Presidential Sub-Cabinet Appointments: Strengthening Government Leadership

What is the presidential action?

On January 20, 2025, the President nominated a series of individuals for key sub-cabinet positions within the Departments of Defense, Health, Treasury, Justice, and other federal agencies. These nominees, subject to Senate confirmation, will play critical roles in shaping and implementing national policy.

List of Nominees and Positions

• Keith Bass (Texas) – Assistant Secretary of Defense
• Jayanta Bhattacharya (California) – Director of the National Institutes of Health
• James Bishop (North Carolina) – Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
• Frank Bisignano (New Jersey) – Commissioner of Social Security
• Todd Blanche (Florida) – Deputy Attorney General
• Adam Boehler (Tennessee) – Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs
• Samuel Brown (Nevada) – Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs
• Walter Clayton (New York) – U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
• Elbridge Colby (District of Columbia) – Under Secretary of Defense for Policy
• Monica Crowley (New York) – Chief of Protocol, with rank of Ambassador
• Harmeet Dhillon (California) – Assistant Attorney General
• Daniel Driscoll (North Carolina) – Secretary of the Army
• Michael Duffy (Virginia) – Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment
• Troy Edgar (California) – Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
• Michael Faulkender (Maryland) – Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
• Stephen Feinberg (New York) – Deputy Secretary of Defense
• David Fink (New Hampshire) – Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration
• Paul Atkins (Virginia) – Member, Securities and Exchange Commission (Term expiring June 5, 2026)
• Darío Gil (New York) – Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy
• Preston Griffith (Virginia) – Under Secretary of Energy
• Jacob Helberg (Florida) – Under Secretary of State (Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment)
• Dudley Hoskins (District of Columbia) – Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
• Jared Isaacman (Pennsylvania) – Administrator of NASA
• Scott Kupor (California) – Director, Office of Personnel Management
• Christopher Landau (Maryland) – Deputy Secretary of State
• Luke Lindberg (South Dakota) – Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
• William Long (Missouri) – Commissioner of Internal Revenue
• Martin Makary (Virginia) – Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services
• Mark Meador (Virginia) – Federal Trade Commissioner (Term: Seven years from September 26, 2024)
• Troy Meink – Secretary of the Air Force
• Emil Michael (Florida) – Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
• Janette Nesheiwat (New York) – Surgeon General of the Public Health Service
• James O’Neill (California) – Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Mehmet Oz (Pennsylvania) – Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Kashyap Patel (Nevada) – Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Term: Ten years)
• John Phelan (Florida) – Secretary of the Navy
• Aaron Reitz (Texas) – Assistant Attorney General
• Michael Rigas (Virginia) – Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources
• Dean Sauer (Missouri) – Solicitor General of the United States
• Rodney Scott (Oklahoma) – Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Abigail Slater (District of Columbia) – Assistant Attorney General
• Keith Sonderling (Florida) – Deputy Secretary of Labor
• Stephen Vaden (Tennessee) – Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
• David Weldon (Florida) – Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Brandon Williams (New York) – Under Secretary for Nuclear Security

What is the historical context for this presidential action?

The federal government relies on sub-cabinet officials to manage essential programs, oversee departmental operations, and advise policymakers. Over time, resignations and new policy directions create vacancies that must be filled to maintain government efficiency and effectiveness.

• 42 sub-cabinet positions were left vacant due to resignations and term expirations. (Source: White House Personnel Reports, 2025)
• Senate confirmation of sub-cabinet officials averages 12–16 weeks. (Source: Congressional Research Service, 2024)
• Past administrations have faced significant delays in confirming nominees, affecting policy execution. (Source: Brookings Institution, 2023)

This wave of sub-cabinet appointments signals a strategic effort to shape national policy through key agency leadership. While some nominees may face Senate hurdles, their confirmation will be crucial to implementing the administration’s policy agenda.