On November 5, 2024, former President Donald Trump did something that had only been done one other time in history. After winning every swing state and all Republican states in a landslide, Trump won the general election and will soon return to the White House to lead America in non-consecutive terms.
As part of his preparation for office, Trump is responsible for assembling his Cabinet, and many of his picks are controversial.
Three of the most controversial nominations are environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and former representative Tulsi Gabbard (HI-2).
These Cabinet picks are causing controversy because many outsiders see them as lacking the qualifications for their nominated positions.
The most problematic pick now is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been nominated to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Some of his controversial views include claims that the federal government worked with pharmaceutical companies to cover up the allegedly dangerous effects of the chemical thimerosal, claiming that vaccines cause autism, and comparing unvaccinated people during the COVID-19 pandemic to Jewish people during the holocaust.
The inaccuracy and, frankly, sheer insanity of many of these claims have gotten him into what is, in no uncertain terms, controversy and have made his ability to secure fifty votes in the Senate for his confirmation seem potentially unlikely. But time will tell.
Other eyebrow-raising picks have also been made, such as former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who have been lambasted for their lack of experience and alleged scandals.
Gabbard, who is a former member of the House of Representatives from Hawaii, has been accused of parroting Russian disinformation, including claiming that the U.S. has built bio-labs in Ukraine, which is a debunked piece of Kremlin misinformation.
Hegseth is also not a figure lacking in controversy and situations that could threaten his ability to be nominated to a post of such importance as the Secretary of Defense. He has taken several controversial positions, including making statements that are arguably in support of enhanced interrogation (a somewhat deceptive name for torture) and supported using the U.S. military to put down riots during the 2020 protests over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
What can CSD students learn from the picks themselves or from watching the process unfold?
Students can better understand the relationship between the President and the Cabinet by better understanding the interconnectedness of leadership. The presidential Cabinet is a body of 15 agency heads confirmed by the Senate. They act as the President’s closest advisors.
These positions are as follows:
Presidential Cabinet Positions
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Defense
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Homeland Security
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of the Interior
- Attorney General (Department of Justice)
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Vice President
Commenting on the importance of a president’s Cabinet picks, Anthony Yodice, AP US History teacher, emphasized that some are important to people’s everyday lives. Their decisions impact communities at all levels.
“It depends, if the Secretary of State makes a major blunder, that could impact us. Or with the hurricane in western North Carolina… the heads of FEMA and [the Department of] Homeland Security are going to be very important to you at that moment,” Anthony Yodice said.
While citizens cannot be sure of the policies these officials will implement if they are confirmed, the effects can be indicators based on their historical decision-making in prior positions. Therefore, the upcoming confirmation process will be essential to follow.
But what is the process for nominating these Cabinet picks?
The first task that a nominee must go through after their name has been submitted to the Senate is getting past the approval of the relevant committee for the agency they are presumed to head.
If they pass that process, they must then undergo a Senate hearing, at which members must vote for their confirmation.
Cabinet picks are essential because they significantly dictate how presidents execute their policy agenda, which can affect daily lives.
For Kennedy, Hegseth, and Gabbard, especially, these next weeks will be telling.
And for students and political watchers, staying current on current affairs is always valuable.
Cabinet picks are something to which any civic-minded high schooler should pay attention.
And controversy is typically part of the process.
