WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump incoming administration will be less diverse than President Joe Biden’s administration, but it seems likely that diverse people of color and women will hold top positions.
While Trump campaigned vigorously against diversity and inclusion efforts in business and government, his cabinet selections and other high-profile personnel choices include some barrier-breaking nominations. If confirmed, the Cabinet is expected to consist of one-third women and include some historic firsts.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio of Trump choose who would lead the State Department would be the first Latino secretary of state. Scott Bessent, an American hedge fund manager and Trump’s choose who would head the Ministry of Finance, would be the first openly gay man in that post.
Susie Wiles, from Trump choice for White House Chief of Staff, will also be the first woman to hold the position.
Scott Turner, a former NFL player who managed the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council will serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the first Trump term. Turner, who is Black, becomes the fourth confirmed HUD secretary of color since 2014. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is also Black, held that post under Trump.
Trump’s first administration also included some historic firsts, including veteran spy Gina Haspel portion as the first female director of the CIA, but still overall was left behind behind his predecessors on diversity.
The plan is for the incoming administration to include some people of color in other high-profile positions.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former biotechnology executive and 2024 Republican Party presidential candidate, will co-lead an external advisory committee on government efficiency with billionaire Elon Musk. Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, is Trump’s pick to serve as director of national intelligence, the chief coordinator of the nation’s intelligence agencies. Gabbard is of Samoan descent and Ramaswamy is Indian-American.
Mehmet Oz, a former TV doctor who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Pennsylvania, has been appointed by Trump to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. And Janette Nesheiwat, a physician and Fox News personality, is Trump’s pick to serve as surgeon general. Nesheiwat is the daughter of Christian Jordanian immigrants; Oz is a Turkish-American and would be the first Muslim to fill this role.
Trump’s Cabinet also includes a wide range of ideological diversity, with some nominees harboring views widely seen as eccentric in Washington. Others have clashing opinions on priorities for the new government, such as trade and foreign policy.
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