US Cabinet Members



US Cabinet Members

The President of the United States is responsible for the smooth running of the country. However, the President alone does not carry out his duties. He has a set of people who work under him in different sectors such as agriculture, defense, education, labor, health, law and other departments. These people form the Cabinet and help the president in the discharge of his duties.

History

The existence of the Cabinet dates back to the times of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. He appointed a cabinet of four people who assisted him in carrying out his duties as the President of the United States. These four people included – Thomas Jefferson, the Secretary of State; Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury; Henry Knox, Secretary of War; and Edmund Randolph as the Attorney General.

How are members of US Cabinet Appointed?

  • The President nominates the Cabinet members.
  • They are then presented to the Senate either to be confirmed or rejected by a simple majority.
  • If the Senate approves the members, they are sworn in and start their duties in their respective fields.
  • The Cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the President.
  • The President has the authority to reappoint them and even dismiss the cabinet members.

Role of the Cabinet members

The Cabinet of the United States includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments. These departments are: Agriculture, State, Treasury, Defense, Commerce, Energy, Education, Labor, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Transportation and Veterans Affairs. The Attorney General is also a part of the Cabinet. The Cabinet plays a vital role in the President’s administration and its role is to advise him on any subject relating to the duties of each member’s respective office.

US Departments Official Positions Department Head
Vice President of the United States Vice President Joseph R. Biden
Department of State Secretary of State Secretary John Kerry
Department of the Treasury Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Joseph “Jack” Lew
Department of Defense Secretary of Defense Ashton Baldwin “Ash” Carter
Department of Justice Attorney General Loretta Elizabeth Lynch
Department of the Interior Secretary of the Interior Sarah Margaret Roffey Jewell
Department of Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture Thomas James “Tom” Vilsack
Department of Commerce Secretary of Commerce Penny Sue Pritzker
Department of Labor Secretary of Labor Thomas Edward Perez
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell
Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro
Department of Transportation Secretary of Transportation Anthony R. Foxx
Department of Energy Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz
Department of Education Secretary of Education Secretary Arne Duncan
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald
Department of Homeland Security Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson

Positions with Status of Cabinet-Rank:

Executive Office of the President White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency Gina McCarthy
Office of Management & Budget Deputy Director of Management & Budget Shaun L. S. Donovan
United States Trade Representative Ambassador of United States Trade Representative Michael B. Froman
United States Ambassador to the United Nations Ambassador of United States to the UN Samantha Power
Council of Economic Advisers Chairman of Council of Economic Advisers Jason Furman
Small Business Administration Administrator Small Business Administration Maria Contreras-Sweet

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