Buying PC components at a store like Best Buy or Micro Center is easy. You pick what you want and take it to the register. You'll usually have the option to purchase a warranty, or at least to take things back within a return window if they quickly stop working. But buying new parts is expensive, and if you don't strictly need the latest and greatest, it's compelling to seek out used parts. Reusing computer parts is not only cheaper, it can reduce the environmental and labor impacts of PC building too. However, with the secondhand market comes a lack of guarantee about what you're getting. Unscrupulous sellers may misrepresent parts, and even a trustworthy individual may not have the knowledge to correctly identify the parts or their conditions. That doesn't mean you should necessarily avoid buying second hand PC parts, but it does mean you should educate yourself on how to do so safely and confidently. Here are some of the main things to look out for when buying used computer parts, including which ones to avoid entirely. The most important thing to keep in mind when buying used computer parts is to double check you're getting the right one. Nearly identical components can have very subtle but crucial differences, and you should not assume that the seller has correctly labeled a listing. For example, if you're looking for an Intel CPU, your instinct might be to search for a Core i7 model and buy the cheapest one. But Intel has released countless i7 processors over the years, and if you don't research what will work best with your system, you could end up with a processor from over a decade ago and no way to get a refund. Another example, let's say you're looking for a GPU and find one labeled Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 TI Super. It's an incredible price, so you pounce on it, only to realize after installing it that it's actually the comparatively weaker 4070 TI. This could happen even if the seller wasn't intending to scam you, but simply didn't know enough about computers to identify what they were selling. Moreover, it's not enough to see a part's model number written on it. You need to make sure it's physically correct, since it's possible for scammers to swap things out. For example, you could wind up with an older, less powerful GPU dressed up in the housing of a newer, better one. This logic applies to RAM, motherboards, power units, and every other computer part. You should make sure to research these kinds of subtle differences before shopping, and once you've found a part, make sure to examine it before purchasing. As the saying goes: measure twice, cut once. You should always make sure you're getting a component that will last into the future. Using the example of Intel processors from the previous section, you're better off buying a newer Core i3 or Core i5 processor than you are buying a very old Core i7 or i9. Not only would the lower numbered but new processor have more power, it will also last you further into the future. The exception here is if you're upgrading an older system on an older motherboard. In that case, you might require a similarly dated component to ensure compatibility. If you have an older motherboard that predates the current generation of CPUs or GPUs, it likely won't be compatible with newer parts. If you're shopping for a used motherboard, be extremely careful, as motherboards are among the most fragile computer components. They have a ton of complexity, including things like heatsinks, batteries, and capacitors that help connect all the other PC parts. Another consideration related to the age of components is your operating system. Assuming you're running or plan to run Windows, you might not be able to use the latest version on outdated hardware. Microsoft does not supply older versions of Windows and cuts off support for them. At the time of this writing, Windows 11 is the latest version, and it requires a 1GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, a DirectX 12 compatible graphics card, and a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, among other requirements. You shouldn't buy components that don't meet these specifications, unless you're purposely doing so and have a plan to get an older Windows version or a different OS that works with your parts. So you've made sure to track down secondhand components that are correctly labeled and compatible with your system. The next step is to ensure they actually work. Of course, it's a good idea to make sure the parts function on a basic level, but even a part that technically works might have issues that won't become apparent without consistent use. For example, RAM is usually safe to buy used, but if you wind up with a defective stick, you could conceivably use it for some time before it malfunctions. Computer components are hard to vet for quality because defects or damage can be totally invisible. For example, parts that were overvolted or overclocked will have more wear on them than those that weren't, and that isn't something you can determine easily. Even if the component isn't old but was used heavily by its previous owner in poor conditions — for example, overheating a CPU — it could age more quickly. Physical damage can be hard to spot. For example, if even one of the many tiny pins on the underside of a CPU gets bent, it won't work properly when installed. If the seller has hidden that by bending the pin into place, you may not notice anything amiss without a magnifying glass. Motherboards in particular are high-risk used purchases because their complexity means more points of potential failure. The best advice here is to familiarize yourself with common kinds of damage that can affect the part you're shopping for. You should never purchase a used PC part from someone who won't let you examine it first. If you're shopping online, you should at least request a video of the part proving a lack of damage. One of the more objective things you can determine about a secondhand computer component is how much it should cost. Since sellers are setting their own prices, any given component will sit within a price range. Those who want to unload their inventory quickly will generally price lower, while those looking to maximize value can price higher. There are multiple tools available online to calculate the resale value of a PC or PC parts. PCPricer will let you search for individual components or a build, whereas Howmuch.one will let you search for the suggested price of a complete build. However, don't take these at face value. Use them as a starting point in combination with other resources like eBay. To determine what you should pay for a part that's still being sold in stores or online storefronts, you can start by looking at what it would cost to purchase new, as well as what people are selling it for used or pre-owned. Again, make sure you're looking at the precise part you want and not some other variant of it. You should never pay more for a used part than the market value of a new one, and usually you should be able to get a significant discount relative to market value. Even if the part is unused, the mere fact that it's pre-owned is enough to warrant paying less than retail because you aren't getting the peace of mind that comes with a store's return policy. If you're purchasing a used PC part and have verified that the part, its price, and lack of damage, the next thing to check for is that any cables or other accessories needed to use the component are there. For example, if you buy a GPU, you'll need the power connector cables that originally came with it (the ones that run the GPU to the power supply unit) in order to get it running. Those cables can be very specific depending on the GPU, and if you don't get them with the graphics card itself, you'll have to shop around carefully to find the right ones. That's extra money and time you don't want to spend. There are exceptions for low-powered graphics cards, some of which draw power solely from the PCIe slot. CPUs and RAM come by themselves as single pieces that slot into the motherboard, so no need to worry about accessories in those cases. When it comes to motherboards, you should check for extra cables, as well as parts like heat sinks that can be crucial to making sure your computer performs at its best. Computer cases are especially important in this regard. They tend to have a ton of little parts, including screws, mounting surfaces, and cables, and without even one of these tiny pieces, you might be out of luck when trying to mount a computer in the case. Cases can also include mechanisms to keep dust out, such as a wire mesh panel, without which a computer might build up debris, or case fans without which the PC could overheat. Always research cases, and examine documents such as user manuals where a full list of pieces for the case might be available. While it can be okay — even beneficial for your wallet and the environment —to purchase some PC parts second hand, there are some PC parts you should avoid buying used at all costs. The number one part you should avoid on the used market is a power supply unit (PSU). PSUs get increasingly unstable and worn out as they age due to the fact that they are managing the electricity powering your rig. A faulty PSU can be a safety hazard, taking down your entire system or even starting a fire. Moreover, new power supplies from top ranked brands are relatively cheap compared to other components. Storage drives should also be avoided on the used market. Most of all, avoid used hard drives that have magnetic and mechanical components inside. These have a high rate of failure and relatively short lifespans because every read or write action requires those parts to move. When it comes to new storage mediums like NVMe SSDs, they still have a limited number of read/write cycles before they go kaput, and last up to five years. Because no one wants them in new computers, hard drives are now quite cheap, so buying new isn't going to crush your wallet. And, although SSDs can be pricey, you're better off with a fresh one. Lastly, as noted elsewhere in this article, motherboards are quite finicky. You don't need to avoid them outright on the used market, but you're better off buying new.
On Saturday night, Donald Trump announced he intends to appoint Kash Patel as director of the FBI. The news sparked an immediate frenzy from establishment figures across media and politics. Legal and national security “experts” were deployed to the Sunday morning news shows to characterize the move as evidence that Trump intends to politicize the FBI and use it as a weapon against his many political opponents. The political establishment’s concerns about what a Trump FBI could do mirror a lot of what we’ve heard from the right in recent years as they found themselves in the Bureau’s crosshairs. But almost all of these complaints and warnings have operated under the assumption that—with maybe the exception of a few bad episodes in the 1960s—the FBI has long been an essential crime-fighting force that has only recently become—or threatens to become—corrupted by politics. In truth, the FBI has always been used as a weapon against political movements and rivals of the established political class. That’s the reason it was created. At the end of the 1800s, left-wing anarchists were attacking heads of state all across Europe. In a few short years, the king of Italy, the prime minister of Spain, the empress of Austria, and the president of France were all assassinated by anarchists. While no communist or anarchist movement had yet to take over a country, the tenacity of these activists and revolutionaries was seriously concerning those in power in the United States. Then, in 1901, President William McKinley was shot and killed by an anarchist while attending a meet-and-greet in Buffalo, New York, which brought his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt, into office. It was President Roosevelt who tapped his Attorney General Charles Bonaparte—the grandnephew of Napoleon—to create the FBI. The AG was required by law to get congressional approval before creating this new “investigative” service of special agents within the Department of Justice. In the spring of 1908, Bonaparte officially requested the money and authority to create the FBI. Congress came back with an emphatic no. Members of the House saw through the innocuous language of the request and figured out exactly what the president and AG were doing—creating a secret police force that was answerable only to them. House Democrats like Joseph Swagar and John J. Fitzgerald and Republicans like Walter I. Smith and George Waldo all loudly condemned the proposal, saying it called for a “system of espionage” comparable to the Tsar’s secret police in Russia that stood in stark contrast to the very principles at the heart of the American system. Congress explicitly forbade the AG from creating this new Bureau. So what did Bonaparte do? He waited for Congress to break for the summer and then went ahead and created the FBI anyway. Congress was only notified about the new federal police force half a year later when Bonaparte included a quick throw-away line at the end of his annual report: “It became necessary for the department to organize a small force of special agents of its own.” So, the FBI was not created in response to out-of-control crime; its creation was a crime. Immediately, the new Bureau was unleashed on anyone and everyone who was perceived as a threat to those in power. That started with left-wing anarchists but quickly expanded to include many antiwar activists as President Wilson pulled the country into World War I. From the outset, the FBI operated primarily as a domestic intelligence agency—recruiting spies within groups they were targeting and breaking into offices and homes, intercepting mail, and tapping the phones of anyone they considered a threat. As the years wore on—like most other executive agencies—the Bureau evolved away from serving the direct interests of whoever happened to sit in the Oval Office to instead serve its own interest and the interest of the broader entrenched, permanent power structure in Washington. In the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, the FBI conducted covert operations aimed at inciting violence between domestic groups, breaking up political organizations it disapproved of, and, perhaps most famously, collecting blackmail on Martin Luther King Jr. that they then tried to use to drive him to commit suicide. Related Articles Commentary | A new Legislative session: Time for pocketbook pragmatism Commentary | Climate activists should pivot from costly pipe dreams to realistic solutions Commentary | Privacy agency oversteps authority, jeopardizes California’s opportunity to lead in AI Commentary | Newsom’s wrongheaded special session is a misuse of gubernatorial power Commentary | Scott Horton: Can Trump actually fend off the war hawks and bring peace? Although today’s FBI acknowledges and publicly disavows these past activities, they are still carrying out egregious operations that always seem to benefit the political class. The Bureau has taken up a kind of sting operation where, over and over again, agents find isolated, gullible, often mentally-handicapped young men, pretend to be political radicals or higher-ups in a terrorist organization, and then convince the young men to plan and carry out a terrorist attack with FBI-funds and resources. Agents then step in at the end and act like they heroically stopped a real plot. The FBI did this relentlessly with young Muslim men after 9/11. The arrests helped prolong the perception that the global war on terror and extreme measures like the Patriot Act were necessary. In recent years, the FBI has conducted a number of similar schemes with right-wing groups—advancing the establishment’s narrative that Donald Trump is radicalizing “uneducated” middle Americans and turning them into violent insurrectionists. And then there are, of course, all the ways the FBI directly tried to undermine and hinder Trump’s first term. Right-wingers are correctly deriding the establishment for panicking about Trump’s FBI doing to them what they have tried to do to him. But many—on both sides—go wrong when they present the Bureau as only recently, or imminently, being corrupted into serving the interests of those in power. That’s been its role since the beginning. Connor O’Keeffe ( @ConnorMOKeeffe ) produces media and content at the Mises Institute. This commentary is republished from the Mises Institute.Why Nigerian billionaire is moving to launch A-powered radio stationDeepen Cooperation and Create the Future Together | The 2024 SLKOR Annual Agent Seminar was successfully concluded 12-19-2024 11:16 PM CET | Logistics & Transport Press release from: ABNewswire On the occasion of the coming of the winter solstice, the New Product Training Conference for SLKOR [ http://www.slkoric.com]'s 2024 Annual Agents was successfully held in the meeting room of SLKOR's headquarters on December 12th. This conference mainly focused on product training, aiming to deepen the agents' understanding of semiconductor products, enhance their comprehensive understanding of SLKOR's new products, and strengthen the communication and cooperation between the company and the agents, laying a solid foundation for the later business development and market expansion of both parties. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022553379127252492585.png SLKOR 2024 Annual Agent Exchange Meeting Room On the eve of the conference, the SLKOR team made meticulous preparations to ensure the smooth running of the training. In the morning of that day, the agents participating in the training signed in orderly at the reception desks of SLKOR and Kinghelm [ http://www.kinghelm.net ], and received the product manuals, customized mineral water bottles and newly customized pillows carefully prepared by SLKOR. Each gift was printed with the "Slkor" logo, which not only reflected SLKOR's care and respect for the agents, but also demonstrated that SLKOR not only focuses on the research, development and production of new products, but also attaches great importance to brand promotion. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022554154457419658250.png SLKOR product manuals and pillows Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022554714914057912364.png SLKOR product manuals and pillows Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022555227097248550735.png Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022555700907024232917.png Before the training started, Song Shiqiang, the general manager of SLKOR [ https://ru.slkoric.com ] and Kinghelm, delivered a speech first. He sincerely thanked all the agents for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in the SLKOR 2024 Agent Training and Exchange Conference, and then introduced in detail the current general situation and development of the company. He mentioned that SLKOR had achieved remarkable results in the past year. With the rapid development of the company, great progress had also been made in the expansion of overseas markets. Facing the current situation of the semiconductor industry, General Manager Song Shiqiang also analyzed the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry and shared SLKOR's coping strategies for these challenges. When talking about SLKOR's future development plan, he revealed that SLKOR had a plan to go public in the future and was currently working hard in this direction. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation with agents in the future and hoped that through the joint efforts of both sides, a win-win situation could be achieved. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022556166942627943283.png Subsequently, the conference entered the product training session. Sun Gaofei, the director of SLKOR's Sales Department One, served as the keynote speaker. He is a technical sales elite of SLKOR [ https://tr.slkoric.com ], possessing profound semiconductor professional knowledge and rich practical experience. He believes that understanding how semiconductors are produced first and then getting to know the products will achieve twice the result with half the effort and enable a more professional introduction of products to customers. Therefore, the product training mainly focused on two parts: the semiconductor manufacturing process and the introduction of new products. In the first part, starting from the wafer manufacturing process, Director Sun analyzed in simple terms the entire manufacturing process of semiconductors from raw materials to finished products and explained the packaging process in detail, giving the agents present a clear understanding of the product generation process. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022556587229235725642.png Training by Sun Gaofei, the sales director of SLKOR. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022556971016399024395.png In terms of the introduction of new products, Director Sun mainly introduced SLKOR's newly launched products, namely MEMS infrared temperature sensor, A/D converter, and gate driver. He elaborated on the three series of MEMS infrared temperature sensors - SL-S-TRS-5.5Dx, SL-W-TRS-5.5Dx, SL-FW-TRS-5.5Dx. Although the product characteristics, functions and applicable scenarios of these three series are different, they can all be widely used in fields such as household appliances, power, and medical treatment. He pointed out that SLKOR's MEMS infrared temperature sensor can bring more intelligent, safe and efficient advantages to smart appliances. The advantage of the A/D converter is that it makes the system data conversion more accurate and the volume is miniaturized. The gate driver is to optimize the switching speed and reduce the switching loss. The gate driver chip helps to improve the energy efficiency of the entire system. During the nearly ninety-minute training, the learning atmosphere in the meeting room was very strong. Director Sun also patiently answered the questions and doubts raised by the agents and gave examples from real life to make it easier for everyone to understand. After the training, SLKOR hosted a luncheon for the agents. Everyone had a warm meal and communication in a Chinese restaurant and said that Director Sun's training was very detailed, rich in knowledge points and clearly explained, which deepened their understanding of SLKOR's products and benefited them a lot. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022557570078734991361.png Ask questions during the training process. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022557925160699672838.png SLKOR arranged a luncheon for the agents Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022558652752733383079.png With the end of lunch, the SLKOR 2024 Annual Agent Training and Exchange Conference also concluded successfully. This conference was not only a meeting for product training and communication interaction, but also an opportunity to deepen cooperation and create the future together. Through this conference, the communication and cooperation between SLKOR and the agents have been further strengthened, and the foundation of cooperation between the two parties has become more solid. In the future, SLKOR will continue to adhere to innovation, ensure product quality, continuously improve product competitiveness and market share, and bring more excellent products and services. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022559297732535278051.png SLKOR mascot "Powerboy" Song Shiqiang said that the model of this event is very good and is of great significance for both SLKOR and its agents, which will help everyone expand their business. Next, Kinghelm, the sister company of SLKOR, will also conduct agent training to clearly explain Kinghelm's new products and new applications to the agents, making it convenient for everyone to work with a clear understanding. Kinghelm Electronics was founded in 2007 in Shenzhen Huaqiangbei. It is a national high-tech enterprise integrating R & D, production, sales and technical services. For more than ten years, it has been deeply engaged in radio frequency and microwave technology and developed signal transceiver and transmission product components. Its products include Beidou GPS antennas, various series of connector terminals, custom molds for antenna connectors and supporting solutions. The "Kinghelm" brand has influence and good reputation both domestically and internationally. "Kinghelm, Connecting the World". The technical backbone of Kinghelm comes from Tsinghua University and absorbs technical talents from the University of Electronic Science and Technology and returnees. The R & D department in Tangxia, Dongguan, the factory in Luzhai County, Guangxi, the transit warehouse in Longhua District, Shenzhen, and the sales and supply chain department in Longgang headquarters all synchronously correspond to the product demand information of customers, realizing collaborative, digital, intelligent and process management and becoming a highly competitive company in the electronic information industry. Kinghelm and SLKOR Semiconductor, which is also invested and managed by Mr. Song Shiqiang, together provide supporting services for electronic product companies and become partners of more than 15,000 customers worldwide, striving to "take the path of nationalization and internationalization and strive to become a semiconductor leader". Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022631191578392514354.jpg Finally, SLKOR Semiconductor and Kinghelm Electronics would like to extend their warmest wishes to everyone for a very Merry Christmas. As the festive season unfolds, we hope that the spirit of Christmas fills your hearts with joy and peace. SLKOR, with its continuous efforts in semiconductor innovation and product development, and Kinghelm, renowned for its advanced radio frequency and microwave technology and high-quality components, are committed to providing excellent services and solutions to our global customers. We look forward to further collaborations and achievements in the coming year, and may this Christmas be a time of celebration and reflection, surrounded by loved ones and filled with the magic of the season. Let's embrace the holiday cheer and look ahead to a prosperous and bright future together. Image: https://www.slkoric.com/Data/slkormicro/upload/image/20241219/6387022674945982516418219.png Media Contact Company Name: Shenzhen SLKOR Micro Semicon Co., Ltd. Contact Person: Support Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=deepen-cooperation-and-create-the-future-together-the-2024-slkor-annual-agent-seminar-was-successfully-concluded ] Phone: +86 13008868302 Address:2010, Block A, Bairuida Building Vanke City Community Bantian Avenue, Longgang District City: Shenzhen Country: China Website: http://www.slkoric.com This release was published on openPR.By REBECCA SANTANA, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The picture of who will be in charge of executing President-elect Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration and border policies has come into sharper focus after he announced his picks to head Customs and Border Protection and also the agency tasked with deporting immigrants in the country illegally. Trump said late Thursday he was tapping Rodney Scott, a former Border Patrol chief who’s been a vocal supporter of tougher enforcement measures, for CBP commissioner. As acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump said he’d nominate Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official with more than 23 years in the agency who most recently has been the assistant director for firearms and tactical programs. They will work with an immigration leadership team that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as head of the Department of Homeland Security ; former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement head Tom Homan as border czar ; and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff. Customs and Border Protection, with its roughly 60,000 employees, falls under the Department of Homeland Security. It includes the Border Patrol, which Scott led during Trump’s first term, and is essentially responsible for protecting the country’s borders while facilitating trade and travel. Scott comes to the job firmly from the Border Patrol side of the house. He became an agent in 1992 and spent much of his career in San Diego. When he joined the agency, San Diego was by far the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Traffic plummeted after the government dramatically increased enforcement there, but critics note the effort pushed people to remote parts of California and Arizona. San Diego was also where wall construction began in the 1990s, which shaped Scott’s belief that barriers work. He was named San Diego sector chief in 2017. When he was appointed head of the border agency in January 2020, he enthusiastically embraced Trump’s policies. “He’s well known. He does know these issues and obviously is trusted by the administration,” said Gil Kerlikowske, the CBP commissioner under the Obama administration. Kerlikowske took issue with some of Scott’s past actions, including his refusal to fall in line with a Biden administration directive to stop using terms like “illegal alien” in favor of descriptions like “migrant,” and his decision as San Diego sector chief to fire tear gas into Mexico to disperse protesters. “You don’t launch projectiles into a foreign country,” Kerlikowske said. At the time Scott defended the agents’ decisions , saying they were being assaulted by “a hail of rocks.” While much of the focus of Trump’s administration may be on illegal immigration and security along the U.S.-Mexico border, Kerlikowske also stressed the importance of other parts of Customs and Border Protection’s mission. The agency is responsible for securing trade and international travel at airports, ports and land crossings around the country. Whoever runs the agency has to make sure that billions of dollars worth of trade and millions of passengers move swiftly and safely into and out of the country. And if Trump makes good on promises to ratchet up tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada, CBP will play an integral role in enforcing them. “There’s a huge amount of other responsibility on trade, on tourism, on cyber that take a significant amount of time and have a huge impact on the economy if it’s not done right,” Kerlikowske said. After being forced out under the Biden administration, Scott has been a vocal supporter of Trump’s hard-line immigration agenda. He has appeared frequently on Fox News and testified in Congress. He’s also a senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In a 2023 interview with The Associated Press, he advocated for a return to Trump-era immigration policies and more pressure on Mexico to enforce immigration on its side of the border.
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weekslong delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transition of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. "This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day," said Susie Wiles, Trump's designate to be White House chief of staff. People are also reading... The announcement came a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House issued both public and private appeals for Trump's team to sign on. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts emphasized to Trump's team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. President-elect Donald Trump arrives before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in Boca Chica, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) Brandon Bell President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction Republican Senators also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump's nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers were particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump's designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. "That's why it's so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said Monday. John Thune, incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team "understands there's going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees." Here are the people Trump has picked for key positions so far President-elect Donald Trump Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Susie Wiles, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Marco Rubio, Secretary of State Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Wilfredo Lee, Associated Press Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. George Walker IV, Associated Press Pam Bondi, Attorney General Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Derik Hamilton Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Matt Kelley, Associated Press Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Secretary Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. Jacquelyn Martin, Associated Press Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. Andy Cross, The Denver Post via AP Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Evan Vucci Howard Lutnick, Secretary of Commerce Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. John Bazemore, Associated Press Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Evan Vucci, Associated Press John Ratcliffe, Central Intelligence Agency Director Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Matt Rourke, Associated Press Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Jonathan Newton - pool, ASSOCIATED PRESS Elise Stefanik, Ambassador to the United Nations Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Matt Whitaker, Ambassador to NATO President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Andrew Harnik, Associated Press Mike Huckabee, Ambassador to Israel Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Oded Balilty, Associated Press Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy to the Middle East Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Gen. Keith Kellogg to serve as assistant to the president and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, a retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as National Security Advisor to Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence. For the America First Policy Institute, one of several groups formed after Trump left office to help lay the groundwork for the next Republican administration, Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib) AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib Mike Waltz, National Security Adviser Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Tom Homan, ‘Border Czar’ Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. John Bazemore, Associated Press Dr. Mehmet Oz, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to advise White House on government efficiency Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Evan Vucci, Associated Press photos Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Additional selections to the incoming White House Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. James Blair, deputy chief of staff Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. William McGinley, White House counsel McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health Trump has chosen Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health. Bhattacharya is a physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, and is a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates. He promoted the idea of herd immunity during the pandemic, arguing that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. The National Institutes of Health funds medical research through competitive grants to researchers at institutions throughout the nation. NIH also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at its labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Jamieson Greer, U.S. trade representative Kevin Hassett, Director of the White House National Economic Council Trump is turning to two officials with experience navigating not only Washington but the key issues of income taxes and tariffs as he fills out his economic team. He announced he has chosen international trade attorney Jamieson Greer to be his U.S. trade representative and Kevin Hassett as director of the White House National Economic Council. While Trump has in several cases nominated outsiders to key posts, these picks reflect a recognition that his reputation will likely hinge on restoring the public’s confidence in the economy. Trump said in a statement that Greer was instrumental in his first term in imposing tariffs on China and others and replacing the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, “therefore making it much better for American Workers.” Hassett, 62, served in the first Trump term as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. He has a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute before joining the Trump White House in 2017. Jose Luis Magana, Associated Press Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
