WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) — On the second full day after Donald Trump‘s election to president, names are beginning to surface as to who will fill out key Cabinet posts in his administration, with several campaign loyalists topping the list.
It has been widely speculated former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a former U.S. attorney, may be in line to become attorney general and run the Justice Department.
Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, the first sitting senator to endorse Trump, could be in line for secretary of defense, or could head the Office of Budget and Management, which has wide sway over writing the budget according to a Trump transition team memo acquired by Buzzfeed.
Bloomberg reported two names have surfaced as potential chief diplomats: Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and John Bolton, the former United Nations ambassador under President George W. Bush. Both are said to be interested in serving as secretary of state.
Trump’s campaign finance chairman Steve Mnuchin, a veteran of Wall Street and Goldman Sachs, has been reported as a potential pick for treasury secretary, both Buzzfeed and Politico reported, citing sources familiar with the process.
And while it is not an official Cabinet post, the crucial role of national security adviser could go to Ret. Gen. Michael Flynn, who advised Trump’s campaign on terrorism and foreign threats. Flynn is the former director of intelligence for the Pentagon. Flynn has also been mentioned as a potential defense secretary, but would require a waiver from Congress because federal law prohibits a retired member of the military from becoming part of the civilian leadership for seven years after retirement.
While the Trump transition team has only been under public scrutiny for 48 hours, there has been a team in place, led by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, for months, preparing for the potential transition from candidate to president.
Christie himself has been mentioned as a potential Cabinet officer, but his ongoing involvement in the Bridgegate scandal in his home state could preclude him from serving in an official capacity in a Trump administration.
