I’ve been listening to the dialog on both sides of the aisle about the various Cabinet choices during this transition period from President Obama to President Elect Trump. I was thinking that there needs to be an easy to read grid that details:
- What the various cabinet roles are
- Who has been selected if known and when
- How their history informs their job assignment appropriateness
- What civil rights concerns they might represent based on their known history and positions
- What we know of any potentially concerning affiliations.
There are 16 actual Cabinet positions, 15 sub-cabinet agency leaders, and another 7 other Cabinet-level officials that make up the advisory body for the president. Many of these people also lead various agencies within the structure of Federal government as well as other non-agency leading players such as the various White House staff. There are some 4000 other jobs that will have to be staffed, but these represent the primary leadership that will be setting policy and leading these various agencies.
I will not be including who is ‘in the running’ or rumored to be up for consideration as that is another effort, but rather just those who have been selected by the President elect. Of course, each of these will still need to go through the senatorial ‘advise and consent’ phase prior to actually taking office. But, it does show much about the nature of the Presidents future plans and inclinations that these people are being selected.
There are a few great resources for the base information such as the NPR chart for who the future Trump administration is, and of course the Wikipedia page which covers this topic as well. These don’t have the specific focus of what I’m concerned with here in this project. I’ve included the net worth for each where known because of the indicative nature of what the President elect values being represented.
I will attempt to update this with newer information as it become available.
This is a work in progress Last updated 12/10/16.
Cabinet
Vice President
Mike Pence, Elected Nov 8, 2016
US House of Representatives – 2001 ~ 2013; Gov Indiana – 2012 ~ 2016
Religious Freedom Act (Indiana Senate Bill 101) – signed into law a bill that allows for discrimination based on personal religious feelings in a non-personal context. Later follow up bill to limit discrimination was signed.
H.B. 1337 – Law restricting abortion providers and certain procedures. The bill banned abortion if the reason for the procedure given by the pregnant person was the fetus’ race or gender or a fetal abnormality. Also required that all fetal remains from abortions or miscarriages at any stage of pregnancy be buried or cremated.
History of deleting unfavorable comments from governors Facebook profile.
USA Today reported that Pence wanted to start a State run news service.
Voted NO on jobs protection for LGBT
Tried to remove federal funding for HIV / AIDS patients and redirect into conversion therapy
Immigration:
Actively opposed Syrian refugees legally in the USA from being resettled in Indiana – cut off federal funds for a local non-profit resettlement agency.
Supports building a fence between the USA and Mexico
Pence scores 92% by USBC on immigration issues – sealed border proponent
Stands to end ‘birth right citizenship’ –voted for H.R. 1868
“I think the science is very mixed on the subject of global warming.”
CO2 from coal burning power plants can’t be the cause of increased global temperatures because it “is a naturally occurring phenomenon in nature.”
Smoking
“Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn’t kill.” – Mike Pence 2000
Secretary of the Treasury
Steven Mnuchin, November 30 (unconfirmed)
Business: “Foreclosure King” during financial crisis.
Father also worked for Goldman Sachs.
Worth: $40,000,000, owns $97 million in CIT stock
Goldman Sachs hedge fund manager & Partner
Attorney General
Jeff Sessions, November 18, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Denied nomination to lifetime federal bench in 1986 on racism concerns
Referred to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as “un-American” and “Communist-inspired” and that they did more harm than good by trying to force civil rights “down the throats of people.
Referred to the “Voting Rights Act” as a piece of intrusive legislation
Said in 1986 that he thought the Klan was “O.K. until I learned they smoked pot.””
LGBT:
Voted against Matthew Shepard Act
HRC rating of a 0%
Immigration:
Leading congressional opponent of illegal immigration and proponent of reducing legal immigration.
Net Worth $15,842,033 (2010)
Hostile on the subject when talking with head of EPA
“There’s been “almost no increase” in temperatures over the past 19 years” – http://www.frc.org/wwlivewithtonyperkins/jeff-sessions-everett-piper — linked disabled by FRC
Secretary of Agriculture
Open
Secretary of Labor
Andrew Puzder, December 8, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Missouri’s leading anti-abortion lawyer in the 80’s and 90’s Accused of abuse by his first wife. Former President and CEO of Carl’s Jr/Hardee’s, sold to Roark Capital for $1.75 Billion Historically fought against minimum wage, and overtime for employees Supports repeal of the ACA, and opposes paid sick leave policies Contributed $332,000 to the Trump campaign Backs comprehensive immigration reform Net Worth: minums between $4-30 million based on known income between 2009~2012, profit from Carl’s Jr. sale unknown.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Ben Carson, December 5, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Ran for the Republican nomination in 2016
Declined Trump’s first appointment – claimed to not have enough government experience.
Stated: The United States Under President Obama Is “Very Much Like Nazi Germany”
AP History curriculum would make people ready to sign up for ISIS – Sept 29, 2014
Stated that Egyptian pyramids at Giza were for storing grain.
Doesn’t know the difference between NAMBLA (pedophiles), Bestiality and homosexuality.
“Government aid in fighting poverty “wasteful duplication” of efforts by private charities” – America the Beautiful, Ben Carson
Women’s Rights
There’s no war on women; there may be a war on women’s insides.
LGBT
Reproduction
Ban abortion after 20 weeks
Frequent guest and contributor: Fox News
Net Worth: $10,000,000
Evolution:
Evolution is scientific political correctness, Mr. Darwin, you Social Justice Warrior
Those who believe in evolution will have less guilt about being cannibals, should the situation arise
“Where are they? Where are the fossil remains?”
The Big Bang is a “fairy tale” and the notion of evolution was encouraged by the devil.
Marijuana
There are some benefits to medical marijuana. Legalizing for recreational purpose raises concern.
Secretary of Energy
Open
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Open
Secretary of State
Open
Secretary of Defense
James “Mad Dog” Mattis, December 1, 2016 (uncomfirmed)*
Served in the US military from 1969 through 2013 Retired 4 star General Former Commander of the United States Central Command *Nomination will require a waiver of the National Security Act of 1947 which requires a 7 year period for retired military personnel can assum this role.
Secretary of the Interior
Open
Secretary of Commerce
Wilbur Ross, November 30,2016 (unconfirmed)
Has advocated threats of steep tariffs on Chinese goods.
Wants a 15% corporate tax rate (currently 35%)
Business:
Ross spent 25 years heading Rothschild Inc.’s bankruptcy practice – aka King of Bankruptcy
Started private equity firm which he sold in 2006, still associated with the group.
Owner of Sago Mine where 12 miners died the year after 208 safety violations cited.
Net Worth – $2,500,000,000
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tom Price, November 29, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act (Obama care)
100 rating by National Right to Life Center
0 rating from NARAL Pro-choice America
A – rating/grade from the NRA
Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.
Medicine:
Orthopedic Surgeon
17% rating from the NAACP
LGBT:
Voted for 2006 US Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage.
Voted against hate crimes legislation.
HRC Rating: 0%
Secretary of Transportation
Elaine Chao, November 29, 2016 (unconfirm
ed)
Secretary of Labor for President Bush (2001-2009)
70,000 closed cases related to failure to pay minimum wage/overtime inadequately investigated.
Two major mine (Sago and Crandall Canyon) disasters with 12 miner deaths and 3 rescue workers. Chao cut more than 100 safety inspections.
Director of the Peace Corps (1991-1992)
Deputy Secretary of Transportation(1989-1991
Married to GOP Senator Mitch McConnell
Net worth: jointly between $9 and $25,000,000
Secretary of Education
Betsy De Vos, November 23, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Appointed to board of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by George W. Bush
Education:
Has never attended public schools
Has never sent her children through public school systems
Has fought state oversight of charter schools
Business:
Chairwoman – Windquest Group
Is a billionaire: Heiress of Amway fortune via marriage, and inherited family fortune from own family auto parts business
Donated $10,000,000 in 2016 to elect Republicans
Support of anti-LGBT extremist group and is credited as being key in funding the establishment of the Washington office
Has donated at least $875,000 to the fight against gay marriage in Michigan and support NOM
Has donated $800,000 to Focus on the Family which supports conversion therapy and opposes gay marriage
Net Worth: $5,500,000,000
Secretary of Homeland Security
Open
Sub-Cabinet
Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator
Seema Verma, November 29, 2016 (Unconfirmed)
Created the Healthy Indiana Plan (High deductible HSA plan: a low income health insurance plan)
Possible conflict of interest related to the Healthy Indiana plan
Central Intelligence Agency Director
Rep. Mike Pompeo, November 18, 2016 (Unconfirmed)
US Congressman from Kansas
Opposes regulation of greenhouse gas emissions
Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
Co-sponsored State Marriage Defense Act
Co-sponsored H.R. 3892 -Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2015
Strong backing from the Koch brothers
Opposes same sex marriage
Racial:
Anti-Muslim extremist / conspiracy theory adherent
Privacy:
Supports domestic surveillance and removal of all surveillance laws post Snowden revelations of various agency law breaking.
FEMA Director
Open
Director of National Intelligence
Open
National Security Agency Director
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn
Federal Housing Administrator
Open
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director
Open
NOAA Administrator
Open
Transportation Security Administrator
Open
Bureau of Land Management Director
Open
National Park Service Director
Open
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner
Open
National Institutes of Health Director
Open
Food and Drugs Commissioner
Open
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director
Open
Cabinet Level Officials & Staff
White House Chief of Staff
Reince Priebus, November 13, 2016
Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency
Scott Pruitt, December 7, 2016 (unconfirmed)
Helped lead the lawsuit against the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and was reported to be at war with the EPA – Close ties with Oil and gas Circulated Devon Energy written letters on behalf of the company as if from himself Claimed the strike down of DOMA did not apply to Oklahoma Fought against transgender rights as Attorney General of Oklahoma Anti-Gay Marriage Reproduction: Worked to restrict abortion related drug usage in Oklahoma
Director of the
Office of Management and Budget
Open
Administrator of the
Small Business Administration
Open
Ambassador to the United Nations
Nikki Haley, November 23, 2016
United States Trade Representative
Open
Chairman of the
Council of Economic Advisers
Open
Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor
Stephen Bannon, November 13, 2016
Goldman Sachs
“one of his (Bannon’s) pet peeves is the great climate-change con . . . it’s going to be a core part of his administration’s political program.” James Delingpole
http://www.breitbart.com/search/?s=climate+change
White House Counsel
Donald McGahn, November 25, 2016
Communications Director
Open
Press Secretary
Open
COMMENTS