Published on February 12, 2025
This presidential action consists of a large batch of nominations to high-level government positions, including ambassadorships, assistant secretaries, and agency directors across multiple departments including State, Labor, Education, and others. The nominations represent a significant reshaping of executive leadership across numerous federal agencies, with one notable withdrawal of Luke Petit's nomination for Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Several appointments suggest a potential consolidation of power through strategic placement of individuals in key oversight positions, particularly in financial and regulatory roles such as the Comptroller of the Currency and Director of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The nomination of Charles Kushner as Ambassador to France and Monaco, along with several other high-profile diplomatic appointments, indicates possible prioritization of personal or political connections over traditional diplomatic experience. The concentration of multiple nominees from states like Virginia and Florida could suggest an effort to reward political allies or establish influence networks within specific geographic regions.
While presented as routine governmental appointments, this sweeping set of nominations appears designed to install a network of aligned individuals across critical positions of federal power, particularly in areas of financial oversight, environmental regulation, and international diplomacy. The public should pay particular attention to how these appointments, if confirmed, might influence policy implementation and regulatory enforcement across these crucial sectors.
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Gary Andres, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. Daniel Aronowitz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. James Baehr, of Louisiana, to be General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs. Kirsten Baesler, of North Dakota, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. Joseph Barloon, of Maryland, to be a Deputy United States Trade Representative (Geneva Office), with the rank of Ambassador. Benjamin Black, of New York, to be Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation. Kevin Cabrera, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Panama. Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be National Cyber Director. Gustav Chiarello III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. Tyler Clarkson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture. Jason De Sena Trennert, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Thomas DiNanno, of Florida, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. Sean Donahue, of Florida, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. David Eisner, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy. David Fogel, of Connecticut, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service. George Glass, of Oregon, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan. Jonathan Gould, of Virginia, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years. Catherine Hanson, of South Carolina, to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency. Landon Heid, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Peter Hoekstra, of Michigan, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Canada. Allison Hooker, of Georgia, to be an Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs). Mike Huckabee, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the State of Israel. John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Crimes. Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics. Ronald Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Mexican States. Taylor Jordan, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Paul Kapur, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs. David Keeling, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. Nicholas Kent, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Education. Joseph Kent, of Washington, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Jessica Kramer, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Charles Kushner, of New York, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the French Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Monaco. Henry Mack III, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. Ned Mamula, of Pennsylvania, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey. Jennifer Mascott, of Maryland, to be General Counsel, Department of Education. Jonathan McKernan, of Tennessee, to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years. Jonathan Morrison, of California, to be Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Brian Morrissey, Jr., of Virginia, to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury. Brian Nesvik, of Wyoming, to be Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Kevin O’Farrell, of Florida, to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education. Caleb Orr, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Economic and Business Affairs). Wayne Palmer, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. Luke Pettit, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Tina Pierce, of Idaho, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy. Chris Pratt, of Utah, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs). Brian Quintenz, of Ohio, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Brian Quintenz, of Ohio, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2029. David Rader, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Joel Rayburn, of Oklahoma, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Near Eastern Affairs). Kimberly Richey, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education. Mary Riley, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, Department of Education. Audrey Robertson, of Colorado, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy). Sarah Rogers, of New York, to be Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. Reed Rubinstein, of Maryland, to be Legal Adviser of the Department of State. Kathleen Sgamma, of Colorado, to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management. Warren Stephens, of Arkansas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Michael Stuart, of West Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services. Aaron Szabo, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Richard Topping, of Ohio, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs. Craig Trainor, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2025. Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2025. (Reappointment) Matthew Whitaker, of Iowa, to be United States Permanent Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE: Luke Petit, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.