List reveals Sarah Palin and Chris Christie as well as oil tycoons and bankers in Donald Trump's possible cabinet
President-elect's transition team compiles options including figures from private sector
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sarah Palin, governor Chris Christie, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, defeated Republican rival Ben Carson and a slew of private sector executives are among the contenders for top positions in Donald Trump’s cabinet.
A list of 41 candidates compiled by the President-elect’s transition team has been obtained by BuzzFeed News, covering 13 departments that will make up his powerful cabinet.
Ms Palin, the former Alaska governor who unsuccessfully ran as vice-president in 2008, is one of seven possibilities for Secretary of the Interior, including governors Jan Brewer and Mary Fallin, venture capitalist Robert Grady, oil executive Forrest Lucas and entrepreneur Harold Hamm.
Mr Christie, the New Jersey governor damaged by the “Bridgegate” scandal, is in contention for the positions of Attorney General and Secretary of Commerce; while Newt Gingrich could be made Secretary of State.
Mr Giuliani is also up for Attorney General while Dr Carson, who bowed out of the Republican nomination race earlier this year, is listed for the education and health briefs.
A hotly tipped option for Secretary of Defence is Mike Flynn, a retired general and former head of the Defence Intelligence Agency, who has been Mr Trump’s chief defence policy adviser during the campaign.
The list, which is not final, includes several high-profile figures from the energy and banking industries, following Mr Trump’s anti-“politician” rhetoric during his campaign. Among them are oil, gas and steel executives, a venture capitalist, bankers, investors and financiers from the private sector.
Several of the candidates were praised by Mr Trump in his victory speech on Wednesday, including possible Attorney General, Defence Secretary, or Office of Management or Budget director Jeff Sessions.
Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman listed as the sole candidate for Chief of Staff, was also named, with Mr Trump calling him “a very special person”.
“We have got tremendously talented people up here, I want to tell you, it’s been very, very special,” said the President-elect.
He was due to meet Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday to start the formal process of transition ahead of his inauguration in January.
The contenders for Mr Trump’s cabinet
Attorney General:
Gov Chris Christie
Attorney General Pam Bondi
Sen Jeff Sessions
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Secretary of Commerce:
Chris Christie
Former Nucor CEO Dan DiMicco
Businessman Lew Eisenberg
Former gov Mike Huckabee
Sen David Perdue
Former Sen Jim Talent
Agriculture Secretary:
Gov Sam Brownback
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives CEO Chuck Conner
Gov Dave Heineman
Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller
Former Georgia gov Sonny Perdue
Secretary of Education:
Ben Carson
Hoover Institution fellow William Evers
Secretary of Energy:
Venture capitalist Robert Grady
Businessman Harold Hamm
Secretary of Health and Human Services:
Former New Jersey state Sen Richard Bagger
Ben Carson
Newt Gingrich
Gov Rick Scott
Secretary of Homeland Security:
Chris Christie
Sheriff David Clarke
Secretary of the Interior:
Gov Jan Brewer
Gov Mary Fallin
Robert Grady
Harold Hamm
Oil executive Forrest Lucas
Rep Cynthia Lummis
Former Gov Sarah Palin
Secretary of Defense:
Former Gen Mike Flynn
Stephen Hadley
Rep Duncan Hunter Jr
Jeff Sessions
Former Sen Jim Talent
Secretary of State:
John Bolton
Sen Bob Corker
Newt Gingrich
Treasury Secretary:
Rep Jeb Hensarling
Businessman Carl Icahn
Banker Steven Mnuchin
Chief of Staff:
Reince Priebus
Director of Office of Management and Budget:
Jeff Sessions
Secretary of Labor:
EEOC commissioner Victoria Lipnic
Veterans Affairs:
Rep Jeff Miller
White House Counsel:
Donald McGahn
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments