Donald Trump's team takes charge

These men and women are preparing to steer the federal government. Six have been approved. Here's a closer look:

April 28, 2017 at 2:57PM
Trump cabinet nominees 2017
Trump cabinet nominees 2017 (Billy Steve Clayton — Wire services/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Agriculture

Sonny Perdue

(Dave Braunger/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: A former Democrat, he was Georgia's governor from 2003-2011.Flash point: He was the final pick, ending hopes that a Latino would join the Cabinet.Outlook: The stakes are high as plans for the 2018 Farm Bill take shape.Status: Nomination confirmed.

CIA

Mike Pompeo

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), President-elect Donald Trump's pick for CIA director, speaks during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 12, 2017. (Al Drago/The New York Times)
(Billy Steve Clayton — New York Times/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: A Kansas congressman and former Army officer, he's on the intelligence committee.Flash point: He says he'd investigate Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election.Outlook: Would he go along with a resumption of harsh interrogation?Status: Nomination confirmed.

Commerce

Wilbur Ross

President-elect Donald Trump pauses for photographs with investor Wilbur Ross as he leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J.. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: He's a billionaire investor, known for buying distressed companies.Flash point: His company was fined $2.3 million by the SEC in August.Outlook: Unlike Donald Trump, he supports Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Defense

Gen. James Mattis

Marine Gen. James Mattis, commander, U.S. Central Command, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2014 and the Future Years Defense Program. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ORG XMIT: DCEV106
(Billy Steve Clayton — AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Retired as chief of the U.S. Central Command in 2013.Flash point: He's more supportive of NATO than his boss and supported the Iran nuclear deal.Outlook: Faces integration of women in combat, acceptance of transgender people.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Education

Betsy DeVos

Betsy DeVos, nominee for education secretary, poses for a photo before a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in the Capitol, Dec. 1, 2016 in Washington, D.C. (Tom Williams/Congressional Quarterly/Newscom/Zuma Press/TNS) ORG XMIT: 1195813
(Billy Steve Clayton — TNS - TNS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Activist who backs school choice and local control.Flash point: An architect of Detroit charter schools, she shares blame for lowest-in-nation scores.Outlook: Democrats worry she'll work to privatize public education.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Energy

Rick Perry

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2016 file photo, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry smiles as he leaves Trump Tower in New York. Perry is President-elect Donald Trumpís choice to become energy secretary, two people with knowledge of the decision say. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Former Texas governor and two-time presidential candidate.Flash point: During his 2012 presidential bid, he proposed abolishing this department.Outlook: Expect him to be an oil industry ally, climate change skeptic.Status: Nomination confirmed.

EPA

Scott Pruitt

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator-designate Scott Pruitt is pictured during a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Oklahoma's attorney general, he once ran for Congress.Flashpoint: He's had a cozy relationship with the oil and gas industry.Outlook: The new president has vowed to "get rid" of the agency and reverse many federal climate policies.Status: Nomination confirmed.

HHS

Tom Price

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer of N.Y. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, to discuss the nomination of Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga. to become Health and Human Services secretary. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: An orthopedic surgeon, he chaired the House Budget Committee.Flash point: He tried to kill federal funding for Planned Parenthood.Outlook: He tried to replace the Affordable Care Act with age-based tax credits.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Homeland Security

Gen. John F. Kelly

Retired Marine Corps Gen. John F. Kelly testifies during the Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on his confirmation to be Secretary of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Retired Army general is a hawk on terrorism and border security.Flash point: He objected to Pentagon plan to open combat roles to women.Outlook: He doesn't endorse forcing Muslims to register with the federal government.Status: Nomination confirmed.

HUD

Ben Carson

Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
(Billy Steve Clayton — AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: A retired neurosurgeon, he has no expertise in urban issues.Flash point: Nancy Pelosi called him a "disturbingly unqualified choice."Outlook: Says individual efforts, not government programs, are the keys to overcoming poverty but approves of "safety net."Status: Nomination confirmed.

Interior

Ryan Zinke

Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of the Interior Department, meets with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in his offices on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Jan. 5, 2017. (Al Drago/The New York Times)
(Billy Steve Clayton — New York Times/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Former Navy SEAL, represents Montana in the House.Flash point: In his confirmation hearing, he rejected Trump's claim that climate change is a hoax.Outlook: He promised to "restore trust" with American Indian tribes.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Justice

Jeff Sessions

Attorney General-designate, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017, at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: A former U.S. attorney and Alabama attorney general, served on the U.S. Senate's Judiciary Committee.Flash point: In his confirmation hearing, he denied old allegations of racist remarks.Outlook: Disagrees with Trump on waterboarding.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Labor

Alexander Acosta

FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2008 file photo, R. Alexander Acosta talks to reporters during a news conference in Miami. President Donald Trump says he's has chosen Acosta to be labor secretary. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: American attorney and dean of the Florida International University College of Law.Outlook: Acosta is expected to have an easier path to confirmation than Andrew Puzder, who withdrew from consideration.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Intelligence

Dan Coats

FILE ó Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 13, 2014. Coats, who did not run for reelection, was reported on Jan. 5, 2017 to be Donald Trumpís choice for director of national intelligence, a position some in the president-electís camp consider to be superfluous. (Gabriella Demczuk/The New York Times)
(Billy Steve Clayton — New York Times/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Ex-Indiana congressman, senator, ambassador to Germany.Flashpoint: Trump isn't sold on the need for this job, created after Sept. 11 attacks, to exist.Outlook: Intelligence and experience, absence of partisanship could earn him presidential respect.Status: Nomination confirmed.

State

Rex Tillerson

Rex Tillerson answers questions during his confirmation hearing for Secretary of State in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. (Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS)
(Billy Steve Clayton — TNS/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: As Exxon Mobil CEO, he was known as a tough negotiator.Flash point: He seemed uninformed on many global issues during a confirmation hearing.Outlook: At his hearing, he didn't view climate change as an imminent national security threat.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Transportation

Elaine Chao

Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. (AP Photo/Zach Gibson)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: She was the first Asian American woman named to a Cabinet post in 2001.Flash point: During her Labor Department tenure, she was criticized for lax coal mine inspections.Outlook: She would oversee Trump's pledge to invest in infrastructure.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Treasury

Steve Mnuchin

Steven Mnuchin, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for treasury secretary, during a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in Washington, Dec. 6, 2016. (Al Drago/The New York Times)
(Billy Steve Clayton — New York Times/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: He's a Goldman Sachs banker turned movie financier.Flash point: He vows to cut corporate tax rates to 15 percent.Outlook: Democrats are targeting him for his bank and hedge fund past, but his loyalty has earned Trump's trust.Status: Nomination confirmed.

United Nations

Nikki Haley

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, left, smiles with Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster, right, after delivering the state of the state in the House chamber at the South Carolina Statehouse Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
(Billy Steve Clayton — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: She's South Carolina's governor and the daughter of immigrants from India.Flash point: At her hearing, she broke with Trump on Russia, saying, "I don't think that we can trust them."Outlook: Little opposition despite her inexperience.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Veteran Affairs

David Shulkin

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2017 file photo, David Shulkin, currently Veterans Affairs Undersecretary for Health leaves a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York. Trump announced Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2107, that he will nominate Shulkin as Veterans Affairs secretary. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)
(Billy Steve Clayton — AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: He's the current under secretary for health at the agency, once led several private health systems.Flash point: He'd be the first department leader who is not a veteran.Outlook: Faces big challenges fixing VA's many problems.Status: Nomination confirmed.

Chief of Staff

Reince Priebus

FILE - In this March 18, 2013 file photo, Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus speaks at the National Press Club in Washington. Plagued by infighting and deep ideological divisions, state Republican parties are mired in dysfunction. Several state Republican leaders have been forced out or resigned in recent months, and many state GOP parties face financial problems and skeptical national leaders. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) ORG XMIT: MIN2013081122405198 ORG XMIT:
(Billy Steve Clayton — ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Credentials: Former Republican National Committee chairman.Flash point: He understands D.C., but can he manage a man who resists taking direction?Outlook: He's from Wisconsin and close to House Speaker Paul Ryan, which could be crucial.Status: Nomination confirmed.

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