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Trump transition live updates: In a flurry of nominations, Trump announces 7 picks

Trump nominated a pick for surgeon general, CDC director and head of the FDA.

ByTal Axelrod, Alexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 8:28 PM EST

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, said Thursday he is withdrawing his name for the role -- just a day after Gaetz spoke with Republican senators on Capitol Hill about the nomination process.

Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his new pick for the role.

Another controversial Cabinet pick, Pete Hegseth, is on the Hill on Thursday with Vice President-elect JD Vance to make his case for the secretary of the Department of Defense job.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Nov 12, 3:45 pm

Tracking those Trump has named to serve in his Cabinet, administration

Ahead of his return to power in January, Trump is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration.

They include some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.

Here is a running list of the people Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration.

Nov 22, 2024, 7:31 PM EST

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer picked for labor secretary

Trump said he has nominated Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary.

"Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said in a statement.

The Cabinet position requires Senate confirmation.

The Oregon congresswoman was elected to represent the state's 5th Congressional District in 2022 and she previously served as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon.She lost her bid for re-election two weeks ago.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer participates in the House Transportation Committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Transportation's Policies and Programs and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request" in the Rayburn House Office Building, June 27, 2024.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Nov 22, 2024, 7:24 PM EST

Trump taps Project 2025 co-author to head budget office

Trump announced he has nominated Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The president-elect described Vought, who served in the same role during Trump's first term for several months toward the end of the administration, as an "aggressive cost cutter and deregulator."

Vought has ties to Project 2025. He authored a chapter on "Executive Office of the President" for Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise," which Project 2025 describes as "a comprehensive policy guide for the next conservative U.S. president."

His Center For Renewing America is also listed as a member of Project 2025's advisory board, according to the plan's website.

The position he's been nominated for requires Senate confirmation.

Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, arrives to testify during the House Budget Committee hearing on The President's 2021 Budget, in Cannon Building, February 12, 2020.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Nov 22, 2024, 6:32 PM EST

Billionaire Scott Bessent offered treasury secretary job: Sources

President-elect Donald Trump has offered the treasury secretary position to billionaire Scott Bessent, multiple sources told ABC News Friday.

Bessent has advised Trump on economic policy and has been a frequent presence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club this week and last week.

Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent speaks at a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Asheville, North Carolina, Aug. 14, 2024.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters

The position must be approved by the Senate.

The announcement for the job was supposed to come earlier but had been stalled due to intense infighting among Trump's top advisers — including transition co-chair Howard Lutnick — about who should get the job.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Jonathan Karl

Nov 22, 2024, 4:09 PM EST

Gaetz joins Cameo

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz has joined Cameo, the website where users can purchase a personalized video from celebrity, a day after withdrawing from consideration to be the next attorney general.

A source close to Gaetz confirms the account is real. He is currently charging more than $500 for a personalized video message from the platform.

Former Rep George Santos also joined Cameo when he was ousted from Congress under much different circumstances. Santos, at one point, was selling videos for upwards of $500, but now has dropped his price to $250.

Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 12, 2024.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILES

-ABC News' Brittany Shepherd and Jay O'Brien

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