Some of the chosen — 17 picks so far for federal agencies and five for the White House — are among the most radical selections in recent history. Other presidents’ nominees, even when controversial, were often veterans of the Washington bureaucracy and generally believed in it. But a number of Trump’s most important selections have no experience in federal government and a great drive to undo it. Here is a look at the groups:
The Disrupters
The disrupters appear to have been picked in part for their singular ability to shake up the normal course of business at their agencies
- Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma state attorney general, picked to lead the EPA
- Betsy DeVos, picked to head the Education Department
- Rick Perry picked as the head of the Energy Department
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- Jeff Sessions will head the Justice Department
The Dealmakers
Trump, who puts a premium on the ability to negotiate in business and finance, has chosen:
- Wilbur Ross to lead the Commerce Department
- Steven Mnuchin to lead the Treasury Department
- Rex W Tillerson to be secretary of state
The Loyalists
Like most future presidents, Trump has also positioned loyal, trusted aides to be close to him at the White House
- Reince Priebus picked as White House chief of staff
- Stephen K Bannon, chief strategist
- Michael Flynn becomes national security advisor
- Linda McMahon chosen for the Small Business Administration
The Establishment
If there was one group Trump repeatedly derided on the campaign trail, it was the establishment
- Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina, as US envoy to the UN
- Michael Pompeo, Kansa Representative for CIA director
- Elaine Chao to be secretary of transportation
The Generals
Ultimately there may be no more direct expression of Trump’s psyche in his administration picks than the generals
- Gen James N Mattis picked as defense secretary
- Gen John F Kelly picked as homeland security secretary
- Ryan Zinke to be interior secretary