The race for top energy and environmental jobs in the second Trump administration continues.
Allies of President-elect Donald Trump have been gathering resumes and checking behind the scenes for months. And now that Trump has won the White House, he will soon be in the position of electing thousands of political candidates.
Trump has made it clear that he will rely on loyalists — including former aides and new additions to his cause — to carry out his second plan to loosen environmental regulations and expand fossil fuel production.
Trump announced the first public hire for his administration on Thursday, naming Susie Wiles as his incoming chief of staff. Wiles, a longtime Florida politician, has served as a senior adviser to Trump’s 2024 campaign. He will have a major influence on the next administration’s policy moves and the selection of workers.
The search for Trump’s top jobs has been going on since before the election, and has begun this week as the presidential candidate’s transition team accelerates its efforts to launch a new administration on January 20, 2025.
Here are the mixed names for major powers and regional positions in Trump’s second administration, according to people familiar with the transition talks. Those people were given their names to discuss the selection of workers.
Department of the Interior
Leading the massive Interior Department has long been a coveted job in Washington, and one often sought after by Western politicians and governors.
Several names of Western Republican governors are being floated as contenders for positions under Trump’s second administration, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burguma key ally of Trump on the campaign trail. Alaska Gov. Mike DunleavyWyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem they are also seen as possible candidates for the Secretary of the Interior.
David Bernhardtwho served as the Interior secretary and deputy secretary during Trump’s first term, may return to his original role of leading the department. Bernhardt is also considered a contender for a possible major role elsewhere in the Trump White House or executive branch — perhaps in the Office of Management and Budget or the Justice Department — if he does not return to the Interior.
Sen. of the Republic of Wyoming. Cynthia Lummis and Trump’s former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Katharine MacGregor they are seen as leaders from within.
Other leadership roles within the Interior will be up for grabs when the Trump administration takes office, including director of the National Park Service. Cam Shollydirector of Yellowstone National Park, is considered a possible candidate for the role.
EPA
Trump’s incoming EPA chief will be tasked with dismantling Biden-era environmental regulations and shrinking the agency.
One that is often referred to as a job candidate is Andrew Wheelerwho led the agency during Trump’s first term and may return for another term.
Mandy Gunasekarawho served as EPA chief of staff under Trump, may return to lead the agency. He was the lead author of the EPA portion of the Project 2025 roadmap prepared by the Heritage Foundation. Trump’s transition team has signaled it will be reluctant to hire conservatives affiliated with Project 2025, but some insiders doubt that will change after a Trump victory.
Aurelia Skipwith Giacomettowho led the Department of Fish and Wildlife under Trump, has been floated as another possible EPA leader in Trump’s second term.
Department of Energy
If he does not reach other Cabinet positions, Burgum is seen as a potential leader for the Energy Sector. Trump praised the North Dakota governor’s oil and gas credentials.
Other former Trump DOE officials who could return to top roles include former Secretary Dan Brouillette; Former Deputy Secretary Mark Menezes; Paul Animalformer under secretary of the science department; and Daniel Simmonsformer assistant secretary of energy and renewable energy.
USDA
The two names floating around for Trump’s Agriculture secretary are Ted McKinneyformer USDA undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
Another possibility: Chicken Tomformer US ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization during the Trump administration.
Another potential contender who is seen as a long shot for the job is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The former Democrat said during the campaign that Trump promised to give him “control of the public health agencies, namely HHS and its agencies, CDC, FDA, NIH and several others … and also the USDA.”
Reporters Heather Richards and Michael Doyle contributed.
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