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 |