Donald Trump is preparing to assemble his leadership team with just over a week remaining until his return to the White House as the 47th President of the United States.
According to the Washington Examiner, the President-elect announced multiple deputy nominations for crucial Cabinet positions, selecting individuals who previously served in his first administration to lead key federal agencies.
The wave of nominations includes Steven Gill Bradbury for Transportation, Katharine MacGregor for Interior, James P. Danly for Energy, Paul R. Lawrence for Veterans Affairs, and David Fotouhi for the Environmental Protection Agency. These selections demonstrate Trump's strategy of bringing back experienced officials who are familiar with his administration's policies and objectives.
Bradbury's nomination as deputy secretary of transportation builds upon his previous role as general counsel in the same department during Trump's first term. His extensive background includes serving on the board of directors for the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation and clerking for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Bradbury will work alongside former Wisconsin Republican Rep. Sean Duffy, who awaits Senate confirmation as transportation secretary.
Trump announced his selection of Katharine MacGregor through Truth Social, emphasizing her experience in energy policy. MacGregor previously served as deputy secretary of the interior for one year during Trump's first administration and received bipartisan support with a Senate confirmation vote of 58-38 in 2020.
The Interior Department's leadership will be completed by former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who recently ended his 2024 presidential campaign and now awaits his confirmation hearing as Interior secretary.
James P. Danly's selection as deputy energy secretary follows his notable tenure at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he served as chairman after replacing Neil Chatterjee in 2020. Trump praised Danly's work at FERC, with the president-elect stating:
He won countless cases before the Federal Courts, and drove regulatory reform to ensure abundant and affordable energy for the American People.
The Environmental Protection Agency will see David Fotouhi step in as deputy administrator, bringing his experience from four years of legal positions within the EPA during Trump's first term. The president-elect outlined his vision for the EPA under Fotouhi and administrator nominee Lee Zeldin:
In our Second Term, David will work with our incredible EPA Administrator, Lee Zeldin, to advance pro Growth policies, unleash America's Energy Dominance, and prioritize Clean Air, Clean Water, and Clean Soil for ALL Americans.
The Veterans Affairs Department will welcome Paul R. Lawrence as deputy secretary, leveraging his previous experience as undersecretary of benefits. Lawrence's appointment pairs him with former Georgia Republican Rep. Doug Collins, who awaits confirmation as VA secretary. Their confirmation hearings are scheduled alongside other nominees between January 14 and 16.
The series of nominations reflects Trump's preference for officials with proven track records in his administration. Each nominee brings specialized expertise and familiarity with Trump's policy objectives, potentially facilitating a smoother transition into his second term.
These appointments suggest Trump's commitment to maintaining consistency with his first-term policies while positioning experienced leaders in crucial deputy roles across federal agencies.
President-elect Trump's latest round of deputy nominations represents a strategic move to install experienced officials in key federal agencies before his January 2025 inauguration. The selections of Bradbury, MacGregor, Danly, Lawrence, and Fotouhi demonstrate his trust in former administration officials who previously implemented his policy agenda.
As Senate confirmation hearings approach for both secretaries and deputies, these appointments will play a crucial role in shaping Trump's second-term policy initiatives across transportation, interior, energy, veterans affairs, and environmental protection sectors.
