Executive Cabinet

Vice President

The Vice President is the second-highest executive officer of the federal government. The role presides over the U.S. Senate — including casting tie-breaking votes — and is first in the presidential line of succession. The Vice President is elected on a joint ticket with the President.

Chief of Staff

The White House Chief of Staff is the most senior aide to the President. The role manages White House senior staff, coordinates the flow of information and policy across the West Wing and federal agencies, and controls access to the Oval Office. This is not a Senate-confirmed position.

OMB Director

The Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) oversees preparation of the federal budget, reviews regulations proposed by executive agencies for their budgetary impact, and evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs and policies.

Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense leads the Department of Defense and is the principal defense policy adviser to the President. The role oversees all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and is second in the chain of military command, after the President.

Nat. Security Advisor

The National Security Advisor coordinates national security and foreign policy among the President's senior advisers, including the Secretaries of State and Defense. This is a direct presidential advisory role and does not require Senate confirmation.

Dir. of Nat. Intelligence

The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) leads the U.S. Intelligence Community — comprising 18 federal agencies and organizations — and serves as the principal intelligence adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council.

CIA Director

The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency leads the primary foreign intelligence service of the federal government. The CIA collects, analyzes, and disseminates foreign intelligence to assist the President and senior policymakers in making national security decisions.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State leads the Department of State and is the President's principal foreign affairs adviser. The role directs U.S. foreign policy, oversees embassies and consulates worldwide, negotiates international treaties, and serves as the chief diplomat of the United States.

UN Ambassador

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations represents the U.S. in all UN bodies, including the Security Council and the General Assembly. The role articulates and advances U.S. foreign policy positions within the multilateral forum of the United Nations.

US Trade Rep.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) leads the Office of the United States Trade Representative. The role advises the President on trade policy, negotiates bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and represents the U.S. at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international trade bodies.

Secretary of Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury leads the Department of the Treasury, which manages federal finances, formulates domestic and international economic policy, and oversees tax collection through the IRS. The Secretary advises the President on fiscal policy and manages the public debt.

Secretary of Commerce

The Secretary of Commerce leads the Department of Commerce, which promotes job creation, economic growth, and sustainable development. The department oversees agencies including NOAA (weather and oceans), the Census Bureau, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Secretary of Energy

The Secretary of Energy leads the Department of Energy, which manages the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, promotes energy technology and innovation through the national laboratory system, and oversees energy efficiency, renewable energy, and nuclear waste cleanup programs.

Attorney General

The Attorney General leads the Department of Justice and is the chief law enforcement officer and chief lawyer of the federal government. The role oversees federal prosecution of criminal law, civil rights enforcement, and federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, DEA, and ATF.

Sec. of Homeland Security

The Secretary of Homeland Security leads the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), created after the September 11, 2001 attacks to coordinate domestic security. DHS oversees Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

EPA Administrator

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency leads the federal agency responsible for setting and enforcing environmental regulations, conducting environmental research, and providing grants to states and organizations to protect human health and the natural environment.

Secretary of HHS

The Secretary of Health and Human Services leads the Department of HHS, which oversees programs including Medicare, Medicaid, the FDA, the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The department's mission is to protect and improve the health and well-being of all Americans.

Secretary of HUD

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development leads the Department of HUD, which administers federal housing programs — including public housing and Section 8 vouchers — enforces fair housing laws, and oversees mortgage insurance and community development block grants.

Secretary of Labor

The Secretary of Labor leads the Department of Labor, which promotes the welfare of wage earners and job seekers. The department enforces federal minimum wage and overtime laws, oversees workplace safety through OSHA, administers unemployment insurance programs, and collects labor statistics through the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Secretary of Education

The Secretary of Education leads the Department of Education, which administers federal financial aid for students, collects and analyzes national education data, and enforces federal civil rights laws in educational programs and activities.

Sec. of Veterans Affairs

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs leads the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides benefits and services to the nation's veterans and their families. VA programs include healthcare through VA hospitals, disability compensation, education benefits under the GI Bill, home loan guarantees, and national cemetery administration.

Secretary of Interior

The Secretary of the Interior leads the Department of the Interior, which manages federally owned land (approximately one-fifth of the U.S.), including national parks, wildlife refuges, and federal lands open to energy development. The department also manages programs for Native American tribes and administers Outer Continental Shelf mineral leases.

Secretary of Agriculture

The Secretary of Agriculture leads the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which administers federal nutrition assistance programs (including SNAP/food stamps), supports farmers through loans and crop insurance, manages national forests and conservation programs, and oversees food safety inspection through the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Secretary of Transportation

The Secretary of Transportation leads the Department of Transportation, which sets national transportation policy and oversees federal highway, aviation, and rail programs. The department includes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration, oversight of Amtrak, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).