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Get to know Donald Trump’s Cabinet: Who has the president-elect picked so far?

Since winning the election last week, President-elect Donald Trump has begun evaluating and rolling out his picks for his Cabinet and other top roles. 

Here’s a roundup of whom Trump has picked to fill top jobs in his administration: 

Publicly announced

White House Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations – Elise Stefanik
National Security Adviser – Michael Waltz 
‘Border Czar’ – Tom Homan 
Ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee 
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator – Lee Zeldin 
Middle East Envoy – Steven Witkoff
White House Counsel – William McGinley
CIA Director – John Ratcliffe
Department of Government Efficiency – Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy 
Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth  
Homeland Security Secretary – Kristi Noem
Deputy Chief of Staff – Dan Scavino
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor – Stephen Miller
Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs – James Blair
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel – Taylor Budowich
Director of National Intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard
Secretary of State – Marco Rubio
U.S. Attorney General – Pam Bondi
Secretary of Health and Human Services – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York – Jay Clayton
Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins
U.S. Solicitor General – Dean John Sauer
Deputy Attorney General – Todd Blanche
Secretary of the Interior – Doug Burgum
Communications Director – Steven Cheung
Director of Presidential Personnel – Sergio Gor
Press Secretary – Karoline Leavitt
Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary – William Owen Scharf
Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright
Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – Brendan Carr
Secretary of Transportation – Sean Duffy
Secretary of Commerce – Howard Lutnick
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator – Dr. Mehmet Oz
Secretary of Education – Linda McMahon
Ambassador to NATO – Matthew Whitaker
Treasury Secretary – Scott Bessent
Office of Management and Budget – Russ Vought
Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Scott Turner
Labor Secretary –Lori Chavez-DeRemer
Director of CDC – Dave Weldon
FDA commissioner – Marty Makary
Surgeon General – Janette Nesheiwat
Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism – Sebastian Gorka
Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor – Alex Wong
Secretary of Agriculture – Brooke Rollins

White House Chief of Staff – Susie Wiles

Wiles has been widely lauded for heading Trump’s successful campaign this year, having run Trump’s campaign operations in Florida in 2016 and 2020. She maintained close ties with the president-elect throughout the Biden administration and signed on as CEO of Trump’s Save America PAC in 2021. 

‘Susie is tough, smart, innovative and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again. It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud,’ Trump said in a statement. 

US Ambassador to the United Nations – Elise Stefanik

Elise Stefanik, the New York Republican representative and current House GOP Conference Chair has been an attack dog for Trump in Congress. 

She is a staunch supporter of Israel, having made headlines for her combative lines of questioning of Ivy League university presidents over their handling of anti-Israel protests, some of which prompted the presidents to resign.

National Security Adviser – Michael Waltz 

On Tuesday, Trump announced the Florida Republican representative and former Army Green Beret would be his national security adviser. He’s decidedly a hawk on China and Iran. 

‘Mike retired as a Colonel, and is a nationally recognized leader in National Security, a bestselling author, and an expert on the threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and global terrorism,’ Trump said in a statement. 

‘Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda, and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!’

‘Border Czar’ – Tom Homan 

Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was an architect of Trump’s zero-tolerance policy during his first administration, one that led to backlash from family separations at the border. 

Homan has served under six administrations and presidents in both parties, dating back to the Reagan era, as a rank-and-file Border Patrol agent. He was appointed to the position of executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations for ICE under President Obama.

While serving at a ‘czar’ level rather than in an official Cabinet position, Homan will be in charge of ‘the Southern Border, the Northern Border, all Maritime, and Aviation Security,’ Trump announced on Truth Social. 

‘I’ve known Tom for a long time, and there is nobody better at policing and controlling our Borders,’ Trump wrote. ‘Likewise, Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin. Congratulations to Tom. I have no doubt he will do a fantastic, and long awaited for, job.’

Ambassador to Israel – Mike Huckabee 

Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, is a staunch supporter of Israel, prompted by his evangelical faith. 

‘Mike has been a great public servant, Governor, and Leader in Faith for many years. He loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him’, a statement attached to Trump’s Truth Social post said. ‘Mike will work tirelessly to bring about Peace in the Middle East!’

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator – Lee Zeldin 

Zeldin, a former House Republican from New York, had a notably strong, but unsuccessful, showing in the race for governor against Kathy Hochul in 2022. 

During that race, he called for New York to lift its ban on fracking.

Prior to running for governor, Zeldin served as a U.S. Congressman for eight years. During that time, Zeldin served on the House Foreign Affairs and House Financial Services committees. He also championed infrastructure and research projects like the preservation of Plum Island and Army Corps of Engineers initiatives.

Middle East Envoy – Steven Witkoff

Witkoff, a real estate investor, landlord, and the founder of the Witkoff Group, was tapped as Trump’s Middle East enjoy. He campaign with Trump during the campaign.

In his announcement, Trump said that Witkoff would be an ‘unrelenting Voice for PEACE’ in the highly-contentious region.

White House Counsel – William McGinley

McGinley, who served in Trump’s first presidential term as White House cabinet secretary, returns to the White House for Trump’s second term. The White House Counsel conducts key behind-the-scene research into potential Supreme Court nominees.

CIA Director – John Ratcliffe

Ratcliffe previously served under Trump during his first term as Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He will head the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 

In 2020, he was awarded the National Security Medal, the nation’s highest honor for distinguished achievement in the field of intelligence and national security. 

Department of Government Efficiency – Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy 

Billionaire Elon Musk and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy were tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Trump said that the pair will work together to ‘dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.’

‘It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time,’ the announcement on Tuesday evening said. ‘Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time.’

Secretary of Defense – Pete Hegseth  

Trump nominated Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. He would need to be confirmed by the Senate to assume the position. Hegseth has long championed a strong military and veterans causes. 

He served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army infantry officer, being awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Hegseth was a host on ‘FOX & Friends Weekend’ and FOX Nation until his last day on Tuesday. 

‘Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy,’ Trump said. 

Homeland Security Secretary – Kristi Noem

Trump announced on Tuesday that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is his pick for secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem would need to be approved by the Senate to assume the position.

DHS oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  

‘She was the first Governor to send National Guard Soldiers to help Texas fight the Biden Border Crisis, and they were sent a total of eight times,’ the Trump transition team said in a statement on Tuesday. ‘She will work closely with ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries.’

Deputy Chief of Staff – Dan Scavino

Trump announced that his longtime aide Dan Scavino Jr. will return to the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff. 

‘Scavino was a Trump Campaign Senior Advisor and remains one of President Trump’s longest serving and most trusted aides,’ the Trump transition team said. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor – Stephen Miller

Trump announced Stephen Miller would serve as deputy chief of staff for policy in his administration. Miller was a senior adviser in Trump’s first term. He helped craft many of Trump’s hard-line speeches and plans on immigration. 

Since Trump left office, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization of former Trump advisers fashioned as a conservative version of the American Civil Liberties Union, challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as freedom of speech and religion and national security.

Miller has advocated for mass deportations during the second Trump term. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public Affairs – James Blair

Trump announced James Blair would serve in the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs. 

‘Blair was the Trump Campaign and Republican National Committee Political Director, managing hundreds of staff and overseeing a wide portfolio of political operations and programs,’ the Trump transition team said. 

Blair was in charge of the Trump campaign’s get-out-the-vote operations in key battleground states, which Trump swept on Election Day. 

Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel – Taylor Budowich

Trump announced that Taylor Budowich will join him in the White House as an assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel. 

‘Prior to joining the Trump Campaign, Budowich served in a senior role in President Trump’s Leadership PAC, Save America, and as CEO of the pro-Trump Super PAC, MAGA Inc.,’ the Trump transition team said. 

‘Dan, Stephen, James, and Taylor were ‘best in class’ advisors on my winning campaign, and I know they will honorably serve the American people in the White House,’ Trump said in a statement announcing his senior campaign aides would be promoted to the White House. ‘They will continue to work hard to Make America Great Again in their respective new roles.’

Director of National Intelligence – Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, is Trump’s pick for the position of director of national intelligence. The announcement was made on Wednesday.

The cabinet-level position involves overseeing the intelligence community and advising Trump and the National Security Council on intelligence matters. Gabbard is an Iraq War veteran and a U.S. Army reservist.

‘As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties – She is now a proud Republican!’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength. Tulsi will make us all proud!’

Secretary of State – Marco Rubio

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to serve as his Secretary of State. 

‘It is my Great Honor to announce that Senator Marco Rubio, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The United States Secretary of State. Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.’

Rubio is known as an Iran and China hawk. He is a top GOP member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and ran for president in 2016.

U.S. Attorney General – Pam Bondi

Trump announced Thursday evening that he’s nominating former attorney general of Florida Pam Bondi as the next attorney general of the United States.

Trump’s latest Cabinet pick replaces Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative and nominee for attorney general, who on Thursday withdrew as Trump’s pick for the top prosecutor after the ‘distraction’ his nomination had caused due to a swirl of allegations about paying underage women for sex. 

‘For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again,’ Trump said. ‘I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!’

Shortly after the announcement, Gaetz said on X that Bondi is ‘a stellar selection’ by Trump for attorney general.

‘Pam and I worked closely together when she was Florida’s Attorney General and I chaired Criminal Justice in the state house,’ Gaetz wrote. ‘She’s a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ.’

Deputy Attorney General – Todd Blanche

Trump named his personal criminal defense attorney Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. The president-elect said that the 50-year-old lawyer has experience prosecuting gangs – as well as representing Trump in his 2024 criminal trial in New York.

‘I am pleased to announce that Todd Blanche will serve as Deputy Attorney General in my Administration. Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long,’ Trump announced in a news release.

Secretary of Health and Human Services – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Trump announced he will tap former 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

‘I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,’ Trump said in his announcement Thursday. 

‘The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!’ Trump added.

Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race in August and quickly endorsed the Trump-Vance ticket, and has since repeatedly vowed to ‘Make America Healthy Again.’

U.S. Attorney for Southern District of New York – Jay Clayton

President-elect Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Jay Clayton to serve as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

‘I am pleased to announce that Jay Clayton, of New York, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission during my first term, where he did an incredible job, is hereby nominated to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York,’ Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ‘Jay is a highly respected business leader, counsel, and public servant.

‘Jay is going to be a strong Fighter for the Truth as we, Make America Great Again,’ the president-elect added.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs – Doug Collins

President-elect Trump announced on Thursday his intent to nominate former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., to serve as secretary of veterans affairs.

‘Doug is a Veteran himself, who currently serves our Nation as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command, and fought for our Country in the Iraq War,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. ‘We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need.

‘Thank you, Doug, for your willingness to serve our country in this very important role,’ the president-elect added.

U.S. Solicitor General – Dean John Sauer

Trump announced Dean John Sauer as his pick for U.S. solicitor general.

‘John is a deeply accomplished, masterful appellate attorney, who clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia in the United States Supreme Court, served as Solicitor General of Missouri for six years, and has extensive experience practicing before the U.S. Supreme Court and other Appellate Courts,’ Trump said in the announcement.

Sauer served as solicitor general of Missouri from 2017 to 2023, and represented Trump in his successful appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. United States.

Secretary of the Interior – Doug Burgum

President-elect Trump announced that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will lead the Department of the Interior during a speech at the Americans for Prosperity Gala at Mar-a-Lago.

‘He’s going to be announced [Friday]…I look forward to doing the formal announcement, although this is a pretty big announcement right now, actually,’ Trump said. ‘He’s going to head the Department of Interior, and he’s going to be fantastic.’

Burgum, a multi-millionaire former software company CEO turned two-term governor, launched a White House bid in June 2023. The governor made energy and natural resources a key part of his campaign for the GOP nomination.

After he dropped out of the race, Burgum became a high profile surrogate for the former president, appearing on the campaign trail and in media hits on Trump’s behalf. He was in consideration as Trump’s running mate this past summer before Sen. JD Vance of Ohio was picked as the Republican Party’s vice presidential nominee.

Communications Director – Steven Cheung

Trump announced Friday, Nov. 15, that Steven Cheung would return to the White House as assistant to the president and director of communications. Cheung previously served as communications director for the Trump-Vance campaign and was the White House director of strategic response in Trump’s first term.

Director of Presidential Personnel – Sergio Gor

Trump also confirmed Friday that Sergio Gor will join the White House as director of the presidential personnel office. Gor, an ally and business partner of Donald Trump Jr.’s, was in charge of the pro-Trump political action committee Right For America and previously worked in Republican Sen. Rand Paul’s office. 

‘Steven Cheung and Sergio Gor have been trusted Advisors since my first Presidential Campaign in 2016, and have continued to champion America First principles throughout my First Term, all the way to our HIstoric Victory in 2024,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I am thrilled to have them join my White House, as we Make America Great Again!’ 

Press Secretary – Karoline Leavitt 

Trump announced campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt will serve as White House press secretary for his upcoming administration. 

‘Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,’ Trump said in a statement Friday evening. 

‘Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we, Make America Great Again.’

Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest White House press secretary in U.S. history, unseating Nixon administration press secretary Ron Ziegler, who was 29 when he served in the role from 1969-1974.

Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary – William Owen Scharf

William Owen Scharf, one of Trump’s lawyers, will serve as Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary starting in January.

In a statement on Saturday, the President-elect wrote that Scharf ‘is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team.’

‘[Scharf] has played a key role in defeating the Election Interference and Lawfare waged against me, including by winning the Historic Immunity Decision in the Supreme Court,’ Trump’s statement read.

Secretary of Energy – Chris Wright

Chris Wright, the CEO and founder of Liberty Energy, has been picked to lead the Department of Energy, according to a statement President-elect Trump released on Saturday.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Chris Wright will be joining my Administration as both United States Secretary of Energy, and Member of the newly formed Council of National Energy,’ Trump’s statement read, adding that Wright ‘has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy.’

Wright graduated from MIT with a degree in mechanical engineering, according to Liberty Energy’s website. He also completed graduate work in electrical engineering at University of California, Berkeley and MIT.

‘[Wright] is a self-described tech nerd turned entrepreneur and a dedicated humanitarian on a mission to better human lives by expanding access to abundant, affordable, and reliable energy,’ the company’s website reads.

Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission – Brendan Carr

President-elect Trump announced on Sunday that he has picked Brendan Carr to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) starting in January.

‘Commissioner Carr currently serves as the senior Republican on the FCC. Before that, he was the FCC’s General Counsel,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘I first nominated Commissioner Carr to the FCC in 2017, and he has been confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate three times.’

As a current member of the FCC, Carr recently called out ‘Saturday Night Live’ for platforming Kamala Harris without inviting Trump, which violates FCC rules.

‘NBC has structured this in a way that’s plainly designed to evade the FCC’s rules,’ Carr said to Fox News Digital. ‘We’re talking 50 hours before Election Day starts, without any notice to other candidates, as far as I can tell.’

  Secretary of Transportation – Sean Duffy

President-elect Trump announced that he is nominating former Congressman Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, who is also a Fox News contributor and FOX Business co-host, to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

‘Sean has been a tremendous and well-liked public servant, starting his career as a District Attorney for Ashland, Wisconsin, and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District,’ Trump said in his announcement on Monday. ‘Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation. Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!’

While in Congress, Duffy helped advocate for fiscal responsibility, economic growth and rural development.

Duffy joined FOX News Media as a contributor in 2020. He currently serves as the co-host of FOX Business’ The Bottom Line alongside Dagen McDowell. He also provides political analysis across all FOX News Media platforms.

 

Secretary of Commerce – Howard Lutnick

Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick has been nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as Secretary of Commerce.

‘I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgeral, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative.’

‘In his role as Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Transition Team, Howard has created the most sophisticated process and system to assist us in creating the greatest Administration America has ever seen,’ Trump’s statement added.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator – Dr. Mehmet Oz

President-elect Trump plans to nominate Dr. Mehmet Oz to serve as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator starting in January, he announced on Tuesday.

‘America is facing a Healthcare Crisis, and there may be no Physician more qualified and capable than Dr. Oz to Make America Healthy Again,’ Trump said in a Truth Social post. ‘He is an eminent Physician, Heart Surgeon, Inventor, and World-Class Communicator, who has been at the forefront of healthy living for decades.’

Trump wrote that Dr. Oz is expected to ‘work closely’ with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who the president-elect nominated to run the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Secretary of Education – Linda McMahon

President-elect Trump is appointing Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), to lead the Department of Education.

His announcement, which was posted on Truth Social, came hours after two sources told Fox News that McMahon was likely to be picked. Trump cited the businesswoman’s expertise when he made the announcement.

‘Linda will use her decades of Leadership experience, and deep understanding of both Education and Business, to empower the next Generation of American Students and Workers, and make America Number One in Education in the World,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘We will send Education BACK TO THE STATES, and Linda will spearhead that effort.’

Ambassador to NATO – Matthew Whitaker

Trump is tapping former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to become U.S. ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in his new administration.

Trump described Whitaker, who is from Iowa, as ‘a strong warrior and loyal Patriot, who will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended.’

‘Matt will strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability – He will put AMERICA FIRST,’ Trump said in a statement. ‘I have full confidence in Matt’s ability to represent the United States with Strength, Integrity, and unwavering Dedication. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to promote PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, Freedom, and Prosperity around the World.’

‘Matt is also the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, and is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A., MBA and J.D., where he played football, and received the Big Ten Medal of Honor,’ Trump added.

Treasury Secretary – Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent, founder of Key Square Group, was chosen for the coveted post of Treasury secretary. Bessent was a key economic policy adviser and fundraiser for the Trump campaign.

‘Scott is widely respected as one of the World’s foremost International Investors and Geopolitical and Economic Strategists. Scott’s story is that of the American Dream,’ Trump said on Friday.

He has been an advocate for economic policies like lower taxes, spending restraint and deregulation that have long made up the core of the Republican Party’s platform, and has also been supportive of Trump’s use of tariffs in trade negotiations.

Office of Management and Budget – Russ Vought

On Friday, Trump tapped Russ Vought to lead the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Vought served as OMB director during Trump’s first term. He also served as deputy OMB director and acting director.

‘He did an excellent job serving in this role in my First Term – We cut four Regulations for every new Regulation, and it was a Great Success!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Vought is a contributor to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and a close Trump ally. 

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development – Scott Turner

Trump nominated Scott Turner as the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Turner, who is chair of the Center for Education Opportunity and is a former professional football player, previously served as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC).

‘Scott is an NFL Veteran, who, during my First Term, served as the First Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC), helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities,’ Trump said in a Friday statement. ‘Those efforts, working together with former HUD Secretary, Ben Carson, were maximized by Scott’s guidance in overseeing 16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions furthering Economic Development. Under Scott’s leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 Billion Dollars in Private Investment!’

Turner, a former Texas state lawmaker, played nine seasons in the NFL as a member of the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos.

Labor Secretary – Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Trump nominated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., on Friday for secretary of labor. 

‘I am proud to hereby nominate Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer, from the Great State of Oregon, as United States Secretary of Labor,’ Trump wrote in an official statement. ‘Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America’s workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America. I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families.’

Chavez-DeRemer was first elected to Congress in 2022, and lost re-election in a close race against Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month. Her candidacy was backed by the Teamsters Union.

Director of CDC – Dr. Dave Weldon

President-elect Trump announced that former Rep. Dr. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., is his pick as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

‘In addition to being a Medical Doctor for 40 years, and an Army Veteran, Dave has been a respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues, and served on the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, working for Accountability on HHS and CDC Policy and Budgeting,’ Trump said in the Friday evening announcement. 

Trump said that Dr. Weldon would restore trust in the agency and transparency.

FDA commissioner – Dr. Marty Makary

Trump on Friday nominated Dr. Marty Makary, a pancreatic surgeon at Johns Hopkins University, as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Makary is the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins, according to the university’s website, and was a Fox News medical contributor. 

‘FDA has lost the trust of Americans, and has lost sight of its primary goal as a regulator. The Agency needs Dr. Marty Makary, a Highly Respected Johns Hopkins Surgical Oncologist and Health Policy Expert, to course-correct and refocus the Agency,’ Trump said on Truth Social.

‘He will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nation’s food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nation’s youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic,’ Trump said.

Surgeon General – Janette Nesheiwat

Trump also nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as surgeon general, saying that she would be a ‘fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventative medicine and public health.’

‘I am proud to announce that Dr. Janette Nesheiwat will be the Nation’s Doctor as the United States Surgeon General. Dr. Nesheiwat is a double board-certified Medical Doctor with an unwavering commitment to saving and treating thousands of American lives,’ he said.

Nesheiwat is a former Fox News medical contributor.  

Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director of Counterterrosim – Sebastian Gorka

Trump announced Friday that his former White House adviser, Sebastian Gorka, will serve in his incoming administration. Gorka will serve as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism. 

Gorka, a former Trump aide, previously served as deputy assistant to the president during Trump’s first term. He’s also a former Fox News contributor.

‘Since 2015, Dr. Gorka has been a tireless advocate for the America First Agenda and the MAGA Movement, serving previously as Strategist to the President in the first Trump Administration,’ Trump said. 

Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor – Alex Wong

Similarly to Gorka, Alex Wong served under Trump during his first term. 

Wong served in the State Department as deputy special representative for North Korea, and the deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. 

President-elect Trump tapped Brooke Rollins as his agriculture secretary. Rollins, the president and CEO of AFPI, previously served in Trump’s first administration as director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council.

Trump lauded Rollins’ ‘commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns.’

‘A proud Graduate of Texas A&M University, Brooke earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Agriculture Development, and J.D., with Honors,’ Trump’s official announcement said. ‘From her upbringing in the small and Agriculture-centered town of Glen Rose, Texas, to her years of leadership involvement with Future Farmers of America and 4H, to her generational Family Farming background, to guiding her four kids in their show cattle careers, Brooke has a practitioner’s experience, along with deep Policy credentials in both Nonprofit and Government leadership at the State and National levels.’

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Amazon Web Services will also become Anthropic’s “primary cloud and training partner,” according to a blog post. From now on, Anthropic will use AWS Trainium and Inferentia chips to train and deploy its largest AI models.

Anthropic is the company behind Claude — one of the chatbots that, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, has exploded in popularity. Startups like Anthropic and OpenAI, alongside tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta, are all part of a generative AI arms race to ensure they don’t fall behind in a market predicted to top $1 trillion in revenue within a decade.

Some, like Microsoft and Amazon, are backing generative AI startups with hefty investments as well as working on in-house generative AI.

The partnership announced Friday will also allow AWS customers “early access” to an Anthropic feature: the ability for an AWS customer to do fine-tuning with their own data on Anthropic’s Claude. It’s a unique benefit for AWS customers, according to a company blog post.

In March, Amazon’s $2.75 billion investment in Anthropic was the company’s largest outside investment in its three-decade history. The companies announced an initial $1.25 billion investment in September 2023.

Amazon does not have a seat on Anthropic’s board.

News of Amazon’s additional investment comes one month after Anthropic announced a significant milestone for the company: AI agents that can use a computer to complete complex tasks like a human would.

Anthropic’s new Computer Use capability, part of its two newest AI models, allows its tech to interpret what’s on a computer screen, select buttons, enter text, navigate websites, and execute tasks through any software and real-time internet browsing.

The tool can “use computers in basically the same way that we do,” Jared Kaplan, Anthropic’s chief science officer, told CNBC in an interview last month, adding it can do tasks with “tens or even hundreds of steps.”

Amazon had early access to the tool, Anthropic told CNBC at the time, and early customers and beta testers included Asana, Canva and Notion. The company had been working on the tool since early this year, according to Kaplan.

In September, Anthropic rolled out Claude Enterprise, its biggest new product since its chatbot’s debut, designed for businesses looking to integrate Anthropic’s AI. In June, the company debuted its more powerful AI model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and in May, it rolled out its “Team” plan for smaller businesses.

Last year, Google committed to invest $2 billion in Anthropic, after previously confirming it had taken a 10% stake in the startup alongside a large cloud contract between the two companies.

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Israelis unite behind their prime minister as Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant

A decision by the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials was met with anger and annoyance at Jerusalem’s bustling Mahane Yehuda Market. But the most palpable sentiment was one of unity.

“I think it’s terrible. What about Putin? What about the real evil people?” Sarita Katzin Sarfati said about the court’s decision to call for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes committed in Gaza after the October 7 attack on Israel last year.

“I’m against it. We’re a nation, we are independent, and we can take our own decision here. Nobody else can tell us to put someone in jail or anything else,” he said.

That sentiment is shared by many in Israel, according to experts.

Gil Siegal, a legal scholar at the Ono Academic College in Israel, said The Hague-based court’s decision has united Israelis.

Most Israelis still support the war in Gaza, he said, seeing it as a just fight and the only means to keep their country safe. And while many oppose Netanyahu – mass protests calling for his resignation are now happening weekly – most feel he has been targeted unfairly by the ICC.

The limited opposition to the war is motivated by the rising death toll of Israeli soldiers in Gaza and the hope that a ceasefire would secure the release of the 101 hostages still held there, with the suffering of Palestinians largely absent from the anti-war discourse.

This is partly because the shock of the brutal October 7 terror attack, during which Hamas-led militants killed more than 1,200 people, is still raw in the country. Many Israelis know someone who was directly impacted by the attack and most have family members or friends who are currently fighting in Gaza or are serving in the military in another capacity.

Portraits of the hostages are on display across Israel, along the sea promenade in Tel Aviv and in the arrivals hall at the country’s airport.

Some Israelis are also outraged that the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant alongside one for Mohammed Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, the Hamas leader who Israel claims was one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack.

The ICC “is saying that Gallant and Netanyahu are equal to Mohammed Deif… this is something that Israelis truly cannot comprehend, truly, truly cannot comprehend,” Siegal said.

Yael Vias Gvirsman represents the families of hundreds of Israeli victims of the October 7 attacks at the ICC and was in The Hague on Thursday when the warrants were issued. She said the warrant against Deif was an important recognition “that Hamas attacks consisted of extermination, torture, rape and other sexual crimes and inhumane treatment” and that it was good news for families she represents. “It’s the first step for recognition and the first step for them rebuilding their lives,” she said.

But she added that the simultaneous warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant were understandably met with “great shock” in Israel, “because it is a nation at its most difficult hour.”

The court said it found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.”

More than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7 last year, according to the health ministry in Gaza.

Netanyahu denounced the ICC move on Thursday, calling it an “antisemitic decision” and “a modern Dreyfus trial,” referring to the 1894 wrongful conviction of Jewish-French soldier Alfred Dreyfus, an affair that has since come to symbolize antisemitic persecution.

The prime minister said the ICC judges were “motivated by antisemitic sentiments against the one and only Jewish state.”

Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid called the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant a “reward for terrorism.”

Implications for soldiers fighting in Gaza

While the ICC arrest warrants target only Netanyahu and Gallant, some are worried about the implications for the Israel Defense Forces and its soldiers.

Conscription is mandatory for most Jewish Israelis and some 300,000 reservists have been called up because of the war, on top of the estimated 170,000 active-duty soldiers.

The right-wing Israeli legal organization Shurat HaDin has warned about the arrest warrants “creating a dangerous precedent for the ICC to target other democratic armies and leaders.” The group has long warned about the ICC possibly opening a criminal investigation against Israeli soldiers.

Legal action at the ICC against Israeli soldiers, it said on its website, would “carry devastating effects” on Israel, and cause immediate personal risk to individuals “whose only blame is for serving their country and fighting terror.”

Refusals by potential recruits and reservists to serve are rare in Israel, but there are signs that they have been increasing amid the global outrage over the toll of the war in Gaza. Taking an unusually public stance, a group of more than 130 Israeli reservists signed an open letter to Netanyahu and Gallant last month, stating that they refuse to serve unless a deal is signed to end the war and bring back the hostages, saying that for some of them “the red line has already been crossed.”

Soul Behar Tsalik, an Israeli who intends to refuse his mandatory enlistment in the IDF next week, said the ICC warrant strengthens his commitment to refuse.

Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli veterans who oppose the war in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank, was a rare voice of support for the ICC’s decision.

It said in a statement that the “flood of condemnations, an array of whataboutisms and countless allegations of antisemitism” was indicative of the Israeli “society’s insistence, even now, to not see what we are doing in Gaza.”

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Son of Norway’s crown princess accused of second rape

The 27-year-old son of Norway’s crown princess has been accused of a second rape just days after he was arrested on suspicion of the same offense.

Following a detention hearing at Oslo District Court on Wednesday for the first alleged offense, police prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski said Oslo Police District had requested that Marius Borg Høiby be held in custody for two weeks as a second alleged rape had come to light.

Police said they are investigating the second alleged incident thoroughly.

“The case involves sexual activity, not intercourse, with a woman who was incapable of resisting the act. This means that we are now investigating two rape cases involving Marius Borg Høiby,” the police added.

A sexual assault of this kind carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, according to Norway’s penal code.

“For the other circumstances, he does not admit criminal guilt,” Bratlien said.

Høiby was first arrested on Monday night on suspicion of breaking the law relating to “sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons is unable to resist the act,” police said Tuesday.

They specified at the time that this accusation involved carrying out a “sexual act without intercourse” on a victim “said to have been unable to resist the act.”

Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon told the country’s public broadcaster, NRK, that the situation is affecting everyone around Høiby. “These are serious accusations that Marius is now facing. Today, we are of course thinking of all those affected,” he said.

He added that the police and the judicial system must be given room to do their job. “I trust that they will do that in a good way,” he said.

Høiby was born before his mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon and became a princess in 2001. He is outside Norway’s line of royal succession.

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Nicaraguan lawmakers approve reform expanding Ortega’s power

The Nicaraguan parliament, dominated by the ruling Sandinista Front, on Friday approved a constitutional reform that hands more power to President Daniel Ortega as well as the Central American nation’s police and military.

The reform increases the president’s control over the media, extends the presidential term to six years from five, and changes the roles of vice president and president to those of “co-presidents.”

Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is Ortega’s wife, will now become his co-president. The two have been married since 2005 and she was made vice president in 2017.

Ortega has cracked down on dissent over recent years. More than 200 political prisoners were freed early last year and expelled to the United States, including five former presidential hopefuls who had been jailed after seeking to challenge the increasingly authoritarian Ortega in a 2021 election.

Under the new reform, the co-presidents will have control over the legislature, judiciary and electoral, public administration, and oversight bodies as well as autonomous entities.

It also mandates that the state will ensure media are not “subject to foreign interests and do not spread false news.”

The reform must pass a second legislative vote next year before becoming law.

Government critics have said the reforms legalize the “absolute power” already exercised for years by Ortega and Murillo.

The Organization of American States, a regional diplomatic body, has said that through Ortega and Murillo intend to “increase their absolute control of the state and maintain their position in power.”

The reform, which 79-year-old Ortega sent to Congress on Tuesday “as a matter of urgency,” was approved unanimously by 91 lawmakers.

The head of the legislature, Gustavo Porras, confirmed during Friday’s session that the reform would be voted on and approved for a second time on January 10, following Nicaraguan law that says constitutional changes must be approved in two legislative periods.

Porras brushed off criticisms of the reform, calling them “a stupid way of carrying out opposition.”

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the changes marked a concerning further erosion of checks and balances on executive power.

“If adopted, these changes will sound the death knell for fundamental freedoms and rule of law in Nicaragua,” he said in a statement.

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Gorilla at a Canadian zoo died after worker mistakenly activated wrong door

Human error led to the death of a young gorilla in Alberta, Canada, according to officials at the Calgary Zoo.

Eyare, a 2-year-old western lowland gorilla, died last week after being struck in the head by a hydraulic door a staff member accidentally activated, the zoo said in a statement Wednesday. The worker was trying to separate Eyare from other members of the gorilla troop for a solo training session.

The gorilla died of traumatic head injuries, according to the statement.

“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, Calgary Zoo’s director of animal care, said at a news conference. “Eyare’s short but impactful life brought so much joy to our community, and she will be deeply missed by all. We will do everything we can to prevent future incidents.”

The staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo, Baird said.

The zoo said it will implement preventative measures – including specialized staff training and animal behavioral training – to avoid another incident like this in the future.

It’s not the first time an animal has died of something other than natural causes at the zoo. In 2016, an otter drowned after becoming tangled in an “unauthorized” pair of pants a zookeeper dropped in its enclosure. A penguin died in “a freak accident” when she swallowed a stick in 2013. And in 2009, a capybara was also accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door.

The Animal Justice Legislative Fund, a Canadian nonprofit that advocates for the humane treatment of animals, called for an independent investigation into animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.

“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” said Camille Labchuk, the nonprofit’s executive director.

The use of hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” Baird said in the news conference, but the facility will explore transitioning to alternative doors to improve safety.

The Calgary Zoo, which launched the conservation organization the Wilder Institute in 2021, cares for over 4,000 animals, including 6 other western lowland gorillas.

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Israeli airstrikes kill at least 87 in northern and central Gaza as war death toll surpasses 44,000

Israeli strikes on northern and central Gaza killed at least 87 Palestinians in 24 hours, local health authorities said, as the death toll in the enclave surpassed 44,000.

In an interview with Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV, he said about 200 people were believed to have been at the site when the Israeli military struck.

“The hospital medical team retrieved 65 martyrs from under the rubble,” Abu Safiya said, adding that medical staff were recovering bodies from under the rubble “using their hands” due to the absence of rescue teams.

Safiya warned that the hospital “will turn into a mass grave if urgent intervention from international organizations does not occur and medical supplies are not brought in,” adding that “not a single ambulance” was available in northern Gaza.

In a separate strike on Wednesday, at least 22 people were killed, including 10 children, north of Gaza City in the center of the enclave, according to Dr. Muneer Alboursh, director general of the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The airstrike hit a family home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, Alboursh said in a statement on Thursday.

Gaza’s civil defense said that rescue teams were working to recover people from the rubble and that the death toll was expected to rise.

The strikes come as the death toll in Gaza climbs after Israel’s renewed offensive in the north of the territory.

At least 44,056 people have been killed and more than 104,000 injured in the enclave since the war began last year, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

Meanwhile in Lebanon, Israel launched airstrikes on the southern suburb of Beirut early Thursday, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA). The strikes were accompanied by low-altitude flights of hostile drones over the area, NNA said.

The airstrikes, targeting the Hezbollah stronghold of Haret Hreik, destroyed several buildings, NNA said.

Earlier on Thursday, Avichay Adraee, the Israel military’s spokesperson to Arabic media, posted evacuation warnings on X mapping three buildings in the area Haret Hreik, saying they were potential targets. He issued a similar evacuation warning for seven buildings in the historic southern city of Tyre.

Israel’s strikes came as US envoy Amos Hochstein engages in ceasefire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel. He arrived in Israel on Wednesday.

While in Lebanon on Tuesday, Hochstein said that a ceasefire deal is “within our grasp,” but added it was ultimately “the decision of the parties.”

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Kayaker’s leg amputated in 20-hour ordeal trapped between rocks on Australia river

A kayaker’s leg was amputated during a dramatic, hours-long rescue operation to free him from between rocks on a river in Australia on Saturday, local police said.

The man, a foreign tourist in his 60s, was airlifted to a hospital in Tasmania’s state capital Hobart where he was in a critical condition, police said, adding they were contacting his family.

His 20-hour ordeal began at about 2:30pm on Friday when he became trapped while kayaking through rapids with a group on the Franklin River, police said in a statement.

Authorities received an emergency alert from the man’s smartwatch and dispatched rescue units and paramedics, police said, adding that the area’s remoteness added complexity to the rescue effort.

Set in the rugged landscape of the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park in the island state, the powerful 129-kilometer- (80-mile-) long river is a popular spot for kayaking and rafting.

Rescuers made several unsuccessful attempts to extract the man between Friday evening and Saturday morning. When his condition deteriorated after so many hours partially submerged in the water, a decision was made in consultation with the man to amputate his leg, police said.

“This rescue was an extremely challenging and technical operation, and an incredible effort over many hours to save the man’s life,” said Tasmania Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug Oosterloo in the statement.

“Every effort was made to extract the man before the difficult decision to amputate his leg.”

Oosterloo also praised the emergency responders. “I’d like to thank everyone who contributed to this operation in the most difficult of circumstances,” he said.

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Ukraine is being hit with a surge of attacks using North Korean missiles. Western components help make it possible

Ukraine has been hit by a surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks, about a third of which used North Korean weapons that can only fly because they run on Western circuitry, obtained despite sanctions, according to Ukrainian military officials.

August and September saw a spike in ballistic missile attacks, when Ukraine first publicly detailed the use of the KN-23.

These less-sophisticated missiles are part of North Korea’s growing support to Moscow, which also includes about 11,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia’s Kursk region.

Crucial components used in the North Korean missiles are produced by nine Western manufacturers, including companies based in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, according to a recent report by Ukraine’s Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO), a civil society organization. Some parts of the KN-23/24 missiles they analyzed were produced as recently as 2023, suggesting a swift delivery pipeline to North Korea.

The warehouse was full of damaged drones and burned missile parts. In different buildings, hundreds of microchips were carefully separated into folders named for various weapons used by Russia – “Shahed,” “Iskander,” and “KN-23.”

“Everything that works to guide the missile, to make it fly, is all foreign components. All the electronics are foreign. There is nothing Korean in it,” said Andriy Kulchytskyi, head of the Military Research Laboratory of Kyiv’s Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise.

“The only thing Korean is the metal, which quickly rusts and corrodes,” he added.

A Ukrainian Defense Intelligence official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said their investigations are hampered by the damage to the missile fragments, but it’s still possible to determine that “the vast majority of components are Western components. Probably 70% are American, from well-known companies […] They also use components made in Germany and Switzerland.”

A report released earlier this year by the UK-based investigative organization Conflict Armament Research, or CAR, found that 75% of components in one of the first North Korean missiles used to attack Ukraine were from US-based companies.

Sanctioned goods move though China

There is no reliable information on how exactly the components make their way into North Korea, according to weapons-tracing experts. But all signs to point to China as the likely conduit, experts say.

“We have successfully traced some of those components, and the last known custodians are Chinese companies,” said Damien Spleeters, deputy director of operations at CAR, which works to independently document diverted weapons. That means Chinese firms bought the components from manufacturers and a series of intermediaries.

CAR has a policy of not “naming and shaming” specific manufacturers because there is no evidence the firms deliberately shipped the parts to North Korea.

“Some parts of these components may be actually fake and made in China,” said Victoria Vyshnivska, a senior researcher at NAKO. “But we cannot be 100% sure,” she added, as the companies in question often failed to respond to questions.

One manufacturer was able to provide NAKO with evidence that a low-value electronic component found in a North Korean missile was counterfeit.

CAR and others consider that middleman distribution companies – not manufacturers – are the primary issue.

There are more than 250 companies whose components have been identified in North Korean missiles, according to CAR. But the majority of those electronics are sold to five main distributors, which are all based in the United States and Canada. CAR is urging policymakers to focus more effort on regulating those distribution companies.

The US Commerce Department has already stepped up its targeting of entities and shell companies that have shipped sanctioned goods to Russia and Belarus.

Ukrainian officials argue the poor enforcement of the sanctions regime by Western nations is one major issue.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian president’s commissioner for sanctions policy, said he was hopeful the incoming Trump administration would seek greater control over the illicit trade.

That echoes the sentiment of the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which earlier this year slammed US manufacturers for not doing enough to vet potential buyers, despite having adequate “resources, funding, and knowledge.”

“Our findings reveal a distinct disinterest in evaluating and improving corporate compliance practices and particularly, monitoring those distributors, the middlemen,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in September.

Components also continue to be diverted to Iran and to Russia directly, according to the Ukrainian intelligence official.

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Venezuela opens investigation against opposition leader for alleged treason

Venezuelan authorities are investigating opposition leader Maria Corina Machado for alleged treason after she expressed support for a US bipartisan bill that seeks to block Washington from doing business with any entity that has commercial ties with the government of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.

In a statement, the country’s Attorney General’s Office said Machado’s support is considered a “terrible criminal act against the Venezuelan people.” Machado is also being investigated for conspiracy with foreign countries and association to commit a crime.

Machado – one of the country’s key opposition leaders – was banned from running in Venezuela’s July presidential election, which was marred with allegations of foul play that saw opposition figures arrested, opposition witnesses allegedly denied access to the centralized vote count, and overseas Venezuelans largely unable to cast ballots.

The US bill – introduced by Florida Reps. Mike Waltz (R) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) – was passed on Monday by the House of Representatives.

Waltz, who President-elect Donald Trump has asked to serve as his national security adviser, wrote on X Wednesday that Machado “remains a beacon of hope for Venezuelans who rejected Maduro and his socialist authoritarianism” as he announced the bill.

“I’m proud the House passed my bill, the BOLIVAR Act, to block the federal government from doing business with anyone who has commercial ties to Maduro’s regime,” Walz wrote.

Machado, who’s in hiding, later thanked Waltz and the House of Representatives for approving the initiative.“It is a crucial step to hold the Maduro regime accountable,” she wrote on X on Wednesday.

During a televised event on Wednesday, Maduro criticized the bill and said that the opposition’s actions against him will not be successful.

Venezuela has been in a state of crisis in its aftermath when the nation’s electoral authority – a body stacked with Maduro allies – declared him the winner with 51% of the vote against candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.

Even after Venezuela’s electoral and judicial authorities announced Maduro’s victory, they have not shown detailed results and electoral records to support it, prompting anger and concern across the country and abroad.

Several countries, including the US, have formally recognized Gonzalez as the country’s president-elect following the disputed election.

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