Trump’s Cabinet picks: Who they are and why you should be scared

Regardless of who you have voted for, President Donald J. Trump’s Cabinet is in the process of being formed and these choices are going to affect everyone. The President’s cabinet is comprised of 15 people – 13 men and two women – and these people are going to be in possession of a great deal of power for the next four years.

As with every Cabinet selection, there are going to be some disagreements from the opposing party. However, Donald Trump’s current cabinet lineup is facing never-before-seen issues with ethical dilemmas and an overall lack of qualification. Some Cabinet nominees have even been active opponents of the very departments they are being asked to lead. The question remains: is Trump truly “draining the swamp” or is he only filling it?

But I digress; incase you have been unable to keep up with these hearings, here is a list of Donald Trump’s current Cabinet picks and what you should know about them.

Attorney General: Jeff Sessions

Noteworthy information: His full name is Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III and his career was almost ruined by accusations of racism. He was accused of using the n-word and saying he did not have an issue with the KKK until he found out they smoked marijuana.

Secretary of Agriculture: Sonny Perdue

Noteworthy information: In 2007, this former governor of Georgia’s solution to a drought was to stand on the statehouse steps and pray for rain, which would not be an issue had he not led the prayers in the name of every citizen in Georgia. Many criticized him for being in violation of the separation of church and state.

Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross

Noteworthy information: Billionaire investor Wilbur Ross is actually a former Democrat, and many are praising him to be the best candidate Democrats could have hoped for due to his dedication to the position. In preparation, Ross sold many of his assets so as not to encounter any conflicts of interest.

Secretary of Defense: General James Mattis

Noteworthy information: A former Marine Corps general, Mattis’s nickname is “Mad Dog” and he was once quoted saying, “It’s fun to shoot some people,” which did not go over very well.

Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos

Noteworthy information: It can be argued that out of all the Cabinet nominees, Betsy DeVos was the least prepared for her confirmation hearing. She lacked a basic comprehension of essential topics in education, such as the on-going debate of proficiency vs. growth. Also at her confirmation hearing, DeVos refused to state outright that there is no need for guns in schools, citing that one school in particular may need guns to protect from “potential grizzlies.”

Secretary of Energy: Rick Perry

Noteworthy information: Former Texas governor Rick Perry once said he wanted to abolish the Department of Energy. That’s correct – the very department he is about to be in charge of.

Secretary of Health and Human Services: Tom Price

Noteworthy information: Price was an orthopedic surgeon before becoming a Representative of the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia. During his congressional hearing, he was under fire for allegedly having bought stock in a company after pushing to pass legislation that would benefit said company. He contradicted his own defense, which left many skeptical of his ability to make ethical decisions.

Secretary of Homeland Security: General John Kelly

Noteworthy information: A retired four-star Marine general, Gen. Kelly formerly oversaw Guantanamo Bay Prison (and was very opposed to its proposed closing) as a part of his duties with the United States Southern Command. If Trump’s infamously promised wall ever comes to fruition, Kelly will likely be the man in charge of overseeing it.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Ben Carson

Noteworthy information: Who could possibly forget retired presidential candidate Ben Carson. Once a famous and well-respected neurosurgeon, Carson is now about to be placed into a position where his main qualification is having grown up “in inner city Detroit” (albeit not in public housing).

Secretary of Interior: Ryan Zinke

Noteworthy information: The major issue awaiting former Montana Representative Zinke is whether or not he will privatize public lands. In addition to this, the question stands about what will happen to the lands even if they do remain public, as Zinke has spoken in the past about his acceptance of using land for oil exploration and drilling. At his hearing, Senator Bernie Sanders grilled Zinke in regards to his stance on climate change, to which Zinke did not give a clear answer.

Secretary of Labor: Andrew Puzder

Noteworthy information: This former CEO of CKE Restaurants (the parent company of fast-food chains such as Carl’s Jr. and Hardees) will now be faced with the continuing conflict of minimum wage and whether it should be raised. Puzder is a fierce opponent to increasing minimum wage, paid sick leave and expanding eligibility for overtime pay.

Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson

Noteworthy information: Rex Tillerson is the former CEO of ExxonMobil and long-time friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Possible conflict of interest? I think so.

Secretary of Transportation: Elaine Chao

Noteworthy information: Chao was the first Asian American woman to be appointed to a President’s cabinet when she served as Secretary of Labor from 2001-2009. She will be a major player in Trump’s infrastructure initiative.

Secretary of the Treasury: Steven Mnuchin

Noteworthy information: Before this, Mnuchin was a major Wall Street figure who once worked for Goldman Sachs and founded his own hedge fund. Mnuchin is also a film financier for popular movies such as “Avatar,” “American Sniper,” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.” He has been heavily criticized for his use of offshore entities, specifically the Cayman Islands, for tax evasion purposes. Oh, and he omitted over $100 million in assets. Oops.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs: David Shulkin

Noteworthy information: Shulkin will be the only member of Trump’s candidate who previously was a member of the Obama administration, serving as the Undersecretary of Veterans Affairs. He will also be the first Secretary of Veterans Affairs who has not served in the military.

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So there you have it, a summary of the names you’ve likely been hearing a lot in the past few weeks. If you’re happy with these choices, that’s great. If you’re not, don’t stand idly by. Use your voice, use your power and don’t lose hope. Here are some of the ways you can take action if you are feeling helpless or scared during this time.