President-elect Donald Trump has already started forming a team for his second term.
Trump’s new administration is expected to differ from his first. He stated in October that the “biggest mistake” of his first term was selecting “bad, disloyal people” for his administration. Many positions require Senate confirmation, although Trump has demanded that Republican leadership bypass the typical confirmation procedure.
Here are the key appointments, nominations, and staffing decisions announced by the Trump administration, which will be updated as the transition progresses.
Susie Wiles
, Trump’s 2024 campaign manager, was appointed White House chief of staff shortly after Election Day, marking the first significant staffing decision. A seasoned Republican strategist and campaign staffer, Wiles worked on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign and managed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ successful gubernatorial campaign in 2018. Wiles, whom Trump referred to as the “ice maiden” in his election night victory speech, will be the first woman to serve as chief of staff.
Elise Stefanik
Trump nominated New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik has been critical of the U.N., particularly regarding its stance on Israel, stating last month that the Biden Administration should conduct a “complete reassessment” of U.S. funding for the U.N. due to the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to expel Israel from the General Assembly. Stefanik has been a vocal supporter of Trump, during both of his impeachment trials and as he challenged the results of the 2020 election. She has risen through the party’s ranks, serving as chair of the House Republican Conference, the fourth highest position in House GOP leadership. Stefanik’s appointment will need Senate confirmation.
Tom Homan
Tom Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was appointed as “border czar”, a role likely involved in Trump’s plan for mass deportations of millions of undocumented migrants. Homan, a former police officer, will be in charge of the southern and northern U.S. borders, as well as “all Maritime and Aviation Security,” according to Trump’s post on Truth Social. Homan also served in Trump’s first term—acting as ICE director from January 2017 to June 2018— and played a role in Trump’s crackdown on immigration, being one of the architects of the administration’s controversial child separation policy. The role will not require Senate confirmation.