Trump administration taking shape; Romney, Giuliani, Palin possible picks for key roles

U.S. President Barack Obama meets with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Nov. 10. Trump is working to fill out his presidential cabinet and appoint other high-level posts before his Jan. 20 inauguration. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) — President-elect Donald Trump continues to fill out his administration before his Jan. 20 inauguration.

The following is a list of cabinet and administrative appointments he has made so far and potential candidates for other vacancies:

Vice President
Mike Pence
Age: 57
Prior service: Governor of Indiana (2013-2017), U.S. House of Representatives (2001-2013)

Trump chose Pence to be his vice presidential running mate this summer, prior to the Republican National Convention.

The 50th governor of Indiana will serve as Trump’s second-in-command and president of the Senate. He is also first in the presidential line of succession. A former attorney, Pence was a supporter of Indiana’s controversial legislative efforts to pass a religious freedom bill.

Chief of Staff
Reince Preibus
Age: 44
Prior service: Republican National Committee chairman, Wisconsin Republican Party chairman (2007-2017)

Born in New Jersey, Preibus moved to Wisconsin at an early age and got involved in politics as a teenager. He became leader of the state’s Republican party after an unsuccessful bid for state senate.

As party chief, he corroborated on issues with Gov. Scott Walker and House Speaker Paul Ryan. After his ascension to RNC chair, Preibus spearheaded efforts to unify the party and supported Trump through controversies during his campaign this year.

Attorney General
Jeff Sessions
Age: 69
Prior service: U.S. Senator from Alabama (1997-2017), Alabama attorney general (1995-1997)

Before entering politics, Sessions served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 12 years. Before that, he was an attorney in private practice and was a captain in the U.S. Army for four years.

Sessions is considered by many as one of the most conservative lawmakers in the Senate. He supported many of President George W. Bush‘s policies, including the decision to invade Iraq in 2003.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a Democrat, speaks during the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 18. Flynn, who served in a key administration post under President Barack Obama, has been named as President-elect Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

National Security Adviser
Michael Flynn
Age: 57
Prior service: Defense Intelligence Agency director (2012-14), U.S. Army (1981-2014)

Flynn’s appointment is unique in that he is the only Democrat Trump has named to his administration team so far.

He reached the rank of Lieutenant General in 33 years of Army service and earned many of the medals available to servicemen in the branch. Earlier this year, he was named as a possible running mate for Trump.

White House Chief Strategist
Steve Bannon
Age: 62
Prior service: U.S. Navy (1976-83)

Bannon has been by far Trump’s most controversial appointment to date. The former entertainment executive took over leadership of the right-leaning Breitbart News after the death of founder Andrew Breitbart in 2012, and helped grow the site to nearly 40 million unique visitors last month.

Some prominent Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, have called for Trump to rescind the appointment of Bannon, saying Breitbart is an “alt-right” site and that Bannon is anti-Semitic, claims that Breitbart editors and others who know Bannon have vigorously refuted.

Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo was announced as President-elect Donald Trump’s CIA director on Friday. Pompeo also served in the U.S. Army between 1986 and 1991. File Photo by Larry W. Smith/European Pressphoto Agency

Director of Central Intelligence
Mike Pompeo
Age: 52
Prior service: U.S. House of Representatives (2011-2017), U.S. Army (1986-91)

Pompeo received a law degree from Harvard University before founding Thayer Aerospace and leading an oilfield equipment company.

Pompeo was elected to the House, representing Kansas, in 2010 and was a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.

Other potential cabinet/administration members

Secretary of State – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former ambassador John Bolton, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney listens to a speech by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in 2012. Romney has been mentioned as a short list candidate for Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump, while Giuliani has been floated as a potential pick for Secretary of Defense. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Secretary of Defense – Former defense and intelligence official Duncan Hunter, former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey.

Secretary of the Treasury – JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, financial analyst and film producer Steven Mnuchin, former Federal Reservegovernor Kevin Warsh.

Homeland Security – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, New York Rep. John Katko.

Director of National Intelligence – Former Homeland Security adviser Frances Townsend, former House Intelligence Committee chairman Peter Hoekstra.

Secretary of Transportation – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former N.J. transportation commissioner Jim Simpson, House Transportation Committee chairman John Mica.

Health and Human Services – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Trump transition executive Rich Bagger.

Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin speaks in Ames, Iowa, in January as she officially endorses then GOP candidate Donald Trump. Palin has been named as a possible candidate to serve as Trump’s Interior secretary. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
Commerce Secretary – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Fed chairman Herman Cain, Georgia Sen. David Perdue, pro wrestling magnate Linda McMahon.

Interior Secretary – Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, 2008 VP candidate Sarah Palin, former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, Lucas Oil CEO Forrest Lucas, investor Robert Grady.

Labor Secretary – Restaurant businessman Andy Puzder, former Labor executive Victoria Lipnic.

NASA Administrator – Former astronaut Eileen Collins, administrator Mike Griffin, Oklahoma Rep. Jim Bridenstine, former Space Council executive Mark Albrecht.

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