President Trump Announces Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Positions

Published: Mon 20th Jan 25

President Trump issued a directive appointing acting cabinet secretaries and other high-level officials across numerous federal agencies.

The appointees are temporarily filling their positions until permanent replacements are selected, with the directive citing 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. as legal justification.

The directive lists numerous individuals and their assigned acting roles, ensuring continuity in government operations.

Arguments For

Intended benefits: Ensures the continuity of government operations during a transition period. Provides experienced individuals to temporarily lead agencies until permanent appointments are made. Allows the administration to quickly fill critical positions.
Evidence cited: References 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., indicating the legal basis for temporary appointments.
Implementation methods: The directive directly names individuals and their assigned acting roles, providing a clear implementation plan.
Legal/historical basis: The action is grounded in existing law (5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq.), providing legal justification for temporary appointment of acting officials.

Arguments Against

Potential impacts: Acting officials may lack the same level of authority or political capital as permanently appointed officials; hindering their effectiveness.
Implementation challenges: The successful performance of acting officials relies heavily on their experience and support from within the agencies.
Alternative approaches: Delaying the appointments until permanent nominations are available. Using existing career officials to temporarily fill leadership roles.
Unintended effects: Potential for political backlash due to the nature of the appointments, especially given potential conflicts of interest or short-term priorities.

Pursuant to the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including but not limited to 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq., I hereby direct the following individuals to perform the functions and duties of the indicated positions in an acting capacity until the position is filled by appointment.

This section establishes the legal basis and intent of the presidential action.

It states that the appointments are made according to the Constitution and federal law (specifically 5 U.S.C. 3345 and following sections), and that the appointments are temporary, lasting until permanent selections are made.

Gary Washington	Secretary of Agriculture
Jeremy Pelter	Secretary of Commerce
Robert Salesses	Secretary of Defense
Mark Averill	Secretary of the Army
Terence Emmert	Secretary of the Navy
Gary Ashworth	Secretary of the Air Force
Denise Carter	Secretary of Education
Ingrid Kolb	Secretary of Energy
Dorothy Fink	Secretary of Health and Human Services
Benjamine Huffman	Secretary of Homeland Security
Matthew Ammon	Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Walter Cruickshank	Secretary of the Interior
James McHenry	Attorney General
Vincent Micone	Secretary of Labor
Lisa Kenna	Secretary of State
David Lebryk	Secretary of the Treasury
Judith Kaleta	Secretary of Transportation
Todd Hunter	Secretary of Veterans Affairs
James Payne	Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Everett Woodel	Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Matthew Vaeth	Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Stacey Dixon	Director of National Intelligence
Juan Millan	United States Trade Representative
Thomas Sylvester, Jr.	Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Charles Ezell	Director of the Office of Personnel Management
Stephen Ehikian	Administrator of General Services
Michelle King	Commissioner of Social Security
Brian Driscoll	Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Jason Gray	Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development
Janet Petro	Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Caleb Vitello	Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement