President Trump Announces Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Positions

January 20, 2025

Presidential Actions

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Action Summary

Legal Authority: Action carried out pursuant to the Constitution and applicable U.S. laws including 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq.
Temporary Acting Appointments: Several key Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions are assigned acting officials until permanent appointments are made.
Key Cabinet Positions: Includes appointments for Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Treasury, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs.
Additional Leadership Roles: Acting roles extend to top officials such as the Attorney General, Administrator of the EPA, Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Director of National Intelligence, U.S. Trade Representative, CIA Director, and others.
Wide-Ranging Administrative Impact: The appointments also cover critical positions within agencies responsible for social security, immigration enforcement, international development, NASA, and the FBI among others.

Risks & Considerations

The appointment of acting officials in key cabinet and cabinet-level positions may lead to temporary instability or uncertainty in policy direction, which could affect federal funding and regulatory environments impacting higher education.
Changes in leadership, particularly in the Department of Education, could result in shifts in educational policy that may affect funding, compliance requirements, and strategic priorities for universities.
The presence of acting officials might delay decision-making processes, potentially impacting the timely implementation of policies and programs that could affect Vanderbilt University.
Vanderbilt University should monitor these appointments closely to anticipate any changes in federal priorities that could impact research funding, student aid, and regulatory compliance.

Impacted Programs

Peabody College of Education and Human Development may need to adapt to potential changes in educational policy under the new acting Secretary of Education, Denise Carter.
The Office of Federal Relations at Vanderbilt should engage with new acting officials to advocate for the university’s interests and ensure alignment with federal priorities.
Research programs across the university may experience shifts in funding opportunities, particularly in areas related to defense, health, and energy, given the new acting leadership in these departments.
The Financial Aid Office should prepare for potential changes in federal student aid policies that could arise from new leadership in the Department of Education.

Financial Impact

Uncertainty in leadership could lead to delays in the allocation of federal funds, affecting research grants and financial aid programs at Vanderbilt University.
Potential shifts in policy priorities may impact the availability of federal funding for specific research areas, necessitating adjustments in grant application strategies.
Vanderbilt may need to allocate resources to engage with new acting officials to ensure continued support and funding for its programs and initiatives.
Changes in federal priorities could influence the university’s budget planning and financial strategies, particularly if there are significant shifts in funding for education and research.

Relevance Score: 3 (The appointments present moderate risks involving compliance and potential shifts in federal priorities that could impact funding and strategic planning.)

Key Actions

Office of Federal Relations should monitor the appointments of acting secretaries and administrators, particularly in departments relevant to higher education and research funding, such as the Department of Education, Department of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Understanding the priorities and policies of these acting officials can help Vanderbilt align its strategies and advocacy efforts.
Vanderbilt’s Research Administration should engage with the Department of Energy and NASA to explore potential research collaborations and funding opportunities. The appointment of new acting officials may lead to shifts in research priorities and funding allocations that could benefit the university’s research initiatives.
Peabody College of Education and Human Development should establish communication with the acting Secretary of Education to stay informed about any changes in educational policies or funding that could impact the college’s programs and initiatives.
Vanderbilt’s Environmental and Sustainability Studies should track developments in the Environmental Protection Agency under the new acting Administrator to identify opportunities for collaboration on environmental research and policy advocacy.

Opportunities

The appointment of new acting officials presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt to strengthen its relationships with key federal agencies. By proactively engaging with these officials, the university can influence policy decisions and secure support for its academic and research priorities.
Vanderbilt’s Business and Economic Research Center can analyze the potential impacts of changes in trade and commerce policies under the new acting Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative. This analysis can provide valuable insights for the university’s strategic planning and economic outreach efforts.
The transition in leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Medical Center to engage in discussions about healthcare policy and funding, potentially influencing decisions that affect medical research and healthcare delivery.

Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with potential changes in federal agency priorities and leadership.)

Average Relevance Score: 4.2

Timeline for Implementation

Immediate effect on January 20, 2025. The acting positions are to be exercised starting from this date and will continue until a permanent appointment is made.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Agriculture: The acting Secretary of Agriculture is appointed, impacting the leadership and administrative functions of this department.
Department of Commerce: An acting Secretary of Commerce is designated, affecting commerce oversight and regulatory activities.
Department of Defense: With an acting Secretary of Defense and the inclusion of the Army, Navy, and Air Force roles, this order impacts overall national defense management.
Department of the Army: The acting appointment for the Army signals direct leadership change in this military branch.
Department of the Navy: The appointment focuses on ensuring national security and operational readiness in the naval forces.
Department of the Air Force: An acting leader is named, impacting strategic airpower and defense operations.
Department of Education: The appointment of an acting Secretary of Education regulates national educational policies and programs.
Department of Energy: With the designation of an acting Secretary, the department’s policies on energy and innovation are directly impacted.
Department of Health and Human Services: The acting head influences national healthcare policies and public health initiatives.
Department of Homeland Security: Appointing an acting Secretary reinforces the leadership in managing domestic security and emergency preparedness.
Department of Housing and Urban Development: Leadership is impacted by an acting appointment, affecting housing policies and urban development programs.
Department of the Interior: An acting Secretary is named, directly influencing the management of federal lands and natural resources.
Department of Justice: With the Attorney General acting appointment, the legal oversight and law enforcement strategies are impacted.
Department of Labor: The acting Secretary of Labor is charged with overseeing workforce policies and labor relations.
Department of State: The appointment of an acting Secretary of State affects U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic engagement.
Department of the Treasury: An acting Secretary is designated, impacting financial policy, economic regulation, and fiscal management.
Department of Transportation: Leadership change with an acting Secretary affects national transportation policies and infrastructure oversight.
Department of Veterans Affairs: The acting appointment influences the delivery of services and benefits to veterans.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): An acting Administrator is appointed to steer the agency’s environmental regulatory measures.
Small Business Administration (SBA): The acting head of the SBA affects policies and programs aimed at supporting small businesses.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): The acting Director influences budgetary and management practices across the executive branch.
Office of the Director of National Intelligence: With an acting Director of National Intelligence, the coordination of the intelligence community is directly impacted.
United States Trade Representative: The acting appointment affects trade negotiations and international economic policy.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Leadership is impacted through the appointment of an acting Director, influencing national security intelligence.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM): An acting Director oversees human resources policies across federal agencies.
General Services Administration (GSA): The appointment impacts the management of federal property and administrative services.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Leadership change occurs with an acting Commissioner, affecting the administration of social security benefits.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): The acting Director appointment influences domestic law enforcement and investigative functions.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID): An acting Administrator is named, affecting U.S. foreign assistance and development programs.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): The appointment of an acting Administrator impacts the direction of the nation’s space and aeronautics programs.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Leadership is affected through the appointment of an acting Director, influencing immigration and customs enforcement policies.

Relevance Score: 5 (A broad directive across the entire Cabinet and multiple independent agencies is impacted.)

Responsible Officials

Gary Washington – Acting Secretary of Agriculture; responsible for overseeing the operations and policy direction of the Department of Agriculture.
Jeremy Pelter – Acting Secretary of Commerce; tasked with managing the business and economic activities of the Department of Commerce.
Robert Salesses – Acting Secretary of Defense; charged with directing national defense policies and military strategy.
Mark Averill – Acting Secretary of the Army; responsible for the administration and operations of the Army.
Terence Emmert – Acting Secretary of the Navy; oversees naval operations and maritime defense strategy.
Gary Ashworth – Acting Secretary of the Air Force; tasked with leading air force operations and strategy.
Denise Carter – Acting Secretary of Education; responsible for formulating and executing education policies.
Ingrid Kolb – Acting Secretary of Energy; charged with managing energy policy and federal energy programs.
Dorothy Fink – Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services; oversees national health policy and public health services.
Benjamine Huffman – Acting Secretary of Homeland Security; responsible for safeguarding the nation against security threats.
Matthew Ammon – Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; tasked with overseeing housing policies and urban development initiatives.
Walter Cruickshank – Acting Secretary of the Interior; manages the nation’s natural resources and public lands.
James McHenry – Attorney General; serves as the chief legal officer responsible for legal affairs and law enforcement policies.
Vincent Micone – Acting Secretary of Labor; charged with managing labor policies and workplace regulations.
Lisa Kenna – Acting Secretary of State; responsible for directing U.S. foreign policy and diplomatic relations.
David Lebryk – Acting Secretary of the Treasury; oversees the nation’s financial policies and economic stability measures.
Judith Kaleta – Acting Secretary of Transportation; responsible for overseeing national transportation systems and infrastructure policy.
Todd Hunter – Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs; charged with managing programs and benefits for military veterans.
James Payne – Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; tasked with enforcing environmental policies and regulations.
Everett Woodel – Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administration; responsible for implementing policies to support small businesses.
Matthew Vaeth – Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget; oversees federal budgeting and management policies.
Stacey Dixon – Acting Director of National Intelligence; responsible for coordinating national intelligence efforts and analysis.
Juan Millan – Acting United States Trade Representative; tasked with handling trade negotiations and policies.
Thomas Sylvester, Jr. – Acting Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; charged with overseeing intelligence operations.
Charles Ezell – Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management; responsible for federal workforce management and human resources policy.
Stephen Ehikian – Acting Administrator of General Services; tasked with managing government procurement and property management.
Michelle King – Acting Commissioner of Social Security; responsible for administering Social Security programs.
Brian Driscoll – Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; oversees federal law enforcement and investigative functions.
Jason Gray – Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development; charged with managing international development policies and programs.
Janet Petro – Acting Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; responsible for leading space exploration and aeronautics research initiatives.
Caleb Vitello – Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; tasked with enforcing immigration laws and customs regulations.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives impact high-level agency heads and key Cabinet-level officials across multiple departments and agencies.)