On September 26, 2019, the Senate confirmed McCarthy as Army Secretary. President Trump appointed Esper Acting Defense Secretary and nominated him for Defense Secretary.

This is a list of political appointments of officeholders made by the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Jan 21, 2025 · President Donald Trump’s top nominees to run the department are still awaiting approval from Capitol Hill, and these officials will help steer the department in the interim.

As one of his first acts, President Donald Trump appointed 31 people to lead various government agencies on an acting basis while his Cabinet nominees move through the Senate confirmation process ...

Dec 23, 2024 · President-elect Donald Trump has announced his picks for key Pentagon positions, including deputy secretary of defense and undersecretaries for the policy, acquisition and sustainment and research and engineering offices.

Jul 23, 2019 · President Trump tweeted that General Mattis would be "retiring" at the end of February 2019; however, Mattis wrote a strongly worded resignation letter rebuking Trump foreign policy behavior, and thus became the first ever Secretary of Defense to resign in protest.

Denotes appointees who have left office or offices which have been disbanded. Denotes nominees who were withdrawn prior to being confirmed or assuming office.

Jan 21, 2025 · President Donald J. Trump named Robert Salesses as acting secretary of defense pending the confirmation of Pete Hegseth for the position.

4 days ago · Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary, gives a thumbs up while leaving after his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

President Trump nominated Former Defense Undersecretary and VA Acting Secretary Robert Wilkie on May 18, 2018, to replace Shulkin. On July 23, 2018, Wilkie was confirmed by the Senate in a vote of 86–9.