Trump’s Cabinet Picks are Now Fully Confirmed

President Donald Trump’s choices for cabinet and staff appointments are still being evaluated by the U.S. Senate. But there are some nominations that are being approved and confirmed as the Trump administration begins to fully take office. These job assignments will comprise the administration’s cabinet of advisers and other important staff members. (You should click on this link to learn more about the history of the presidential cabinet over on the btw Web site.)

This post will continue to be updated with the newest information.

What: Develops foreign policy, maintains relationships between the U.S. and the international community, works for international safety and security.

Who: Rex Tillerson

Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation, is already facing scrutiny for his close business  ties to Russia. In 2011 Tillerson signed a $300 billion Arctic drilling agreement with Russia. He was awarded the Order of Friendship by Vladimir Putin in 2013. Environmentalists are also concerned because of Tillerson’s ties to Exxon Mobil, a company that produces fossil fuels.

Status: CONFIRMED (56-43 vote on Feb. 1)

What: Produces money, collects taxes, forms economic policy

Who: Steven Mnuchin.

Mnuchin is a former Goldman Sachs executive, hedge fund investor, and Hollywood producer who served as Trump’s campaign finance chairman. He has no former government experience, but has already begun outlining plans to overhaul the U.S. tax code.

Status: CONFIRMED (53-47 vote on Feb. 13)

What: Oversees the U.S. military

Who: Retired General James N. Mattis

A sharp critic of the Obama administration, General Mattis led a Marine division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the United States Central Command from 2010-2013. Though he has taken a tough stand on Iran, Mattis differs from Trump in several important ways: he believes that Russia is a threat, and he does not advocate the use of torture.

Status: CONFIRMED (98-1 vote on Jan. 20)

What: As the head of the Justice Department, enforces the law by defending the interests of the U.S., preventing and controlling crime, and seeking fair punishment for criminals

Who: Jeff Sessions

A former Alabama senator, Alabama governor, and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions’ 1986 bid for a federal judgeship was rejected due to allegations of racist comments and actions. He is also known for taking a hard stance on immigration and crime.

Status: CONFIRMED (52-47 vote on Feb. 8)

What: Protects Americans from threats, hazards, and disasters, including terrorist attacks

Who: Retired General John F. Kelly

A retired four-star Marine general, Kelly served as commander of the United States Southern Command under President Obama. His son was killed in combat in Afghanistan, giving him first-hand knowledge of the human costs of war. He is known for taking a tough stand on terrorism and border control, but also for his interest in trying to find real solutions to these complicated issues.

Status: CONFIRMED (88-11 vote on Jan. 20)

What: Ensures equal access to education, establishes policies on educational funding and financial aid, and monitors and collects data on U.S. schools

Who: Betsy DeVos

A billionaire and former chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, DeVos is a vocal advocate of school choice and school voucher program, despite having no experience in the educational field.

Status: CONFIRMED (required VP Pence vote to break 50-50 tie on Feb. 7)

What: Promotes the well-being of U.S. veterans by issuing disability checks, educational funding, and pensions

Who: Dr. David Shulkin

Currently, the undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He has faced criticism for potentially becoming the first VA secretary who has never served the military. However, his family has a history of medical service and of providing military medical care. Shulkin has pledged to address staffing issues and long wait times at the VA hospitals and to address the psychological (as well as the physical) issues faced by veterans.

Status: CONFIRMED (100-0 on Feb. 13)

What: Oversees domestic issues such as managing and conserving natural resources, wildlife, and federal land

Who: Ryan Zinke

A first-term Congressman from Montana and former Navy Seal, Zinke was a leader of special forces in the Iraq war and is an avid outdoorsmen. A moderate Republican, he has stated that climate change is man-made, and opposes selling off public lands.

Status: CONFIRMED (68-31 on Mar. 1)

CHIEF OF STAFF

What: The modern-day version of the president’s private secretary; provides crucial support to the president’s work and agenda; oversees the Executive Office of the President

Who: Reince Priebus

As Chairman of the Republican National Committee since 2011, Priebus was instrumental in helping organize Trump’s ground campaign.

Status: Appointed

COMMERCE SECRETARY

What: Promotes U.S. economic development, business and industry, and technological advancement

Who: Wilbur Ross

Ross is an investor and former banker whose personal fortune is estimated to be nearly $3 billion. Nicknamed the “king of bankruptcy,” he has earned a reputation for buying failing companies cheaply and later selling them for a large profit. He advocates tightening up U.S. trade deals and imposing steep trade tariffs on China.

Status: Confirmed (72-27 on Feb. 27)

CHIEF STRATEGIST

What: Helps promote the president and shape his or her policy, despite having no specific administrative duties

Who: Stephen Bannon

Perhaps Trump’s most controversial pick to date, Bannon was the chief executive of the politically conservative Web site Breitbart News until he took a leave of absence to be Trump’s campaign chief. He has received strong criticism for his divisive and often racially offensive comments and opinions.

Status: Appointed

SECRETARY OF LABOR

What: Promotes fair and equal pay, job safety, and unemployment insurance benefits

Who: Alexander Acosta

Acosta is Trump’s replacement for Andrew Puzder, who withdrew his name from consideration due to growing criticism from Democrats and some Republicans.

Acosta is the first Latino nominee for the Trump administration’s cabinet. He is a former assistant attorney general for civil rights. He is currently the dean of the law school at Florida International University. Acosta also briefly served on the National Labor Relations Board under President George W. Bush. He was also the last member of the Trump cabinet to receive confirmation.

Status: Confirmed (60-38 on April 27)

UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR

What: Officially represents the U.S. at the United Nations

Who: Nikki R. Haley

Once a critic of Trump, Haley–the daughter of Indian immigrants–has been governor of South Carolina since 2011, and was Trump’s first female pick for a cabinet-level post. She is often hailed as a unifier: in 2015, she advocated for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capitol in Columbia, and she has openly denounced Trump’s Muslim ban.

Status: Confirmed (96-4 vote on Jan. 24)

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

What: Oversees the nation’s farming industry and production of food

Who: Sonny Perdue III

The former governor of Georgia, Perdue was the final Cabinet department chief to be nominated. Perdue grew up on a farm and has a strong agricultural background, as well as having served as governor of a strong agricultural state for eight years.

Status: Confirmed (87-11 vote on April 23)

DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA)

What: Head of the Central Intelligence Agency; reports to the Director of National Intelligence

Who: Mike Pompeo

Though the CIA director is supposed to remain politically neutral, Pompeo–a staunch Republican and Tea Party member–has been a sharp critic of Hillary Clinton and took a leadership role in the Benghazi inquiry. He is currently a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Status: Confirmed (66-32 vote on Jan. 23)

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

What: Protects the health of all Americans and the well-being of those in need. Oversees agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Who: Tom Price

A Republican congressman from Georgia and an orthopedic surgeon, Price is a strong opponent to the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). He has also backed legislation to remove federal funding from Planned Parenthood and plans to roll back Medicaid and Medicare.

Status: Confirmed (52-47 vote on Feb. 10)

NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

What: Advises the president on matters of national security; keeps the president updated on security issues and/or threats

Who: Lieutenant General Herbert Raymond McMaster

Trump’s top military adviser during his campaign, General Flynn was resigned on Feb. 13 due to controversy surrounding contact he had with Russian diplomats. President Trump said that he asked for Flynn’s resignation because he was not truthful with Vice President Pence about the nature of this contact.

Lt. General H. R. McMaster is Trump’s new selection for this important foreign intelligence position.

Status: Appointed on Feb. 20 

SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

What: Promotes community development and access to affordable housing for all Americans

Who: Dr. Ben Carson

A retired neurosurgeon with no governmental experience, Dr. Carson grew up in a poor neighborhood in Detroit. When he was running for the Republican Party nomination, Dr. Carson  was critical of many of President Obama’s housing and health care policies. He is opposed to many of the government programs that provide a safety net to the poor.

Status: Confirmed (58-41 vote on Mar. 2)

DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

What: Prepares the president’s budget proposal and sets federal funding priorities

Who: Mike Mulvaney

As a South Carolina Congressman, Mulvaney has earned a reputation for working with both fellow Republicans and Democrats toward lowering the federal deficit and reigning in government spending. However, Mulvaney is also a controversial choice: he has already come under fire for suggesting that he will eliminate Medicare and government spending for scientific research.

Status: Confirmed (51-49 vote on Feb. 16)

SECRETARY OF ENERGY

What: Protects U.S. energy resources and promotes scientific and technological innovation; primary responsibility is to protect and manage the nation’s nuclear weapons

Who: Rick Perry

The former governor of Texas, Perry briefly ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. As the longest-serving governor of Texas (15 years), he has experience running a large government bureaucracy; however, during the 2011 Republican presidential debates, he called the Department of Energy “redundant” and said that he would like to dismantle it.

Status: Confirmed (62-37 vote on Mar. 2)

SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

What: Ensures a reliable, safe, and convenient transportation system

Who: Elaine L. Chao

Born in Taiwan, Chao served as Labor Secretary under President George W. Bush and as Deputy Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush. She is also the wife of Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell.

Status: Confirmed (93-6 vote on Jan. 31)

ADMINISTRATOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

What: Leads the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in protecting human health and the environment

Who: Scott Pruitt

As Attorney General of Oklahoma since 2011, Pruitt has worked closely with the fossil fuels industry to bring lawsuits (unsuccessfully) against the EPA’s clean air and climate regulations. This makes him a highly controversial choice to lead this agency. He also has expressed that he doesn’t believe in climate change, despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

Status: Confirmed (52-46 vote on Feb. 17)