President-elect Donald Trump is moving rapidly to name members of his next administration, including floating nominees that should not have trouble winning confirmation in next year’s GOP-led Senate.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who is, according to multiple reports and Trump allies, the expected choice to be secretary of State, could be among the first to win confirmation, benefiting from the deference generally given to current and former Senate colleagues seeking key administration roles. Rubio was once one of Trump’s 2016 primary opponents but has emerged as among the former president’s strongest advocates on the airwaves.
Fellow Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott praised the Rubio selection ahead of any official announcement.
“He will restore American leadership around the world, especially in Latin America, as he represents the United States with dignity and courage! It’s been an honor to serve the people of Florida alongside him and look forward to continuing our work together,” Scott wrote in a post on X.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., who is a former gubernatorial candidate in New York, is Trump’s choice to lead the EPA.
Current House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York will be the nominee to represent the United States at the United Nations. Stefanik, who currently represents an upstate congressional district, will only have to relocate down the New York State Thruway to her new post in Manhattan, if confirmed.
Trump said in a statement, “She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nations, delivering Peace through Strength and America First National Security policies!”
Stefanik’s planned nomination drew praise from fellow House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
“Chairwoman Elise Stefanik is an outstanding selection to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations, where she will be tasked with undoing four years of failed, incoherent foreign policy decisions that weakened America’s standing on the world stage,” Johnson said in a statement. “With over a decade of foreign and national security policy experience, Chairwoman Stefanik is prepared to deliver for President Trump as she has for years as a leader in the House of Representatives.”
And Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla, a stalwart Trump defender, is on track to be national security adviser, the Wall Street Journal reported late Monday. That is a White House position that is not subject to the Senate confirmation process.
CNN reported early Tuesday morning that South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican former House member, would be the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump has begun to push the incoming GOP Senate majority to formally adjourn the chamber at times and allow him to use the recess appointment power to get people into roles more quickly, which would give him an opportunity to install people who could not win Senate confirmation even with a narrow Senate majority.
Trump said in a social media post that the next Senate majority leader must endorse using recess appointments to more quickly dispense with administration positions.
With The Associated Press having called Arizona’s Senate race overnight for Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Senate’s partisan split in the next Congress appears to be 53-47, including two independents who caucus with the Democrats.
Rubio’s departure would not alter the balance of power, since Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis would get to make an appointment through the next general election.
John T. Bennett contributed to this report.
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