020
  2. ↑ CRS Report for Congress, "Senate Confirmation Process: An Overview," accessed July 24, 2013
  3. ↑ Congressional Research Service, "Senate Consideration of Presidential Nominations: Committee and Floor Procedure," April 4, 2019
  4. ↑ Truth Social, "Donald Trump on May 1, 2025," accessed May 1, 2025
  5. ↑ Truth Social, "Trump on March 27, 2025," accessed March 27, 2025
  6. ↑ Politico, "Senate confirms Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor secretary," March 10, 2025
  7. ↑ The Associated Press, “‘Senate confirms McMahon to lead Education Department as Trump pushes to shut it down" accessed March 3, 2025
  8. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed February 21, 2025
  9. ↑ United States Senate, "Roll Call vote 94," accessed February 26, 2025
  10. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed February 5, 2025
  11. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Wednesday, February 19, 2025," February 19, 2025
  12. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed February 5, 2025
  13. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Friday, February 14, 2025," accessed February 18, 2025
  14. ↑ NY Times, "Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary," February 18, 2025
  15. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Thursday, February 13, 2025," accessed February 13, 2025
  16. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Thursday, February 13, 2025," accessed February 13, 2025
  17. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed February 5, 2025
  18. ↑ The New York Times, "How Each Senator Voted to Confirm Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence," February 12, 2025
  19. ↑ AP News, "Senate confirms Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to lead powerful White House budget office," February 6, 2025
  20. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 30, 2025
  21. ↑ Politico, "Senate confirms Scott Turner for HUD post," February 5, 2025
  22. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 30, 2025
  23. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 30, 2025
  24. ↑ Newsweek, "Donald Trump Ally Pam Bondi Confirmed as US Attorney General," February 4, 2025
  25. ↑ Politico, "Senate confirms VA Secretary," February 4, 2025
  26. ↑ Axios, "Tulsi Gabbard survives Senate committee vote for intel chief nomination," February 4, 2025
  27. ↑ X, "Senate Press Gallery on February 3, 2025," accessed February 3, 2025
  28. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Thursday, January 30, 2025," January 30, 2025
  29. ↑ Senate.gov, "Roll Call Vote 119th Congress - 1st Session," January 31, 2025
  30. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  31. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  32. ↑ Roll Call, "Senate panel backs Stefanik as Democrats protest foreign aid pause," January 30, 2025
  33. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  34. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  35. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Wednesday, January 29, 2025," accessed January 29, 2025
  36. ↑ Politico, "Senate committee advances Trump's pick for AG," January 29, 2025
  37. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 29, 2025
  38. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  39. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
  40. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Senate Schedule," accessed January 27, 2025
  41. ↑ Politico, "Sean Duffy confirmed as Transportation secretary, despite Dem protest votes," January 28, 2025
  42. ↑ Senate Press Gallery, "Senate Schedule," accessed January 27, 2025
  43. ↑ The Hill, "Senate confirms Noem to lead Department of Homeland Security," January 25, 2025
  44. ↑ U.S. Senate Press Gallery, "Friday, January 24, 2025," January 24, 2025
  45. ↑ U.S. Senate Press Gallery, "Thursday, January 23, 2025," January 23, 2025
  46. ↑ United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, "Nomination Hearing," accessed January 16, 2025
  47. ↑ E&E News, "One Democrat breaks with party to support Zeldin," January 23, 2025
  48. ↑ The Hill, "Senate panel overwhelmingly advances Trump pick for VA secretary," January 23, 2025
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Politico, "Energy committee sends Trump's Interior, Energy cabinet picks to full Senate," January 23, 2025
  50. ↑ Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 21, 2025
  51. ↑ United States Senate Committee on the Budget, "The Nomination of the Honorable Russell T. Vought, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget," accessed January 16, 2025
  52. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, "Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Postpones Nomination Hearing for Congressman Doug Collins to be VA Secretary," January 13, 2025
  53. ↑ Foreign Relations Committee, "NOMINATIONS," January 21, 2025
  54. ↑ Axios, "Senate confirms Marco Rubio to lead Trump's State Department," January 20, 2025
  55. ↑ Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, "Nomination of Kristi Noem," accessed January 15, 2025
  56. ↑ Senate Finance Committee, "Hearing to Consider the Anticipated Nomination of Scott Bessent, of South Carolina, to be Secretary of the Treasury," January 10, 2025
  57. ↑ Axios, "What to know about the confirmation hearings for Trump's Cabinet picks this week," January 13, 2025
  58. ↑ United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, "Nomination Hearing," accessed January 13, 2025
  59. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, "Hearing on the Nomination of the Honorable Lee M. Zeldin to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency." accessed January 13, 2025
  60. ↑ Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, "Hearing to Consider the Nomination of the Honorable Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Interior," accessed January 13, 2025
  61. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, "The Nomination of the Honorable Pamela Jo Bondi to be Attorney General of the United States," January 15, 2025
  62. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, "Nomination Hearing - U.S. Secretary of Transportation," accessed January 9, 2025
  63. ↑ Foreign Relations Committee, "NOMINATIONS," accessed January 13, 2025
  64. ↑ U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, "Hearings," accessed January 13, 2025
  65. ↑ Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, "Hearing to Consider the Nomination of Mr. Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy," January 15, 2025
  66. ↑ Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, "Nomination of Russell Vought," accessed January 13, 2025
  67. ↑ U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, "To conduct a confirmation hearing on the expected nomination of Mr. Peter B. Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense," accessed January 9, 2025
  68. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler, of Georgia, to serve as Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA)," December 4, 2024
  69. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Jamieson Greer as United States Trade Representative (USTR)," November 26, 2024
  70. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Brooke L. Rollins, of Texas, as the 33rd United States Secretary of Agriculture," November 23, 2024
  71. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Scott Bessent as the 79th Secretary of the Treasury of the United States," November 22, 2024
  72. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Russell Thurlow Vought as the Director of the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB)," November 22, 2024
  73. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as United States Secretary of Labor," November 22, 2024
  74. ↑ X, "Matt Gaetz on November 21, 2024," accessed November 21, 2024
  75. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces former Attorney General of Florida, Pam Bondi, as Attorney General of the United States," November 21, 2024
  76. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Howard Lutnick as the United States Secretary of Commerce," November 19, 2024
  77. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Linda McMahon will be the United States Secretary of Education," November 19, 2024
  78. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Sean Duffy, from Wisconsin, is Nominated to Serve as the Secretary of Transportation," November 18, 2024
  79. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Chris Wright as United States Secretary of Energy," November 16, 2024
  80. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, as Secretary of the Interior," November 15, 2024
  81. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)," November 14, 2024
  82. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominate Former Congressman Doug Collins, of Georgia, as The United States Secretary for Veterans Affairs (VA)," November 14, 2024
  83. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, as The United States Secretary of State," November 13, 2024
  84. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, as Director of National Intelligence (DNI)," November 13, 2024
  85. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, as The Attorney General of the United State," November 13, 2024
  86. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces John Ratcliffe as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)," November 12, 2024
  87. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Pete Hegseth to serve in Cabinet as The Secretary of Defense," November 12, 2024
  88. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Kristi Noem as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," November 12, 2024
  89. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Former Congressman Lee Zeldin as the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA)," November 11, 2024
  90. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Nominates Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to Serve in Cabinet as United States Ambassador to the United Nations," November 11, 2024
  91. ↑ 4President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Susan Summerall Wiles as White House Chief of Staff," November 7, 2024
  92. ↑ Associated Press, "Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate," July 16, 2024
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