Trump Announces a Series of New Administration Appointments

President-elect Donald Trump has announced a new set of appointments for his administration while also revising some staff he had previously named.

In a series of posts on Truth Social on December 4, the incoming president revealed several individuals designated to join his team. Many names will be recognized from his first term, including Peter Navarro.

Here is a summary of Trump’s most recent significant appointments.

Trump Appoints SEC Chair, Deputy Treasury Secretary, Antitrust Official

Trump has selected Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Current SEC chair Gary Gensler has taken a hard stance on cryptocurrency during his leadership, earning criticism from many supporters in the sector.

Atkins previously served as an SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush and was part of Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum during his first administration.

Related Stories

Additionally, Trump appointed Michael Faulkender as deputy treasury secretary, following his nomination of financier Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary.

Trump appointed Gail Slater as the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. Slater held various roles during Trump’s first term and is an ally of Vice President-elect JD Vance.

The new administration promises to take action against large tech companies.

Navarro directed the National Trade Council and the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy during Trump’s first term.

Navarro, who holds a doctorate in economics from Harvard University, was imprisoned for four months earlier this year after being convicted of contempt of Congress for failing to appear before a congressional investigation into the January 6, 2021 events. Steve Bannon, a podcaster and Trump associate, also served a four-month sentence under similar circumstances.

“Taxpayers and the incredible employees of the IRS will appreciate having Billy at the helm. He is the ultimate ‘people person,’ respected across the aisle,” Trump mentioned in his announcement of the appointment.

The president-elect also appointed another former Republican lawmaker, Kelly Loeffler, to lead the Small Business Administration.

Loeffler served as a senator from Georgia after then-Senator Johnny Isakson resigned due to health issues. Governor Brian Kemp appointed her as Isakson’s successor. In 2020, she was defeated in her state’s Senate special election and a subsequent runoff by current Senator Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

Having grown up on a farm, Loeffler was previously considered for the U.S. Department of Agriculture role, which Trump awarded to Texas attorney Brooke L. Rollins.

“She will prioritize ensuring that the SBA is accountable to taxpayers by cracking down on waste, fraud, and regulatory overreach,” Trump wrote in his statement regarding Loeffler.

Later that evening, Trump announced that he had chosen businessman Frank Bisignano to lead the Social Security Administration.

“Frank is a business executive with a remarkable track record of transforming major corporations,” Trump mentioned in a post on Truth Social.

“He will ensure the Agency fulfills its commitment to the American People for generations!”

Bisignano is the president and CEO of Fiserv, a financial technology firm based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The company holds the naming rights to the Fiserv Forum, the sports arena that hosted this year’s Republican National Convention (RNC).

Bisignano has held prominent roles in the financial sector, including at JPMorgan Chase, where he managed the mortgage division during a time of crisis. Reports indicate he aided in replacing the firm’s mortgage chief amid discoveries that active-duty military members seeking loans were overcharged.

Trump Appoints Secretary of the Army, Hostage Affairs Envoy, NASA Director, Chief of Protocol

On December 4, the president-elect also announced his nomination of Daniel Driscoll as secretary of the Army.

Trump selected Adam Boehler as special envoy for hostage affairs. Boehler was the leader of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. during the president-elect’s first term.

Trump’s other appointments announced on December 4 included Jared Isaacman, CEO of the defense aerospace company Draken, to lead NASA.

Trump also appointed Monica Crowley as the U.S. ambassador and chief of protocol. This position is essential for managing visits from foreign leaders to the United States and is under the State Department. Crowley is a veteran of the Trump administration, having served as the assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs.

Whatley to Continue Leading RNC

The incoming president expressed his support for Michael Whatley to remain as chair of the Republican National Committee. Whatley subsequently confirmed his intention to serve.

Whatley assumed the role in a largely ceremonial vote earlier this year after Ronna Romney McDaniel announced her resignation. McDaniel faced backlash leading up to that decision, including from then-presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy during a debate. Whatley previously led the North Carolina GOP.

Trump Appoints New White House Counsel

Trump also replaced his original nominee for White House counsel, Republican attorney William McGinley.

He stated that McGinley would serve as counsel to the Department of Government Efficiency, a limited-time presidential advisory commission led by Ramaswamy and Elon Musk.

Vought served as Trump’s final Office of Management and Budget director during his first term.