Cabinet of Barack Obama

Obama Cabinet

Cabinet of the United States
2009–2017

First Cabinet of President Barack Obama in the White House East Room, 2009

Date formed| January 20, 2009 (2009-01-20)
Date dissolved| January 20, 2017 (2017-01-20)
People and organizations
President| Barack Obama
President's history| U.S. Senator from Illinois
(2005–2008)
Illinois State Senator
(1997–2004)
Vice President| Joe Biden
Member party|  Democratic Party
Status in legislature| Majority government (2009–2011)
Divided government (2011–2017)

257 / 435 (59%)

60 / 100 (60%)

(2009–2011)

193 / 435 (44%)

53 / 100 (53%)

(2011–2013)

201 / 435 (46%)

55 / 100 (55%)

(2013–2015)

188 / 435 (43%)

46 / 100 (46%)

(2015–2017)
Opposition party|  Republican Party
History
Elections| 2008 presidential election
2012 presidential election
Legislature terms| 111th Congress
112th Congress
113th Congress
114th Congress
115th Congress (17 days)
Budgets| 2009 budget
2010 budget
2011 budget
2012 budget
2013 budget
2014 budget
2015 budget
2016 budget
Advice and consent| United States Senate
Predecessor| George W. Bush Cabinet
Successor| First Trump Cabinet
|  |

This article is part of
a series about

Barack Obama

|

* * *

Personal

* Early life and career
* Family
* Honors
* Public image
* Publications
* Dreams from My Father
* The Audacity of Hope
* A Promised Land
* Summer playlist
* Non-profit organizations
* Obama Foundation
* One America Appeal
* Speeches

* * *

Illinois State Senator and U.S. Senator from Illinois

* Illinois State Senate tenure
* 2004 DNC keynote address
* U.S. Senate tenure
* 2004 election
* sponsored bills

* * *

44th President of the United States

* Presidency
* timeline
* Transition
* Inaugurations
* first
* second
* Efforts to impeach
* Presidential library

* * *

Tenure

* First 100 days
* Recovery Act
* Trips
* foreign
* '09
* '10
* '11
* '12
* '13
* '14
* '15
* '16–'17
* Russia nuclear treaty
* Nobel Peace Prize
* Affordable Care Act
* Dodd–Frank
* Iraq withdrawal
* Killing of Osama bin Laden
* 2011 debt-ceiling crisis
* Libya intervention
* Afghanistan withdrawal
* Benghazi attack
* 2013 debt-ceiling crisis
* Anti-ISIL campaign
* Iraq
* Syria
* Tan suit controversy
* Iran nuclear deal
* Cuban thaw
* Sanctions against Russia
* Selma 50th anniversary speech
* Paris Agreement

* * *

Policies

* Economy
* Energy
* Foreign policy
* Arctic
* Europe
* East Asia
* Middle East
* South Asia
* Obama Doctrine
* Pardons
* Marine
* Native
* Social
* Space

* * *

Appointments

* Cabinet
* Judiciary
* Sotomayor
* Kagan
* Garland
* Supreme Court candidates

* * *

Presidential campaigns

* 2008
* election
* primaries
* convention
* debates
* Obama coalition
* 2012
* election
* primaries
* convention
* debates

* * *

* v
* t
* e

Barack Obama assumed office as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009, and his term ended on January 20, 2017. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.

Before confirmation and during congressional hearings a high-level career member of an executive department heads this pre-confirmed cabinet on an acting basis. The Cabinet's creation was part of the transition of power following the 2008 presidential election.

This article documents the nomination and confirmation process for any successful or unsuccessful Cabinet nominees of the Obama administration. They are listed in order of creation of the Cabinet position (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).

## Cabinet

[edit]

### Cabinet officials on January 20, 2017

[edit]

Obama cabinet
Office| Name| Term
President| Barack Obama| 2009-2017
Vice President| Joe Biden| 2009-2017
Secretary of State| Hillary Clinton| 2009-2013
John Kerry| 2013-2017
Secretary of the Treasury| Timothy Geithner| 2009-2013
Jack Lew| 2013-2017
Secretary of Defense| Robert Gates*| 2006-2011
Leon Panetta| 2011-2013
Chuck Hagel| 2013-2015
Ash Carter| 2015-2017
Attorney General| Eric Holder| 2009-2015
Loretta Lynch| 2015-2017
Secretary of the Interior| Ken Salazar| 2009-2013
Sally Jewell| 2013-2017
Secretary of Agriculture| Tom Vilsack| 2009-2017
Secretary of Commerce| Gary Locke| 2009-2011
John Bryson| 2011-2012
Penny Pritzker| 2013-2017
Secretary of Labor| Hilda Solis| 2009-2013
Tom Perez| 2013-2017
Secretary of Health and
Human Services| Kathleen Sebelius| 2009-2014
Sylvia Mathews Burwell| 2014-2017
Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development| Shaun Donovan| 2009-2014
Julian Castro| 2014-2017
Secretary of Transportation| Ray LaHood| 2009-2013
Anthony Foxx| 2013-2017
Secretary of Energy| Steven Chu| 2009-2013
Ernest Moniz| 2013-2017
Secretary of Education| Arne Duncan| 2009-2016
John King Jr.| 2016-2017
Secretary of Veterans Affairs| Eric Shinseki| 2009-2014
Bob McDonald| 2014-2017
Secretary of Homeland Security| Janet Napolitano| 2009-2013
Jeh Johnson| 2013-2017
Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency| Lisa Jackson| 2009-2013
Gina McCarthy| 2013-2017
Director of the Office of
Management and Budget| Peter Orszag| 2009-2010
Jack Lew| 2010-2012
Sylvia Mathews Burwell| 2013-2014
Shaun Donovan| 2014-2017
United States Trade Representative| Ron Kirk| 2009-2013
Michael Froman| 2013-2017
Ambassador to the United Nations| Susan Rice| 2009-2013
Samantha Power| 2013-2017
Chair of the
Council of Economic Advisers| Christina Romer| 2009-2010
Austan Goolsbee| 2010-2011
Alan Krueger| 2011-2013
Jason Furman| 2013-2017
Administrator of the
Small Business Administration| Karen Mills**| 2009-2013
Maria Contreras-Sweet| 2014-2017
Chief of Staff| Rahm Emanuel| 2009-2010
William M. Daley| 2011-2012
Jack Lew| 2012-2013
Denis McDonough| 2013-2017
*Retained from previous administration
**Elevated to cabinet-level in January 2012

All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. Although some are afforded cabinet-level rank, non-cabinet members within the Executive Office of the President, such as White House chief of staff, National Security Advisor, and White House press secretary, do not hold constitutionally created positions and most do not require Senate confirmation for appointment.

The following were the final members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet on January 20, 2017.

Cabinet of President Barack Obama

Elected to office - all other cabinet members serve at the pleasure of the president

No Senate consent needed

Source:[1]

Office
Date announced / confirmed | Designee  | Office
Date announced / confirmed | Designee

Vice President
Announced August 22, 2008
Elected November 4, 2008
Assumed office January 20, 2009 |
U.S. Senator
Joe Biden
of Delaware |
Secretary of State
Announced December 21, 2012
Assumed office February 1, 2013 |
U.S. Senator
John Kerry
of Massachusetts

Secretary of the Treasury
Announced January 10, 2013
Assumed office February 28, 2013 |
White House Chief of Staff
Jack Lew
of New York |
Secretary of Defense
Announced December 5, 2014
Assumed office February 17, 2015 |
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Ash Carter
of Pennsylvania

Attorney General
Announced November 8, 2014
Assumed office April 27, 2015 |
United States Attorney
Loretta Lynch
of New York |
Secretary of the Interior
Announced February 6, 2013
Assumed office April 12, 2013 |
Chief Executive Officer of REI
Sally Jewell
of Washington

Secretary of Agriculture
Assumed acting office January 13, 2017 |
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services
Michael Scuse
of Delaware |
Secretary of Commerce
Announced May 2, 2013
Assumed office June 26, 2013 |
Billionaire Businesswoman
Penny Pritzker
of Illinois

Secretary of Labor
Announced March 18, 2013
Assumed office July 23, 2013 |
Assistant Attorney General
Tom Perez
of Maryland |
Secretary of Health and Human Services
Announced April 11, 2014
Assumed office June 9, 2014 |
Director of OMB
Sylvia Mathews Burwell
of West Virginia

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Announced May 22, 2014
Assumed office July 28, 2014 |
Mayor of San Antonio
Julian Castro
of Texas |
Secretary of Transportation
Announced April 29, 2013
Assumed office July 2, 2013 |
Mayor of Charlotte
Anthony Foxx
of North Carolina

Secretary of Energy
Announced March 4, 2013
Assumed office May 21, 2013 |
Former Under Secretary of Energy
Ernest Moniz
of Massachusetts |
Secretary of Education
Announced December 10, 2015
Assumed office January 1, 2016[n 1] |
Acting Secretary of Education
John King, Jr.
of New York

Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Announced July 7, 2014
Assumed office July 30, 2014 |
Chief Executive Officer P&G
Bob McDonald
of Ohio |
Secretary of Homeland Security
Announced October 18, 2013
Assumed office December 23, 2013 |
Former General Counsel of D.O.D
Jeh Johnson
of New York

### Cabinet-level officials

[edit]

Office
Date announced / confirmed | Designee  | Office
Date announced / confirmed | Designee

White House Chief of Staff
Announced January 20, 2013
Assumed office January 20, 2013 |
Deputy National Security Advisor
Denis McDonough
of Maryland |
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Announced March 4, 2013
Assumed office July 18, 2013 |
Assistant Administrator for the EPA
Gina McCarthy
of Connecticut

Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Announced May 22, 2014
Assumed office August 5, 2014 |
Housing Secretary
Shaun Donovan
of New York |
United States Trade Representative
Announced May 2, 2013
Assumed office June 21, 2013 |
Former Deputy National Security Advisor
Michael Froman
of Washington D.C.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Announced June 5, 2013
Assumed office August 5, 2013 |
Special Assistant to the President
Samantha Power
of Washington D.C. |
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Announced June 10, 2013
Assumed office August 2, 2013 |
Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
Jason Furman
of Massachusetts

Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Announced January 15, 2014
Assumed office April 7, 2014 |
Former California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing Agency
Maria Contreras-Sweet
of California |

1. ^ King served as Acting Secretary of Education from January 1, 2016 to March 14, 2016.

### Confirmation process

[edit]

#### Confirmation votes

[edit]

For comparison,

See also: Elena Kagan Supreme Court nomination § Full Senate vote, and Sonia Sotomayor Supreme Court nomination § Full Senate vote

¶ Confirmations before June 2009

The below is a list of confirmations that were approved through the Senate from January to May 2009, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote.

State | Senator | Party
| Jan. 21

Hillary
Clinton
State
94–2 | Jan. 26

Timothy
Geithner
Treasury
60–34 | Feb. 2

Eric
Holder
Att'y-Gen.
75–21 | Feb. 24

Hilda
Solis
Labor
80–17 | March 18

Ron
Kirk
Trade
92–5 | April 28

Kathleen
Sebelius
Health
65–31 | May 7

Gil
Kerlikowske
Drug Policy
91-1

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Hawaii | Daniel Akaka | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Tennessee | Lamar Alexander | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Wyoming | John Barrasso | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Montana | Max Baucus | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Indiana | Evan Bayh | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alaska | Mark Begich | D | Yea | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Colorado | Michael Bennet | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Utah | Robert Bennett | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
New Mexico | Jeff Bingaman | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Missouri | Kit Bond | R | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Not voting
California | Barbara Boxer | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Ohio | Sherrod Brown | D | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kansas | Sam Brownback | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kentucky | Jim Bunning | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea
North Carolina | Richard Burr | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Illinois | Roland Burris | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
West Virginia | Robert Byrd | D | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea
Washington | Maria Cantwell | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Maryland | Ben Cardin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Delaware | Tom Carper | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Pennsylvania | Bob Casey | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Georgia | Saxby Chambliss | R | Not voting | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Oklahoma | Tom Coburn | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Mississippi | Thad Cochran | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Maine | Susan Collins | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
North Dakota | Kent Conrad | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Tennessee | Bob Corker | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Texas | John Cornyn | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Idaho | Mike Crapo | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
South Carolina | Jim DeMint | R | Nay | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Connecticut | Chris Dodd | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
North Dakota | Byron Dorgan | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Illinois | Dick Durbin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Yea
Nevada | John Ensign | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Wyoming | Mike Enzi | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Wisconsin | Russ Feingold | D | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
California | Dianne Feinstein | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Minnesota | Al Franken | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | —
New York | Kirsten Gillibrand | D | — | — | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Iowa | Chuck Grassley | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
New Hampshire | Judd Gregg | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
North Carolina | Kay Hagan | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Iowa | Tom Harkin | D | Yea | Nay | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Yea | Yea
Utah | Orrin Hatch | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Texas | Kay Bailey Hutchison | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Oklahoma | Jim Inhofe | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Hawaii | Daniel Inouye | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Georgia | Johnny Isakson | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea
Nebraska | Mike Johanns | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
South Dakota | Tim Johnson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not voting
Delaware | Ted Kaufman | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Massachusetts | Ted Kennedy | D | Not voting | Not voting | Not voting | Not voting | Not voting | Not voting | Not voting
Massachusetts | John Kerry | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Wisconsin | Herb Kohl | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Arizona | Jon Kyl | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Louisiana | Mary Landrieu | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
New Jersey | Frank Lautenberg | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not voting
Vermont | Patrick Leahy | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Michigan | Carl Levin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Connecticut | Joe Lieberman | Ind. D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Arkansas | Blanche Lincoln | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Indiana | Richard Lugar | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Florida | Mel Martinez | R | Yea | Nay | Not voting | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Arizona | John McCain | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Missouri | Claire McCaskill | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kentucky | Mitch McConnell | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
New Jersey | Bob Menendez | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not voting
Oregon | Jeff Merkley | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Maryland | Barbara Mikulski | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alaska | Lisa Murkowski | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea
Washington | Patty Murray | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Florida | Bill Nelson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Nebraska | Ben Nelson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Arkansas | Mark Pryor | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Rhode Island | Jack Reed | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Nevada | Harry Reid | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Idaho | Jim Risch | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Kansas | Pat Roberts | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
West Virginia | Jay Rockefeller | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not voting | Not voting
Vermont | Bernie Sanders | Ind. | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea
New York | Chuck Schumer | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alabama | Jeff Sessions | R | Yea | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea | Not voting | Yea
New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alabama | Richard Shelby | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Maine | Olympia Snowe | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Pennsylvania | Arlen Specter | R→D | Yea | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Montana | Jon Tester | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
South Dakota | John Thune | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Colorado | Mark Udall | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
New Mexico | Tom Udall | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Louisiana | David Vitter | R | Nay | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Not voting
Ohio | George Voinovich | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Virginia | Mark Warner | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Virginia | Jim Webb | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Rhode Island | Sheldon Whitehouse | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Mississippi | Roger Wicker | R | Yea | Nay | Nay | Nay | Yea | Nay | Yea
Oregon | Ron Wyden | D | Yea | Not voting | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
| vote by party | D

Ind.
—  | 54–0
38–2
2–0
Clinton | 49–3
10–30
1–1
Geithner | 54–0
19–21
2–0
Holder | 54–0
24–17
2–0
Solis | 53–1
38–3
1–1
Kirk | 54–0
9–31
2–0
Sebelius | 52–0
37–1
2–0
Kerlikowske
Notes and Key : All dates are in 2009. For later votes, see the table below.
* Att'y-Gen. = Attorney-General of the United States;
* Trade = U.S. Trade Representative;
* Health = Secretary of Health and Human Services;
* Drug Policy = Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy — before confirmation, this post was removed from Cabinet-level status;
D = Democratic; R = Republican; Ind. = independent; Ind. D = independent Democratic;
R→D = moved from Republican to Democratic caucus on April 29–30, 2009;
— = seat vacant at the time of this vote.
Sources: United States Senate; The Washington Post

¶ Confirmations after June 2009 (August 6, 2009 - December 8, 2011)
State | Senator | Party
| Jan. 28,
2010

Ben S.
Bernanke
Chairman
of Fed
70–30  | June 30,
2011

David
Petraeus
CIA
(6 NV)
94–0  | Oct. 20,
2011

John E.
Bryson
Sec. of
Commerce
74–26  | Dec. 8,
2011

Richard
Cordray
CFPB
(failed)
53–45

|
|
|
|
|
|

Hawaii | Daniel Akaka | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Tennessee | Lamar Alexander | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
New Hampshire | Kelly Ayotte | R | — | Yea | Yea | Nay
Wyoming | John Barrasso | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
Montana | Max Baucus | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Indiana | Evan Bayh | D | Yea | — | — | —
Alaska | Mark Begich | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
Colorado | Michael Bennet | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Utah | Robert Bennett | R | Yea | — | — | —
New Mexico | Jeff Bingaman | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Connecticut | Richard Blumenthal | D | — | Yea | Yea | Yea
Missouri | Roy Blunt | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
Missouri | Kit Bond | R | Yea | — | — | —
Arkansas | John Boozman | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
California | Barbara Boxer | D | Nay | Not Voting | Yea | Yea
Massachusetts | Scott Brown | R | — | Yea | Yea | Yea
Ohio | Sherrod Brown | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kansas | Sam Brownback | R | Nay | — | — | —
Kentucky | Jim Bunning | R | Nay | — | — | —
North Carolina | Richard Burr | R | Yea | Not Voting | Nay | Nay
Illinois | Roland Burris | D | Yea | — | — | —
West Virginia | Robert Byrd | D | Yea | — | — | —
Washington | Maria Cantwell | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
Maryland | Ben Cardin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Delaware | Tom Carper | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Pennsylvania | Bob Casey | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Georgia | Saxby Chambliss | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Indiana | Dan Coats | R | — | Yea | Yea | Nay
Oklahoma | Tom Coburn | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
Mississippi | Thad Cochran | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Maine | Susan Collins | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
North Dakota | Kent Conrad | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Delaware | Chris Coons | D | — | Yea | Yea | Yea
Tennessee | Bob Corker | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Texas | John Cornyn | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Idaho | Mike Crapo | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
South Carolina | Jim DeMint | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Connecticut | Chris Dodd | D | Yea | — | — | —
North Dakota | Byron Dorgan | D | Nay | — | — | —
Illinois | Dick Durbin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Nevada | John Ensign | R | Nay | — | — | —
Wyoming | Mike Enzi | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
Wisconsin | Russ Feingold | D | Nay | — | — | —
California | Dianne Feinstein | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Minnesota | Al Franken | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
New York | Kirsten Gillibrand | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
West Virginia | Carte Goodwin | D | — | — | — | —
South Carolina | Lindsey Graham | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Iowa | Chuck Grassley | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
New Hampshire | Judd Gregg | R | Yea | — | — | —
North Carolina | Kay Hagan | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Iowa | Tom Harkin | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
Utah | Orrin Hatch | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
Nevada | Dean Heller | R | —  | Yea | Nay | Nay
North Dakota | John Hoeven | R | —  | Yea | Nay | Nay
Texas | Kay Bailey Hutchison | R | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay
Oklahoma | Jim Inhofe | R | Nay | Not Voting | Nay | Nay
Hawaii | Daniel Inouye | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Georgia | Johnny Isakson | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Nebraska | Mike Johanns | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
South Dakota | Tim Johnson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Wisconsin | Ron Johnson | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
Delaware | Ted Kaufman | D | Nay | — | — | —
Massachusetts | Ted Kennedy | D | — | — | — | —
Massachusetts | John Kerry | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Not Voting
Massachusetts | Paul Kirk | D | Yea | — | — | —
Illinois | Mark Kirk | R | — | Yea | Yea | Nay
Minnesota | Amy Klobuchar | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Wisconsin | Herb Kohl | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Arizona | Jon Kyl | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
Louisiana | Mary Landrieu | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
New Jersey | Frank Lautenberg | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Vermont | Patrick Leahy | D | Yea | Not Voting | Yea | Yea
Utah | Mike Lee | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
Florida | George LeMieux | R | Nay | — | — | —
Michigan | Carl Levin | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Connecticut | Joe Lieberman | Ind. D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Arkansas | Blanche Lincoln | D | Yea | — | — | —
Indiana | Richard Lugar | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Florida | Mel Martinez | R | — | — | — | —
Arizona | John McCain | R | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay
Missouri | Claire McCaskill | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kentucky | Mitch McConnell | R | Yea | Yea | Nay | Nay
New Jersey | Bob Menendez | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Oregon | Jeff Merkley | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
Maryland | Barbara Mikulski | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kansas | Jerry Moran | R | — | Not Voting | Yea | Nay
Alaska | Lisa Murkowski | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Nay
Washington | Patty Murray | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Florida | Bill Nelson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Nebraska | Ben Nelson | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Kentucky | Rand Paul | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
Ohio | Rob Portman | R | — | Yea | Yea | Nay
Arkansas | Mark Pryor | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Rhode Island | Jack Reed | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Nevada | Harry Reid | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Idaho | Jim Risch | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Kansas | Pat Roberts | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
West Virginia | Jay Rockefeller | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Florida | Marco Rubio | R | — | Yea | Nay | Nay
Vermont | Bernie Sanders | Ind. | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
New York | Chuck Schumer | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alabama | Jeff Sessions | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
New Hampshire | Jeanne Shaheen | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Alabama | Richard Shelby | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Maine | Olympia Snowe | R | Yea | Yea | Yea | Present
Pennsylvania | Arlen Specter | D | Nay | — | — | —
Michigan | Debbie Stabenow | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Montana | Jon Tester | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
South Dakota | John Thune | R | Nay | Yea | Yea | Nay
Pennsylvania | Pat Toomey | R | — | Yea | Yea | Nay
Colorado | Mark Udall | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
New Mexico | Tom Udall | D | Yea | Not Voting | Yea | Yea
Louisiana | David Vitter | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Ohio | George Voinovich | R | Yea | — | — | —
Virginia | Mark Warner | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Virginia | Jim Webb | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
Rhode Island | Sheldon Whitehouse | D | Nay | Yea | Yea | Yea
Mississippi | Roger Wicker | R | Nay | Yea | Nay | Nay
Oregon | Ron Wyden | D | Yea | Yea | Yea | Yea
| session &
roll call |  | 111th (2nd)
16 | 112th (1st)
104 | 112th (1st)
176 | 112th (1st)
223
| vote by party | D

Ind.
| 47–11
22–18
1–1
Bernanke | 48–0 (3 NV)
44–0 (3 NV)
2–0
Petraeus | 51–0
21–26
2–0
Bryson | 50–0 (1 NV)
1–45 (1 Pres)
2–0
Cordray
Notes:
(failed) = Roll call was for cloture of debate on Cordray's nomination (ending filibusters), requiring a three-fifths vote;
Chairman of Fed = Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors
CIA = Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; CFPB = Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
D = Democratic; R = Republican; Ind. = independent; Ind. D = independent Democratic;
— = not a Senator during this vote; NV = Not Voting; Pres = Present
Sources:
United States Senate: 2009; 2010; 2011;
The Washington Post: 2009; 2010; 2011

## Elected officials

[edit]

### President

[edit]

Barack Obama defeated United States senator and Republican nominee, John McCain (R-AZ), in the 2008 presidential election, receiving 365 electoral votes compared to McCain's 173 electoral votes in the election. The formal certification of the results took place on January 8, 2009.[2] He assumed office on January 20, 2009.

He was the first African American president of the United States as well as the first multiracial and non-white to hold the highest office.

President of the United States

Portrait  | Name  | Date of birth  | State  | Background  | Reference
| Barack Obama | August 4, 1961 |  Illinois |

* U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–2008)
* Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district
* Democratic presidential candidate (2008)

| [3]

### Vice President

[edit]

Main articles: 2008 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection and Office of the Vice President of the United States

See also: Vice presidency of Joe Biden

Wikinews has related news:

* US candidate Barack Obama announces Joe Biden as his running mate via text message

The vice president is the only cabinet member to be elected to the position who does not require Senate confirmation, and the vice president does not serve at the pleasure of the president. There were dozens of potential running mates for Obama who received media speculation. Obama's eventual pick of Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) was officially announced on August 21, 2008, and confirmed by acclamation via parliamentary procedure amongst delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008.

United States senator Joe Biden (D-DE) was elected Vice President of the United States, receiving 365 electoral votes, compared to the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, who received 173 electoral votes in the election. The formal certification of the results took place on January 8, 2009. He assumed office on January 20, 2009.

Vice President of the United States

Portrait  | Name  | Date of birth  | State  | Background  | Reference
| Joe Biden | November 20, 1942 |  Delaware |

* U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973–2009)
* Chair of the International Narcotics Control Caucus (2007–2009)
* Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (2001[n 1]–2003, 2007–2009)
* Democratic presidential candidate (1988, 2008)
* Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee (1987–1995)
* New Castle County Councilman, 4th district (1971–1973)

| [4]
Vice President-elect Joe Biden with Vice President Dick Cheney at Number One Observatory Circle, November 13, 2008 From left: Vice President Joe Biden, President Obama, Budget Director Peter Orszag and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the Oval Office, January 2009

Since shortly following Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, Obama had been privately telling Biden that he was interested in finding an important place for him in a possible Obama administration.[5] In a June 22, 2008, interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Biden confirmed that, although he was not actively seeking a spot on the ticket, he would accept the vice presidential nomination if offered.[6] In early August, Obama and Biden met in secret to discuss a possible vice-presidential relationship.[5] On August 22, 2008, Barack Obama announced that Biden would be his running mate.[7][8] The New York Times reported that the strategy behind the choice reflected a desire to fill out the ticket with someone who has foreign policy and national security experience—and not to help the ticket win a swing state or to emphasize Obama's "change" message.[9] Other observers pointed out Biden's appeal to middle-class and blue-collar voters, as well as his willingness to aggressively challenge Republican nominee John McCain in a way that Obama seemed uncomfortable doing at times.[10] In accepting Obama's offer, Biden ruled out to him the possibility of running for president again in 2016.[5]

On November 4, 2008, Obama was elected president and Biden vice president of the United States.[11] The Obama-Biden ticket won 365 electoral college votes to McCain-Palin's 173,[12] and had a 53–46 percent edge in the nationwide popular vote.[13] Biden became the 47th Vice President of the United States on January 20, 2009, when he was inaugurated alongside President Barack Obama. He succeeded Dick Cheney. Biden is the first United States Vice President from Delaware[14] and the first Roman Catholic to attain that office.[15] Biden's oath of office was administered by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.[16] As the presidential transition of Barack Obama began, Biden said he was in daily meetings with Obama and that McCain was still his friend.[17] The U.S. Secret Service codename given to Biden is "Celtic", referencing his Irish roots.[18]

Biden chose veteran Democratic lawyer and aide Ron Klain to be his vice-presidential chief of staff,[19] and Time Washington bureau chief Jay Carney to be his director of communications.[20] Biden intended to eliminate some of the explicit roles assumed by the vice presidency of Cheney.[21] But otherwise, Biden said he would not model his vice presidency on any of the ones before him, but instead would seek to provide advice and counsel on every critical decision Obama would make.[22] Biden said he had been closely involved in all the cabinet appointments that were made during the transition.[22] Biden was also named to head the new White House Task Force on Working Families, an initiative aimed at improving the economic well-being of the middle class.[23]

* v
* t
* e

Joe Biden's Office of the Vice President

|  Position|  Appointee

|

Chief of Staff to the Vice President|  Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President|  Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President|  Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison|  Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications|  Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President|  Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President|  Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady|  Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President|  Colin Kahl

|  Position|  Appointee

|

Chief of Staff to the Second Lady|  Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President|  Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President|  Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President|  Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President|  Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President|  Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs|  Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady|  Courtney O’Donnell

## Nominated candidates for Cabinet positions

[edit]

The following cabinet positions are listed in order of their creation (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).

### Secretary of State

[edit]

The Secretary of State designate is reviewed and presented to the full Senate by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

#### Hillary Clinton (2009–2013)

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Hillary Clinton nominated as US Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton assumed the office of Secretary of State on January 21, 2009. In mid-November 2008, President-elect Obama and Clinton discussed the possibility of her serving as U.S. Secretary of State in his administration,[24] along with rumored nominees such as Bill Richardson, John Kerry, Sam Nunn and Chuck Hagel[25] and on November 21, reports indicated that she had accepted the position.[26] Clinton was floated in emails by Obama transition officials as a possible secretary of health and human services.[27] On December 1, President-elect Obama formally announced that Clinton would be his nominee for Secretary of State.[28] Clinton said she was reluctant to leave the Senate, but that the new position represented a "difficult and exciting adventure".[28] The appointment required a Saxbe fix, as Clinton was then a member of the United States Senate.[29] As part of the nomination, Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, agreed to accept a number of conditions and restrictions regarding his ongoing activities and fundraising efforts for the Clinton Presidential Center and Clinton Global Initiative.[30]

Confirmation hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee began on January 13, 2009, a week before the Obama inauguration; two days later, the committee voted 16–1 to approve Clinton.[31] By this time, Clinton's public approval rating had reached 65 percent, the highest point since the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal.[32] On January 21, 2009, Clinton was confirmed in the full Senate by a roll call vote of 94–2.[33] Clinton took the oath of office of Secretary of State and resigned from the Senate the same day.[34]

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry stated that he expected Clinton to face some tough questions, but thought she was going to do a good job at (being Secretary of State).[35] Christopher Hitchens of Vanity Fair called her nomination a ludicrous embarrassment on the edition of November 18, 2008, of Hardball due to the Clintons' overseas connections, her actions during the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary.[36] Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) voted against a unanimous voice approval, citing ethical concerns. He sought not to block the nomination through a filibuster, but to voice his opposition to her policies.[37] Senator David Vitter (R-Louisiana) also voted against Clinton in Committee citing her husband's foreign donations for his non-profit entities.[38]

#### John Kerry (2013–2017)

[edit]

John Kerry

Hillary Clinton had announced she would not stay on in a second Obama term. Obama nominated Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts as his Secretary of State. On January 29, 2013, John Kerry was confirmed by the Senate in a 94–3 vote to be Secretary of State.[39] John Kerry took office on February 1, 2013.

### Secretary of the Treasury

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Obama's choice for Treasury issues warning on China

The Secretary of the Treasury is reviewed by the Senate Finance Committee.

#### Tim Geithner (2009–2013)

[edit]

Tim Geithner

At the end of November 2008, President-elect Obama announced his intention to nominate Timothy Geithner, President of the New York Federal Reserve Bank, to be United States Secretary of the Treasury, replacing Henry Paulson.[40][41] Geithner believed, along with Paulson, that the United States Department of the Treasury needed new authority to experiment with responses to the 2008 financial crisis.[citation needed]

In a written statement, Geithner said that China is manipulating the Renminbi by purposefully keeping its value low in order to make its exported products seem cheaper on the world market.[42] If confirmed, Geither said to the Senate Finance Committee that he would ask the Obama administration to pressure China diplomatically to change this practice,[42] more strongly than the Bush administration did.[43] The United States maintains that China's actions hurt American businesses and contributed to the 2008 financial crisis.[44]

At the Senate confirmation hearings, it was revealed through documentary evidence that Geithner had not paid $35,000 self-employment taxes for several years,[45] even though he had acknowledged his obligation to do so, and had filed a request for, and received, a payment for half the taxes owed. The failure to pay self-employment taxes was noted during a 2006 audit by the Internal Revenue Service, in which Geithner was assessed additional taxes of $14,847 for the 2003 and 2004 tax years.

Geithner failed to pay, or to admit his failure to pay, the self-employment taxes for the 2001 and 2002 tax years until after President-elect Obama expressed his intent to nominate Geithner to be Secretary of Treasury.[46] He also deducted the cost of his children's sleep-away camp as a dependent care expense, when only expenses for day care are eligible for the deduction.[47] Geithner subsequently paid the IRS the additional taxes owed,[48] and was charged interest of $15,000, but was not fined for late payment.[49] In addition, his housekeeper's work authorization lapsed during the last three months she worked for him.[50]

Geithner's employer at the time, the International Monetary Fund, gives its American employees the employer's half of the payroll taxes, expecting that the employees will deposit the money with the Internal Revenue Service.[51] A report from the Senate Finance Committee documented Geithner's errors.[52] While working for IMF, Geithner signed a tax worksheet stating his "obligation of the U.S. Social Security tax, which I will pay on my fund income"[52] and another annual worksheet stating "I wish to apply for tax allowance of U.S. federal and state income taxes and the difference between the 'self-employed' and 'employed' obligation of the U.S. Social Security tax which I will pay on my Fund income."[53]

In a statement to the Senate panel considering his nomination, Geithner called the tax issues "careless", "avoidable", and "unintentional" errors, and he said he wanted to "apologize to the committee for putting you in the position of having to spend so much time on these issues."[48] Geithner testified that he used TurboTax to prepare his own return and that the tax errors are his own responsibility.[54] The Washington Post quoted a tax expert who said that TurboTax has not been programmed to handle self-employment taxes when the user identifies himself as being employed.[55] Geithner said at the hearing that he was always under the impression that he was an employee, not a self-employed contractor,[55] while he served as director of the Policy Development and Review Department of IMF.[56]

Commentator Michelle Malkin posted on her web site, "IRS employment application packets notify potential workers that the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration vets all candidates and current employees 'who have violated or are violating laws, rules, or regulations related to the performance of their duties.' President-elect Obama is standing by a nominee who would oversee the IRS, but might not even qualify for a lesser job at the agency."[57] Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, who also opposes his nomination said, "The IRS did not fine him. Ask small businesses how many of them think they could avoid paying self-employment Social Security and Medicare taxes for seven years and not be fined."[49] "Had he not been nominated for Treasury Secretary it's doubtful that he would have ever paid these taxes," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham supported Geithner's nomination, calling him "very, very competent" and "the right guy" for Secretary of the Treasury.[58]

On January 26, 2009, the U.S. Senate confirmed Geithner's appointment by a vote of 60–34.[59][60] Geithner was sworn in as Treasury Secretary by Vice President Joe Biden and witnessed by President Obama.[61] Geithner left the administration at the end of January 25, 2013.[62][63]

#### Jack Lew (2013–2017)

[edit]

Jack Lew

On January 10, 2013, Jacob Lew, then the President's Chief of Staff was nominated as the replacement for retiring Treasury Secretary Geithner, to serve in President Obama's second term.[64] Lew's nomination was confirmed by the full Senate on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, by a vote of 71 to 26.[65][66] At the White House on the next day (Thursday, February 28), Vice President Joe Biden swore in Lew as the 76th Secretary of the Treasury.[67][68]

### Secretary of Defense

[edit]

The Secretary of Defense designate is reviewed and presented to the full Senate by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

#### Robert Gates (2006–2011)

[edit]

Robert Gates

Robert Gates assumed the office of Secretary of Defense on December 18, 2006, under his predecessor then-President George W. Bush. The retention of Gates fulfilled Obama's pledge made on the campaign trail to have a Republican in his Cabinet.[69]

On December 1, 2008, President-elect Obama announced that Robert Gates would remain in his position as Secretary of Defense during his administration,[70] reportedly for at least the first year of Obama's presidency.[71]

Gates is the fourteenth Cabinet member in history to serve under two Presidents of different parties. One of the first priorities under President Barack Obama's administration for Gates was a review of U.S. policy and strategy in Afghanistan.[72] Gates, sixth in the presidential line of succession, was selected as designated survivor during Obama's inauguration.[73]

#### Leon Panetta (2011–2013)

[edit]

Leon Panetta

On April 18, 2011, Leon Panetta, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, was nominated to replace Gates. On June 21, 2011, the United States Senate confirmed Panetta in a 100–0 vote.[74] He took office on July 1, 2011.

#### Chuck Hagel (2013–2015)

[edit]

Chuck Hagel

Obama nominated former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to succeed Leon Panetta and serve as his second term Secretary of Defense on January 7, 2013.[75] U.S. Senate nomination hearings begin on January 31, 2013.[76] On February 26, 2013, after debate in the full Senate had been closed by a vote of 71 to 27, Hagel's nomination was confirmed 58–41 (1 not voting). All the negative votes on each roll call came from Republican Senators, while 18 Republicans voted for cloture of debate and 4 for final confirmation.[77][78][79] He took office on February 27, 2013.

On November 24, 2014, The New York Times reported that Hagel would be resigning from his position as Secretary of Defense under pressure from the Obama administration.[80] Later that day, President Obama announced Hagel's resignation and thanked him for his service.[81] Hagel said in a statement, "You should know I did not make this decision lightly. But after much discussion, the President and I agreed that now was the right time for new leadership here at the Pentagon."[82][83][84] Hagel stayed on until the confirmation of his successor.

#### Ash Carter (2015–2017)

[edit]

Ash Carter

On December 5, 2014, President Obama nominated former Deputy Secretary of Defense Ash Carter as his fourth Secretary of Defense.[85] On February 12, 2015, the Senate confirmed Carter in a 93–5 vote.[86] He took office on February 17, 2015.

### Attorney General

[edit]

The confirmation of the office of Attorney General is overseen by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

#### Eric Holder (2009–2015)

[edit]

Eric Holder

On December 1, 2008, Obama announced that Eric Holder would be his nominee for Attorney General.[70][87] Holder was formally nominated on January 20, 2009,[88] and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 28.[89] Following his confirmation by the full Senate by a 75–21 vote on February 2, 2009, he became the first African-American Attorney General of the United States.[90][91]

In late 2007, Holder joined then-United States Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign as a senior legal advisor. He served on Obama's vice presidential selection committee.

Holder favors closing the Guantanamo Bay detention camp,[92] although he has said that the detainees are not technically entitled to Geneva convention protections.[93] He is opposed to the Bush administration's implementation of the Patriot Act, saying it is "bad ultimately for law enforcement and will cost us the support of the American people."[94][95] He has been critical of US torture policy and the NSA warrantless surveillance program, accusing the Bush administration of a "disrespect for the rule of law... [that is] not only wrong, it is destructive in our struggle against terrorism."[96]

During his confirmation hearings in the Senate, Holder agreed with Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, that a technique used by U.S. interrogators under the Bush administration known as waterboarding is torture.[97]

On September 25, 2014, Holder announced that he would resign his post upon confirmation of a successor.[98]

#### Loretta Lynch (2015–2017)

[edit]

Loretta Lynch

On November 8, 2014, President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch to succeed Eric Holder as the next Attorney General of the United States.[99] After a contentious nomination process, the Senate confirmed Lynch on April 23, 2015, in a 56–43 vote.[100]

### Secretary of the Interior

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of the Interior is presented to the full senate by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

#### Ken Salazar (2009–2013)

[edit]

Ken Salazar

Ken Salazar assumed the office of Secretary of the Interior on January 21, 2009, after a unanimous voice vote on the floor of the full Senate. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter appointed Denver Superintendent of Schools Michael Bennet to replace Salazar and to finish his term in the Senate, which expired in January 2011. Bennet was elected to a full term in 2010.

Salazar was nominated as Secretary of the Interior on December 19, 2008.[101] His appointment required a Saxbe fix by Congress.[102] On January 7, 2009, Congress approved a bill, S.J.Res. 3; President Bush signed it into law, providing such a fix by reducing the Secretary of Interior's salary to the level it was prior to the time Salazar took office in January 2009.

The Senate confirmed Salazar's nomination by voice vote on January 20, 2009, shortly after the swearing in of President Obama.[103] As Secretary of the Interior, Salazar is in charge of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Geological Survey, and other federal agencies overseen by the Interior Department.

Salazar was one of two Hispanics in the Cabinet, along with Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis of California. (There were three, but on January 4, 2009, Democratic New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name from the appointment of Secretary of Commerce). Salazar is the second Hispanic Interior Secretary after Manuel Lujan Jr., who held the post from 1989 to 1993 under President George H. W. Bush.

Several prominent environmentalist groups are wary of Salazar, noting his strong ties with the coal and mining industries. Kieran Suckling, executive director of Center for Biological Diversity, which tracks endangered species and habitat issues states "He [Ken Salazar] is a right-of-center Democrat who often favors industry and big agriculture in battles over global warming, fuel efficiency and endangered species."[104]

The nomination was praised, however, by Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters. Upon the nomination, Karpinski said, "Throughout his career, Senator Salazar has campaigned on a pledge of support for 'our land, our water, our people.' With a perfect 100% score on the 2008 LCV Scorecard, he has lived up to that pledge. As a westerner, Senator Salazar has hands on experience with land and water issues, and will restore the Department of the Interior's role as the steward of America's public resources. We look forward to working with him to protect the health of America's land, water, and people in the coming years."[105]

Although Senate Republicans were expected to raise questions concerning Salazar's stances on oil shale development and drilling in environmentally sensitive areas,[106] Salazar was one of several Obama Cabinet appointees confirmed in the Senate by voice vote on January 20, 2009, shortly after Obama's inauguration. Salazar became the 50th Secretary of the Interior succeeding Dirk Kempthorne, who praised Salazar's appointment.[107]

On January 23, 2009, Salazar has stated that he is considering reopening the Statue of Liberty's crown to tourists. The crown has been closed to the public since the September 11 attacks. "I hope we can find a way," Salazar said in a statement. "It would proclaim to the world—both figuratively and literally—that the path to the light of liberty is open to all."[108]

#### Sally Jewell (2013–2017)

[edit]

Sally Jewell

On January 16, 2013, it was reported that Salazar would be leaving his post as Secretary of the Interior in March 2013.[109][110][111] On February 6, 2013, President Obama nominated the CEO of REI, Sally Jewell, as Secretary of the Interior.[112] The Senate confirmed Jewell's nomination by an 87–11 vote on April 10, 2013.[113]

### Secretary of Agriculture

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Agriculture is brought to the full Senate by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Tom Vilsack assumed the office of Secretary of Agriculture on January 21, 2009, after a unanimous voice vote of the whole Senate.

#### Tom Vilsack (2009–2017)

[edit]

Tom Vilsack

On December 17, 2008, then-President-elect Barack Obama announced his choice of Vilsack as the nominee to be the next Secretary of Agriculture.[114] Vilsack has governed a farm state (Iowa) as did the previous two Secretaries of Agriculture, Senator Mike Johanns (2005–2007) and Ed Schafer (2007–2009). Reaction to Vilsack's nomination from agricultural groups was largely positive and included endorsements from the Corn Refiners Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the National Farmers Union, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the Environmental Defense Fund.[115] Opposition to the nomination came those who believed Vilsack has a preference for large industrial farms and genetically modified crops;[116] as Iowa state governor, he originated the seed pre-emption bill in 2005, effectively blocking local communities from regulating where genetically engineered crops would be grown; additionally, Vilsack was the founder and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership, and was named Governor of the Year by the Biotechnology Industry Organization, an industry lobbying group.[117] The Senate confirmed Vilsack's nomination for the position by unanimous consent on January 20, 2009.[118]

### Secretary of Commerce

[edit]

Wikinews has related news:

* Judd Gregg withdraws as US Commerce Secretary nominee

The nomination of the Secretary of Commerce is brought to the full Senate by the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.

#### Failed nomination of Bill Richardson (2009)

[edit]

See also: Unsuccessful nominations to the Cabinet of the United States

Bill Richardson was nominated for the position of Secretary of Commerce on December 3, 2008.[119] Nevertheless, due to federal investigation into some of his political donors, he withdrew himself from the nomination on January 4, 2009.[119]

#### Failed nomination of Judd Gregg (2009)

[edit]

On February 3, 2009, President Obama nominated New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg, a Republican. The nomination initially drew criticism, as it would likely give the Democrats in the Senate a super-majority, assuming Al Franken would be seated from Minnesota (as he eventually was) and the two independents regularly voted with the Democrats.[120] Republican Senator Gregg would have been replaced by someone chosen by the state's Governor John Lynch, a Democrat.

Initially, Senator Mitch McConnell announced that he would prevent an attempt to achieve a super majority by the President. After talks, President Obama as well as Senator Gregg assured that it would not be used as an attempt to change the makeup of the Senate.[121]

On February 12, Senator Gregg announced that he had withdrawn from nomination, citing his fundamental disagreement with the Obama administration on "issues such as the stimulus package and the Census."[122]

#### Gary Locke (2009–2011)

[edit]

Gary Locke

Former Washington Governor Gary Locke was designated as the third Commerce nominee, multiple media outlets reported on February 23, 2009. An official announcement was made at a press conference with Locke and President Obama.[123] After confirmation by a voice vote on March 24,[124] Locke became the first Chinese American Secretary of Commerce, and the third Asian American in Obama's cabinet, joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the most of any administration in United States history.

#### John Bryson (2011–2012)

[edit]

John Bryson

In May 2011, Obama appointed Locke as the new U.S. ambassador to China and nominated John Bryson as the next Secretary of Commerce.[125] Citing Bryson's environmental views, U.S. Sen. James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) put a hold on his nomination in July.[126] The Senate confirmed Bryson as Secretary of Commerce by a 74–26 vote on October 20, 2011.[74] He was sworn in on October 21, 2011. Bryson took a leave of absence in June 2012 for medical tests due to seizures that were related to a hit and run. On June 21, 2012, Bryson resigned because, "the work that [Commerce employees] do to help America's entrepreneurs and businesses build our economy and create jobs is more important now than ever and I have come to the conclusion that I need to step down to prevent distractions from this critical mission."[127] Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank served as Acting Secretary of Commerce without Senate confirmation following Bryson's resignation in June 2012 until Penny Pritzker's confirmation in June 2013.

#### Penny Pritzker (2013–2017)

[edit]

Penny Pritzker

On May 2, 2013, President Obama announced the nomination of hotel magnate Penny Pritzker as Secretary of Commerce.[128] On June 10, 2013, the Commerce, Science and Technology Committee unanimously approved Pritzker's nomination.[129] On June 25, 2013, Pritzker was confirmed by the full Senate by a vote of 97 to 1.[130]

### Secretary of Labor

[edit]

The Secretary of Labor is confirmed through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

#### Hilda Solis (2009–2013)

[edit]

Hilda Solis

Hilda Solis assumed office as Secretary of Labor on February 24, 2009, when she was confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 80–17, although her confirmation hearings had been stalled due to Republican concerns over her support of the Employee Free Choice Act and her desire to reverse the Bush administration's policies to the H-2A Guest Worker Act[131] and tax problems with her husband.[132] On February 11, 2009, Solis's nomination passed the committee phase.[133]

On December 18, 2008, sources close to the Obama transition team identified Solis as the President-elect's choice for U.S. Secretary of Labor, the last cabinet position yet to be filled.[134][135]

The selection earned praise from the AFL–CIO and other labor organizations, but it brought dismay from business and anti-labor groups.[135][136] The official announcement was made by Obama on December 19.[137] Her appointment required a Saxbe fix.[138] Due to her confirmation, Solis's successor, Judy Chu was chosen in a special election in California's 32nd congressional district; she declined to endorse any particular replacement candidate.[139]

Solis's confirmation hearings were held on January 9, 2009, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.[140] Committee chair Ted Kennedy repeatedly praised her, while despite some prodding from Republican members, Solis declined to discuss specific policy issues including the Employee Free Choice Act.[140] Several days later, Senate Republicans said they might try to put a procedural hold on her nomination, out of frustration with her unwillingness to answer questions during the hearings.[141]

Committee Republican Mike Enzi also pressed her on whether her unpaid but high-level positions at American Rights at Work constituted a prohibited lobbying activity; she said she had done no lobbying and was in violation of no rules of conduct.[142] Solis did acknowledge that she had failed to report those positions on her annual House financial disclosure forms at the time, which the White House said was an unintentional oversight.[142] After more time passed with no motion on her nomination, Obama appointed veteran Labor Department official Edward C. Hugler as Acting Secretary.[143]

The prolonged process was seen as foreshadowing continued battles between the Obama administration and Republicans over labor issues.[143] Solis's confirmation process was then set to for a committee vote on February 5, but was postponed again after news that Solis' husband Sam Sayyad had just paid $6,400 in outstanding state and local tax liens for his auto repair business going back to 1993.[132][144] Sayyad was sole proprietor of the business, filed a separate tax return from Solis, and intended to contest the lien as they were for business taxes he thought he had already paid.[132][145][146]

The White House said Solis should not be penalized for any mistakes that her husband may have made.[132] The revelations came in the wake of several other Obama nominations troubled or derailed due to tax issues.[132] Committee Republicans subsequently indicated they would not hold Solis to blame for the taxes situation, but were still concerned about her ties to American Rights at Work.[145] On February 11, 2009, the committee finally supported her nomination by voice vote with two dissensions.[147]

#### Thomas Perez (2013–2017)

[edit]

Tom Perez

On January 9, 2013, Hilda Solis announced she would not stay on for Obama's second term and that she was resigning.[148] On March 18, 2013, President Obama nominated assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez for labor secretary.[149]

Republicans opposed the nomination because they saw him as a "committed ideologue". On May 16, 2013, Perez's nomination was endorsed by the committee along party lines. The vote sent the nomination to the Senate floor.[150][151]

On July 18, 2013, Perez was confirmed as labor secretary after senators reached a deal to avert changing the chamber's rules with his nomination getting 60 votes to break the filibuster. The Senate ultimately confirmed Perez on a party-line vote, 54–46.[152]

### Secretary of Health and Human Services

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Health and Human Services is brought to the full Senate by the Senate Finance Committee, though the nominee also historically meets with the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

#### Failed nomination of Tom Daschle (2009)

[edit]

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle was President Obama's first nominee for the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Daschle was paid $220,000 in speaking fees to Healthcare providers, and was paid $16 million as an advisor to Healthcare lobbying groups in the time between his departure from the US Senate and his nomination.[153] Daschle pulled his name from nomination on February 3, 2009.[154]

#### Kathleen Sebelius (2009–2014)

[edit]

Kathleen Sebelius

On March 2, 2009, President Barack Obama introduced Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as his choice to fill the office of Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sebelius was confirmed by the United States Senate on April 28, 2009, on a vote of 65–31[155] amid the swine flu health crisis.

In April 2013, after the rocky start of HealthCare.gov, the website set up to enroll Americans in insurance exchanges, Sebelius decided to resign as Secretary as according to Sebelius the March 31, 2014, deadline for sign-ups under the health care law provided an opportunity for change so that Obama would be best served by someone who was not the target of so much political ire.[156]

#### Sylvia Mathews Burwell (2014–2017)

[edit]

Sylvia Mathews Burwell

After the resignation of Sebelius was announced, it was revealed that on April 11, 2014, President Obama would nominate Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, to become Secretary of HHS.[156] On June 5, 2014, Burwell was confirmed by the Senate in a 78–17 vote.[157]

### Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is brought to the full Senate by the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

#### Shaun Donovan (2009–2014)

[edit]

Shaun Donovan

Shaun Donovan was confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by the U.S. Senate on January 27, 2009, by unanimous consent.[158]

In May 2014, the resignation of Secretary Sebelius at HHS, caused a game of musical chairs, with OMB director Burwell being nominated to succeed Sebelius, which in turn on May 23, 2014, lead to the nomination of HUD Secretary Donovan to become the new director of the OMB.[159]

#### Julian Castro (2014–2017)

[edit]

Julián Castro

After President Obama decided to nominate Secretary Donovan as the new Director of the OMB, on May 23, 2014, Obama nominated the mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro, to become the new Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[159] On July 9, 2014, the Senate voted to confirm Castro by a 71–26 vote, with 18 Republicans voting in favor of the nomination.[160]

### Secretary of Transportation

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Transportation is brought to the full Senate by the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

#### Ray LaHood (2009–2013)

[edit]

Ray LaHood

On December 19, 2008, then-President-elect Barack Obama announced that he would nominate former Republican Representative Ray LaHood to be the next Transportation Secretary. He was confirmed by a voice vote on January 23, 2009.[161]

President Obama said of LaHood "Few understand our infrastructure challenge better than the outstanding public servant that I'm asking to lead the Department of Transportation."[162]

LaHood's nomination was viewed with alarm among those concerned with climate change and suburban sprawl.[163][164][165] His resume on transportation matters is seen as thin by many critics. He did not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the time his selection was announced, although he had in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding.[166]

While picking LaHood drew praise for its bipartisan symbolism there was also a sense that LaHood's lack of expertise would diminish the department's role in 2009 major policy debates and leave him as more of a ceremonial figure. James Oberstar, the Democratic Congressman who chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was expected to hold more influence and will likely play a stronger leading role. Oberstar praised LaHood's "temperament" and "managerial talent," but when asked to cite an issue LaHood championed during his time on the Transportation Committee in the 1990s, Oberstar seemingly drew a blank. "I can't point to any specific legislation that he authored," he said. "He was a team player all the way through." Oberstar said LaHood would play a supporting role on tough policy calls.[167]

On January 29, 2013, LaHood announced that he would not stay on for Obama's second term and that he would resign upon the confirmation of his successor.[168]

#### Anthony Foxx (2013–2017)

[edit]

Anthony Foxx

Anthony Foxx, Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina was nominated by President Barack Obama on April 29, 2013, to succeed Ray LaHood.[169] On June 10, 2013, the Commerce, Science and Technology Committee unanimously approved Foxx's nomination.[129] On June 27, 2013, Foxx was unanimously (100–0) confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[170] Foxx was sworn in on July 2, as the 17th Secretary of Transportation.[171]

### Secretary of Energy

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Energy is brought to the full US Senate by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

#### Steven Chu (2009–2013)

[edit]

Steven Chu

Nobel Prize–winning scientist Steven Chu was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 20, 2009.[172] On January 21, 2009, Chu was sworn in as Secretary of Energy in the Barack Obama administration. Chu is the first person appointed to the Cabinet after having won a Nobel Prize. He is also the second Chinese American to be a member of the Cabinet after Elaine Chao.[173]

#### Ernest Moniz (2013–2017)

[edit]

Ernest Moniz

On February 1, 2013, Secretary Chu announced his resignation pending the confirmation of a successor.[174]

On March 4, 2013, President Obama announced he was nominating Ernest Moniz as Secretary of Energy for his second term.[175] On April 18, 2013, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 21–1 to approve the nomination of Moniz.[176] On May 16, 2013, Moniz was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.[177]

### Secretary of Education

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Education is brought to the full Senate through the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Arne Duncan was confirmed as Secretary of Education on January 21, 2009, by a voice vote.[178]

#### Arne Duncan (2009–2016)

[edit]

Arne Duncan

President Obama nominated Arne Duncan on December 16, 2008, to be his Secretary of Education. In a prepared statement Obama praised Duncan's skills stating "For Arne, school reform isn't just a theory in a book – it's the cause of his life. And the results aren't just about test scores or statistics, but about whether our children are developing the skills they need to compete with any worker in the world for any job." [179]

Duncan received broad bipartisan support during his confirmation hearing in front of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on January 13, 2009. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) said of Duncan, "there is no question that schools across America can benefit from the same kind of fresh thinking that (he) brought to Chicago public schools."[180]

On October 2, 2015, Duncan announced he would be stepping down as Secretary at the close of 2015.[181]

#### John King Jr. (2016–2017)

[edit]

John King Jr.

Upon the announcement of Duncan's stepping down, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Deputy Secretary of Education John King Jr. as the new Secretary of Education.[182] On March 14, 2016, King was approved to be Secretary of Education by the United States Senate after a 49–40 vote.[183]

### Secretary of Veterans Affairs

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is brought to the full Senate by the United States Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

#### Eric Shinseki (2009–2014)

[edit]

Eric Shinseki

Eric Shinseki was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a voice vote and assumed the office of Secretary of Veterans Affairs on January 20, 2009.[178] On May 30, 2014, President Obama announced that he had accepted Shinseki's resignation as secretary.[184][185]

#### Robert McDonald (2014–2017)

[edit]

Bob McDonald

On June 29, 2014, it was reported that U.S. President Barack Obama would nominate former Procter & Gamble executive Bob McDonald to succeed General Eric Shinseki as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[186] On July 23, 2014, the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs backed McDonald 14–0, sending his nomination to the Senate floor.[187] On July 29, 2014, the Senate confirmed McDonald in a 97–0 vote.[188]

### Secretary of Homeland Security

[edit]

The nomination of the Secretary of Homeland Security is brought to the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

#### Janet Napolitano (2009–2013)

[edit]

Janet Napolitano

Janet Napolitano was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a voice vote and assumed the office of Secretary of Homeland Security on January 21, 2009.[178]

On November 5, 2008, Napolitano was named to the advisory board of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.[189] On December 1, 2008, Barack Obama introduced Napolitano as his nominee to head the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).[70][190] On January 20, 2009, Napolitano was confirmed, becoming the first woman appointed Secretary in the relatively new department. Secretary of State Jan Brewer became the governor of Arizona, as the state does not have a lieutenant governor.

On July 12, 2013, Napolitano announced she was resigning to take a position as President of the University of California.[191] Her resignation as Secretary of Homeland Security took effect on September 6, 2013, and Rand Beers served as Acting Secretary from that date until Jeh Johnson's confirmation as Secretary in December. Beers had been then-Acting Deputy Secretary and he retained his Senate-confirmation in the position immediately below, as Under Secretary of Homeland Security for National Protection and Programs; Beers left DHS on March 6, 2014, to join the White House staff.

#### Jeh Johnson (2013–2017)

[edit]

Jeh Johnson

On October 17, 2013, President Obama announced his intention to nominate former Pentagon official Jeh Johnson as Secretary of Homeland Security.[192] On December 16, 2013, Johnson was confirmed by the Senate in a 78–16 vote.[193]

## Nominated candidates for Cabinet-level positions

[edit]

President Obama has included members of his cabinet that are not traditionally considered members of the Cabinet.

### Chief of Staff

[edit]

See also: 2009 Illinois's 5th congressional district special election

Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel in the Oval Office

On November 6, 2008, Rahm Emanuel accepted the Cabinet-level position of White House Chief of Staff under Barack Obama. He resigned his congressional seat effective January 2, 2009.[194] A special primary to fill his vacated congressional seat was held on March 3, 2009, and the special general election was held on April 7, 2009.[195][196] Chicago newspapers reported that one candidate for that seat said at a forum that Emanuel had told him he may be interested in running for the seat again in the future.[197]

Some Republican leaders criticized Rahm Emanuel's appointment because they believed it went against Obama's promises to make politics less divisive, given Emanuel's reputation as a partisan Democrat. Republican Lindsey Graham disagreed, saying: "This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama. He's tough but fair – honest, direct and candid."[198]

Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, said that the choice indicates that Obama will not listen to the wrong people regarding the U.S.–Israel relationship. Some commentators opined that Emanuel would be good for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process because if Israeli leaders make excuses for not dismantling settlements, Emanuel will be tough and pressure the Israelis to comply.[199]

Some Palestinians and Arabs expressed dismay at Obama's appointment of Emanuel.[200] Ali Abunimah of the Electronic Intifada said that Obama's appointment of Emanuel sent the signal he would not be taking "more balanced, more objective, more realistic advice that could change the course from the disastrous Palestine-Israel policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations."[201] Emanuel said that Obama did not need his influence to "orientate his policy toward Israel".[202]

Emanuel left office on October 1, 2010, to be replaced on an interim basis by Pete Rouse, and was elected Mayor of Chicago the following February. William M. Daley became White House Chief of Staff on January 13, 2011, when interim Chief Pete Rouse was made legal Counselor to the President. A year later, on January 9, 2012, Daley announced his intention to retire in favor of Jack Lew (Budget Director since November 2010). Lew took office on January 27, 2012, but he, too, left the job a year later (on January 25, 2013) when he was nominated to be Secretary of the Treasury (see above).

From January 25, 2013, until January 20, 2017, the Chief of Staff was Denis McDonough, formerly the Deputy National Security Advisor.

### Director of the Office of the Budget

[edit]

#### Peter Orszag (2009–2010)

[edit]

On November 25, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced that Peter R. Orszag would be his nominee for director of the Office of Management and Budget, the arm of the White House responsible for crafting the federal budget and overseeing the effectiveness of federal programs.[203][204] At 40, he was the youngest member of the Obama Cabinet, as the president upgraded the Director of OMB to cabinet-level priority.

#### Jack Lew (2010–2012)

[edit]

Orszag resigned, effective from July 30, 2010. On July 13, 2010, the White House announced that Jack Lew had been chosen to replace Orszag as Director of OMB, subject to Senate confirmation.[205] During confirmation hearings in the Senate, in response to questioning by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lew said that he did not believe deregulation was a "proximate cause" of the 2008 financial crisis: Lew told the panel that "the problems in the financial industry preceded deregulation," and after discussing those issues, added that he didn't "personally know the extent to which deregulation drove it, but I don't believe that deregulation was the proximate cause."[206][207] On November 18, 2010, Lew was confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent. Jack Lew served from November 18, 2010 – January 27, 2012, when he resigned to become Obama's White House Chief of Staff. Following Lew's resignation, Jeffrey Zients served as Acting OMB Director until Sylvia Mathews Burwell's confirmation 15 months later.

#### Sylvia Mathews Burwell (2013–2014)

[edit]

On March 3, 2013, it was announced that President Obama nominated Sylvia Mathews Burwell to head the OMB.[208] On April 24, 2013, the U.S. Senate confirmed Burwell 96–0.[209]

#### Shaun Donovan (2014–2017)

[edit]

In May 2014, the resignation of Secretary Sebelius at HHS, caused a game of musical chairs, with OMB director Burwell being nominated to succeed Sebelius, which in turn on May 23, 2014, lead to the nomination of HUD Secretary Donovan to become the new director of the OMB.[159] On July 10, 2014, Donovan was confirmed as Director of the OMB in a 75–22 vote.[210]

### Ambassador to the United Nations

[edit]

#### Susan Rice (2009–2013)

[edit]

On November 5, 2008, Susan Rice was named to the advisory board of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.[211] On December 1, 2008, she was nominated by President-elect Obama to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,[70][87] a position which he also upgraded to cabinet level.[212] Rice is the second youngest[212] and the first African American woman US Representative to the UN.[213] Dr. Rice announced that she would have both a transition team in place in New York and in Washington, DC at the State Department to be headed by Hillary Clinton. Rice was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on January 22, 2009.

#### Samantha Power (2013–2017)

[edit]

On June 5, 2013, President Obama announced that he would appoint Susan Rice as National Security Advisor in succession to Tom Donilon. Rice in turn would be replaced as Ambassador to the United Nations by Samantha Power.[214] On July 23, 2013, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Power's nomination.[215] On August 1, 2013, the Senate confirmed Power in an 87–10 vote.[216]

### Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

[edit]

#### Lisa P. Jackson (2009–2013)

[edit]

On December 15, 2008, President-Elect Barack Obama officially designated Lisa P. Jackson as the nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[217] She was confirmed through unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on January 23, 2009.[218] Jackson is the first African American to serve as EPA Administrator, along with being the fourth woman and second New Jerseyan to hold the position.[219]

#### Gina McCarthy (2013–2017)

[edit]

Lisa Jackson decided not to stay for Obama's second term. On March 4, 2013, President Obama announced he was nominating Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator for his second term.[175]

On May 9, 2013, all eight Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee boycotted the panel in order to deny a vote on Gina McCarthy's nomination to head the EPA.[220] On May 16, 2013, McCarthy's nomination was endorsed by the committee along party lines. The vote sends McCarthy's nomination to the Senate floor. However, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) placed a hold on her nomination which had to be withdrawn before a floor vote occurred.[221]

On July 18, 2013, McCarthy was confirmed as EPA administrator after senators reached a deal to avert changing the chamber's rules and which saw the Senate vote to move forward with a vote on McCarthy, with her nomination getting 69 votes to break the filibuster. The Senate ultimately confirmed McCarthy on a 59–40 vote.[222]

### Trade Representative

[edit]

#### Ron Kirk (2009–2013)

[edit]

Although there was speculation that Ron Kirk would be appointed Secretary of Transportation by President Obama, he was given the position of Trade Representative.[223] As a supporter of the North American Free Trade Agreement, his selection has drawn concern from advocates of fair trade policies.[224]

On January 22, 2013, Kirk announced that he would be stepping down as U.S. Trade Rep.[225][226] His resignation became effective March 15, 2013.

#### Michael Froman (2013–2017)

[edit]

On May 2, 2013, President Obama announced the nomination of deputy national security adviser for international economics Michael Froman as Trade Representative.[128] On June 11, 2013, the Senate Finance Committee approved Froman's nomination.[227] On June 19, 2013, Froman was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 93 to 4 vote.[228]

### Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

[edit]

#### Christina Romer (2009–2010)

[edit]

On November 24, 2008, President Barack Obama designated Christina Romer as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers upon the start of his administration.[229][230]

After her nomination and before the Obama administration took office, Romer was tasked with co-authoring the administration's plan to recover from the 2008 recession. With economist Jared Bernstein, Romer co-authored Obama's plan for economic recovery.[231]

In a video presentation,[232] she discussed details of the job-creation package that the Obama administration submitted to Congress.

#### Austan Goolsbee (2010–2011)

[edit]

Romer resigned in September 2010 to return to positions in academia.[233]

Austan Goolsbee was designated chair of the Council on September 10, 2010, succeeding Christina Romer.[234]

On June 6, 2011, Goolsbee announced that he would return to the University of Chicago, claiming that the economy was "a million miles from where it started".[235] He was expected to play an informal role from Chicago in Obama's 2012 campaign. Goolsbee's resignation became effective August 5, 2011.[236]

#### Alan Krueger (2011–2013)

[edit]

On August 29, 2011, Alan Krueger was nominated by Obama to be chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers,[237][238] and on November 3, 2011, the Senate unanimously confirmed his nomination.[239]

#### Jason Furman (2013–2017)

[edit]

As Krueger had to return to Princeton University in the fall of 2013 or face the prospect of losing tenure, he chose to resign as chair. [240] On June 10, 2013, Jason Furman was named by President Barack Obama as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA).[241] On August 1, 2013, the Senate confirmed Furman.[242]

### Administrator of the Small Business Administration

[edit]

#### Karen Mills (2009–2013)

[edit]

Karen Mills was nominated by President-elect Barack Obama on December 19, 2008, confirmed unanimously by the Senate on April 2, 2009, and sworn in on April 6, 2009.[243][244] During her tenure, in 2012 her office was elevated to the rank of Cabinet-level officer, expanding her power on policy decisions and granting her access to cabinet meetings.[245]

On February 11, 2013, Mills announced her resignation as Administrator of the SBA.[246][247]

#### Maria Contreras-Sweet (2014–2017)

[edit]

On January 15, 2014, Maria Contreras-Sweet was nominated by President Barack Obama to join his Cabinet as head of the Small Business Administration.[248] Contreras-Sweet was confirmed as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration by voice vote on March 27, 2014.[249] She assumed role of her position as Administrator of the Small Business Administration on April 7, 2014.[250]

## Formerly Cabinet-level

[edit]

### Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy

[edit]

On February 11, 2009, it was reported that Gil Kerlikowske had accepted an offer by President Obama to become Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, succeeding John P. Walters.[251] On May 7, 2009, the Senate confirmed Kerlikowske's nomination by a vote of 91–1.[252] However, prior to Kerlikowske's nomination, the position was downgraded from a Cabinet-level position to a non-Cabinet-level position.[253]

## See also

[edit]

* First inauguration of Barack Obama
* Second inauguration of Barack Obama
* Presidential transition of Barack Obama

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Biden held the chairmanship from January 3 to January 20, then was succeeded by Jesse Helms until June 6, and thereafter held the position until 2003

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Cabinet". whitehouse.gov. January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
2. ^ "Congress meets to count electoral votes". NBC News. January 8, 2009.
3. ^ "The Obama White House". Archives.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
4. ^ "Vice President Joe Biden". Archives.gov. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
5. ^ a b c Lizza, Ryan (October 20, 2008). "Biden's Brief". The New Yorker. Retrieved November 24, 2008.
6. ^ "Biden: I'd say yes to being VP". CNN. June 23, 2008. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
7. ^ "Obama's veep message to supporters". The Washington Post. Associated Press. August 23, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008."Text message is out and it's official". Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
8. ^ "Welcome the Next Vice President". BarackObama.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
9. ^ Nagourney, Adam; Jeff Zeleny (August 23, 2008). "Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
10. ^ Dionne, E. J. (August 25, 2008). "Tramps Like Us: How Joe Biden will reassure working class voters and change the tenor of this week's convention". The New Republic. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
11. ^ "Barack Obama wins presidential election". CNN. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
12. ^ Franke-Ruta, Garance (November 19, 2008). "McCain Takes Missouri". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
13. ^ "President – Election Center 2008". CNN. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
14. ^ "Think you know your election trivia?". CNN. November 3, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2008.
15. ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (November 6, 2008). "VP's home awaits if Biden chooses". The News Journal. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
16. ^ Feller, Ben (January 20, 2009). "In culminating moment, Biden is vice president". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved January 30, 2009.[dead link]
17. ^ Marquardt, Alexander (November 6, 2008). "Biden talks transition, says McCain's 'still my friend'". CNN. Archived from the original on November 9, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
18. ^ "'Secret' Obama code name revealed". BBC News. November 13, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
19. ^ Holland, Steve (November 13, 2008). "Biden picks former Gore aide as chief of staff". Reuters. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
20. ^ Calderone, Michael (December 15, 2008). "Report: Carney joins Biden team". Politico. Retrieved December 15, 2008.
21. ^ Lee, Carol E. (December 14, 2008). "Biden to shrink VP role — big time". Politico. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
22. ^ a b "Biden says he'll be different vice president". CNN. December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
23. ^ Hornick, Ed; Levs, Josh (December 21, 2008). "What Obama promised Biden". CNN. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
24. ^ Holland, Steve (November 15, 2008). "Obama, Clinton discussed secretary of state job". Reuters. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
25. ^ Al Kamen; Philip Rucker (November 13, 2008). "Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
26. ^ "Obama Set On Key Cabinet Nominees". NPR. November 21, 2008. Retrieved November 21, 2008.
27. ^ "WikiLeaks trove shows Obama in 2008 prepping to move into the White House". Politico. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
28. ^ a b "Obama Confirms Hillary In Top Job". Sky News. December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
29. ^ Falcone, Michael (December 19, 2008). "Bush Approves Bill Reducing Secretary of State's Pay". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
30. ^ Baker, Peter (November 29, 2008). "Bill Clinton to Name Donors as Part of Obama Deal". The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
31. ^ Flaherty, Anne (January 15, 2009). "Senate panel backs Clinton as secretary of state". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved January 15, 2009.[dead link]
32. ^ Jones, Jeffrey M. (January 13, 2009). "As Senate Hearings Begin, Hillary Clinton's Image Soars". The Gallup Organization. Retrieved January 16, 2009.
33. ^ Phillips, Kate (January 21, 2009). "Senate Confirms Clinton as Secretary of State". The New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
34. ^ Tumulty, Brian (January 21, 2009). "Clinton sworn in at State Dept. and then resigns Senate". The Journal News. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
35. ^ "John Kerry's Statement on Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State Confirmation Hearing". January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
36. ^ Christopher Hitchens (November 7, 2008). "Christopher Hitchens Calls Hillary Clinton As Secretary Of State A "Ludicrous Embarrassment"". Huffington Post.
37. ^ John Lander (January 10, 2009). "No Confirmation Vote for Clinton". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
38. ^ "Vitter gains GOP footing with anti-Clinton stance".
39. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov.
40. ^ "Geithner, Summers among key economic team members announced today". Office of the President-elect (Press release). November 24, 2008. Archived from the original on November 24, 2008.
41. ^ "Geithner to Be Nominated as Treasury Secretary". CNBC. November 21, 2008.
42. ^ a b Montgomery, Lori; Faiola, Anthony (January 23, 2009). "Geithner Says China Manipulates Its Currency". The Washington Post. p. A08.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
43. ^ Drajem, Mark; Christie, Rebecca (January 23, 2009). "Geithner Warning on Yuan May Renew U.S.-China Tension". Bloomberg LP.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
44. ^ Moore, Malcolm (January 23, 2009). "Timothy Geithner currency 'manipulation' accusation angers China". The Daily Telegraph. London.
45. ^ Hirschfield Davis, Julie (January 14, 2009). "Tax problems may plague Obama's treasury pick". My Way News. Associated Press.
46. ^ "Documents regarding Treasury nominee Geithner" (PDF). Senate Finance Committee. United States Senate. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2009.
47. ^ Gandel, Stephen (January 21, 2009). "Tax Tips for Geithner". Time. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009.
48. ^ a b Felsenthal, Mark; Lawder, David (January 21, 2009). "Geithner urges bailout reforms, apologizes on taxes". Reuters.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
49. ^ a b Hallow, Ralph Z. (January 20, 2009). "Gingrich urges GOP to fight Geithner". The Washington Times.
50. ^ Blackledge, Brett (January 12, 2009). "Source: Geithner failed to pay personal taxes". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 13, 2009. [dead link]
51. ^ Calmes, Jackie (January 14, 2009). "Geithner Questioned on Tax Returns". The New York Times.
52. ^ a b Shear, Michael D.; Montgomery Lori (January 14, 2009). "Treasury Nominee Accounts for Own Tax Errors". The Washington Post.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
53. ^ McKinnon, John D.; Davis, Bob (January 14, 2009). "IMF Informed Geithner on Taxes". The Wall Street Journal.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
54. ^ "Geithner Links Woes to Tax Software Used by 18 Million Americans". Fox News. January 22, 2009. Archived from the original on January 23, 2009.
55. ^ a b Aherns, Frank (January 21, 2009). "Treasury Pick Misfiled Using Off-the-Shelf Tax Software". The Washington Post. p. D1.
56. ^ "Timothy F. Geithner". Who's Who. Marquis Who's Who. November 22, 2008. pp. K2017000959. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
57. ^ Malkin, Michelle (January 16, 2009). "Geithner, "tax goofs," and the go-along GOP". Michelle Malkin LLC.
58. ^ Hirschfield-Davis, Julie (January 14, 2009). "Obama: Geithner 'embarrassment' no bar for Cabinet". Yahoo! News. Associated Press.
59. ^ "U.S. Senate: Request not Accepted - Security Risk Detected". Archived from the original on June 15, 2010. Retrieved June 28, 2010.
60. ^ "Senate Confirms Geithner To Head Treasury". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
61. ^ Jackie Calmes (January 26, 2009). "Senate Confirms Geithner for Treasury". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2009.
62. ^ "Geithner's Planned Departure Puts Obama in Tough Spot". CNBC. January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
63. ^ "Treasury Secretary Geithner reportedly wants to leave by month's end". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
64. ^ Jackie Calmes (January 10, 2013). "Lew Would Complete Transformation of Obama's Economic Team". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
65. ^ 50 Democrats, 20 Republicans and Angus King (Independent) voted to confirm, while 25 Republicans and Bernie Sanders (Independent) voted not to confirm; 3 Democrats did not vote on this confirmation.
66. ^ Jacob Lew confirmation vote, February 27, 2013 (U.S. Senate).
67. ^ "Jack Lew sworn in as Treasury secretary", Reuters, February 28, 2013.
68. ^ "Jacob J. Lew Sworn in as Treasury Secretary", U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, February 28, 2013.
69. ^ Michael Falcone (November 15, 2008). "Obama Pledges to Appoint Republican to Cabinet". The New York Times.
70. ^ a b c d "Key members of Obama-Biden national security team announced". Office of the President-elect (Press release). December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
71. ^ "Gates Cabinet Appointment 'A Done Deal'". Political Radar. ABC News. November 25, 2008. Archived from the original (Blog) on January 27, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
72. ^ Fireman, Ken; Capaccio, Tony (December 2, 2008). "Gates Says Review of Afghanistan Policy Will Be 'High Priority'" (Article). Worldwide News. Bloomberg. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
73. ^ "Defense Secretary Gates to be 'designated successor' Tuesday". CNN. January 20, 2009. Archived from the original (News article) on March 25, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
74. ^ a b "U.S. Senate Periodical Press Gallery". Archived from the original on November 26, 2011. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
75. ^ Scott Wilson and William Branigin, "Obama nominates Chuck Hagel for Defense, John Brennan for CIA", January 7, 2013, The Washington Post.
76. ^ Rachel Weiner, Chuck Hagel nomination hearing set for Jan. 31, The Washington Post, January 16, 2013.
77. ^ First (failed) cloture motion, February 14, 2013 (from the Clerk of the U.S. Senate).
78. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov.
79. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov.
80. ^ Cooper, Helene (November 24, 2014). "Hagel Resigns Under Pressure as Global Crises Test Pentagon". The New York Times.
81. ^ Cooper, Helene (November 24, 2014). "Hagel Resigns Under Pressure as Global Crises Test Pentagon". The New York Times.
82. ^ Miklaszewski, JIm (November 24, 2014). "'Greatest Privilege of My Life': Chuck Hagel Resigns as Defense Secretary". NBC News. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
83. ^ "US defence secretary Chuck Hagel resigns". BBC News. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
84. ^ "Chuck Hagel forced to step down as US defense secretary". The Guardian. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
85. ^ "Obama nominates Ashton Carter as secretary of defense". The Washington Post.
86. ^ "Sorry, we can't seem to find the page you're looking for". February 12, 2015. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015 - via washingtonpost.com.
87. ^ a b Rhee, Foon (December 1, 2008). "Obama names national security team". Boston Globe. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
88. ^ Presidential Nomination PN64-07-111 Archived August 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, 111th Congress, January 20, 2009.
89. ^ Judiciary Panel Approves Holder's Nomination, The New York Times, January 28, 2009.
90. ^ Carrie Johnson (February 3, 2009). "Holder gets Senate approval". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 3, 2009. [dead link]
91. ^ Margasak, Larry (February 2, 2009). "Senate confirms Holder as first black AG". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
92. ^ Tapper, Jake (November 18, 2008). "Holder v Bush on War on Terror Tactics". Political Punch. ABC News. Archived from the original (Blog) on January 24, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2008.
93. ^ "Eric H. Holder Jr., Attorney General". Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
94. ^ "White House, Woodward Clash Over Allegations of Oil Price Fixing With Saudis, Critics Find Fault with Patriot Act" (Transcript). Judy Woodruff's Inside Politics. CNN. April 19, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
95. ^ Greenwald, Glenn (November 19, 2008). "Preliminary facts and thoughts about Eric Holder" (Blog). Glenn Greenwald's Unclaimed Territory. Salon. Retrieved November 19, 2008.
96. ^ Tuohey, Jason (November 18, 2008). "Holder on Bush, executive power". Boston Globe. Retrieved November 18, 2008.
97. ^ Holder: "Waterboarding is torture"
98. ^ "Attorney General Eric Holder to step down". The Washington Post.
99. ^ Loretta Lynch, Federal Prosecutor, Will Be Nominated for Attorney General The New York Times November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
100. ^ "Loretta Lynch confirmed by Senate as attorney general". The Washington Post.
101. ^ Lowery, Courtney (December 17, 2008). "Salazar, Vilsack: The West's New Land Lords". NewWest. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008.
102. ^ "Congress to cut Cabinet salaries – again". Yahoo! News. Yahoo! Inc. December 19, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
103. ^ Abrams, Jim (January 20, 2009). "Senate confirms 6 cabinet secretaries, puts off vote on Clinton". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
104. ^ Broder, Jim M. (December 17, 2008). "Environmentalists Wary of Obama's Interior Pick". The New York Times.
105. ^ "New Cabinet Choices Reaffirm Obama's New Direction on Energy and the Environment" (Press release). League of Conservation Voters. December 7, 2008. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009.
106. ^ Sprengelmeyer, M.E. (December 17, 2008). "Interior Secretary Salazar: Confirmation outlook smooth". Yahoo! News. Yahoo! Inc.
107. ^ "Dirk Kempthorne says Sen. Ken Salazar will make a fine Interior secretary". Idaho Statesman. December 17, 2008.
108. ^ "Salazar Visits Statue of Liberty, May Reopen Crown". Bloomberg. January 23, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
109. ^ "AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Leaving". Time. January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.[dead link]
110. ^ "AP Source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to leave administration in March". Salon. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
111. ^ "AP source: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar leaving". Yahoo! News. January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
112. ^ Eilperin, Juliet (February 6, 2013). "Washington Post source: Obama nominates REI chief executive as interior secretary". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
113. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov.
114. ^ "Sources: Obama to tap Vilsack as agriculture secretary - CNN.com". CNN.
115. ^ Schuff, Sally. Obama picks Vilsack for ad secretary. Feedstuffs, December 22, 2008, p. 1.
116. ^ Mike Glover (April 10, 2002). "Vilsack, Gross weigh in on biotech decision". Associated Press.
117. ^ Sources: Iowa's Vilsack Named BIO Governor of the Year
118. ^ Anonymous. Senate confirms 6 Obama Cabinet officials, OMB director, CNN website, January 20, 2009. http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/20/senate-confirms-6-obama-cabinet-officials-omb-director/ Archived January 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
119. ^ a b "Obama nominates Richardson for Cabinet". CNN. December 3, 2008.
120. ^ http://www.kxmb.com/News/326919.asp[permanent dead link]
121. ^ "The Associated Press: Senator: Appointment wouldn't affect Senate makeup". Archived from the original on February 4, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
122. ^ "Gregg withdraws as nominee for Commerce". NBC News. February 13, 2009.
123. ^ Sidoti, Liz (February 25, 2009). "Obama chooses Locke to run Commerce Department". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
124. ^ "Commerce Secretary Is Confirmed". The New York Times. March 24, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
125. ^ Obama makes it official Archived March 25, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, Alexander Mooney, CNN, May 31, 2011
126. ^ Palmer, Doug (July 12, 2016). "Senator vows to block Commerce nominee Bryson". Reuters.
127. ^ "Letter from Secretary Bryson to Commerce Employees". Retrieved June 21, 2012.
128. ^ a b "More Obama appointments: Pritzker at Commerce; Froman for trade representative". The Washington Post.
129. ^ a b "Washington Post: Breaking News, World, US, DC News & Analysis".
130. ^ "Pritzker confirmed for Commerce". Politico. June 25, 2013.
131. ^ Suzanne Heibel (February 9, 2009). "Solis Still Waiting on Cabinet Confirmation". Archived from the original on February 6, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
132. ^ a b c d e Kelley, Matt (February 5, 2009). "Tax snafus add up for Obama team". USA Today. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
133. ^ Fung Ree (November 2, 2009). "Solis nomination clears committee". Boston Globe.
134. ^ Holland, Jesse J. (December 18, 2008). "AP source: Rep. Hilda Solis is Obama's labor pick". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. Retrieved December 19, 2008. [dead link]
135. ^ a b Kornblut, Anne E. (December 19, 2008). "Obama to Announce Final Cabinet Picks". The Washington Post. p. A02. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
136. ^ Cooper, Helene; Greenhouse, Steven (December 19, 2008). "Picks for Labor and Trade Positions Disagree on Policy". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
137. ^ Kornblut, Anne E.; Branigin, William (December 19, 2008). "Obama Announces Final Cabinet Picks". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
138. ^ "Congress to cut Cabinet salaries – again". Yahoo! News. December 19, 2008. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
139. ^ Larrubia, Evelyn (January 29, 2009). "L.A. County Federation of Labor endorses Chu for Congress". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
140. ^ a b Greenhouse, Steven (January 9, 2009). "With Senate Hearing, Preparing for Change at Top of Labor Dept". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
141. ^ Raju, Manu (January 16, 2009). "GOP-ers may block Solis confirmation". Politico. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
142. ^ a b Nicholas, Peter (February 5, 2009). "Republicans want Labor nominee to stop lobbying for 'card check' bill". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
143. ^ a b Fletcher, Michael A. (February 5, 2009). "After Delay, Panel to Vote on Solis Nomination". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
144. ^ Fletcher, Michael A. (February 5, 2009). "Solis Senate Session Postponed in Wake of Husband's Tax Lien Revelations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
145. ^ a b Raju, Manu (February 10, 2009). "GOP won't derail Solis on hubby's taxes". Politico. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
146. ^ Fletcher, Michael A. (February 12, 2009). "Senate Will Vote On Labor Nominee". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
147. ^ Rosenkrantz, Holly (February 11, 2009). "Solis Nomination for Labor Secretary Backed by Panel (Update1)". Bloomberg News. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
148. ^ Mufson, Steven; Nakamura, David (January 9, 2013). "Hilda Solis resigns as labor secretary; some others in Cabinet to stay on". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
149. ^ Nakamura, David (March 18, 2013). "Obama nominates Thomas Perez as labor secretary". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
150. ^ "Perez confirmation saga continues with upcoming committee vote". The Washington Post.
151. ^ "Labor secretary nominee Perez clears early hurdle in confirmation". The Washington Post.
152. ^ "Senate confirms Thomas Perez as labor secretary". The Washington Post.
153. ^ Kenneth P. Vogel (January 30, 2009). "Health care groups paid Daschle $220K". Politico.
154. ^ "Obama: 'I screwed up' in Daschle withdrawal". NBC News. March 2, 2009.
155. ^ "Health Secretary Sebelius Confirmed by Senate". CBS News. April 28, 2009.
156. ^ a b "Sebelius Resigns After Troubles Over Health Site". The New York Times. April 11, 2014.
157. ^ "Senate confirms Sylvia Mathews Burwell as new HHS secretary in bipartisan 78 to 17 vote". The Washington Post.
158. ^ "More Obama Cabinet Nominees Confirmed". January 22, 2009.
159. ^ a b c "Julián Castro as HUD secretary: A fallback political strategy for a rising Democratic star". The Washington Post.
160. ^ "Castro confirmed to lead HUD". Politico. July 9, 2014.
161. ^ Wald, Matthew L. (January 22, 2009). "Panel Approves Transportation Nominee". The New York Times.
162. ^ "Biography of Ray La Hood". Department of Transportation website. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009.
163. ^ "Worldchanging: Bright Green: Ray LaHood and Changing Our Thinking About Transportation". Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
164. ^ "Fox Guarding Henhouse Dept: Congressman from Caterpillar to Be Secretary of Transportation". TreeHugger.
165. ^ Nelson, Josh (December 19, 2008). "Ray LaHood at Transportation, What Is Obama Thinking?". Archived from the original on February 15, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2009 - via AlterNet.
166. ^ JONATHAN WEISMAN; CHRISTOPHER CONKEY (December 18, 2008). "LaHood to Get Transportation Post". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
167. ^ Christopher Conkey (December 18, 2008). "What Role Will LaHood Play in the Obama Cabinet?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 19, 2008.
168. ^ Domenico Montanaro, Domenico (January 29, 2013). "Cabinet shuffle: LaHood to leave Department of Transportation". NBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
169. ^ Grim, Ryan (April 28, 2013). "Anthony Foxx To Be Named Transportation Secretary". HuffPost. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
170. ^ "Senate approves mayor Anthony Foxx for DOT". The Washington Post.
171. ^ "Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx Sworn in as 17th U.S. Secretary of Transportation". U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
172. ^ Nicholas Johnston (January 20, 2009). "Senate Confirms Seven Obama Nominees, Delays Clinton". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved January 25, 2009.
173. ^ Ed Henry (December 10, 2008). "Obama makes pick for energy chief, sources say". CNN. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
174. ^ "Energy secretary Steven Chu resigns". The Washington Post.
175. ^ a b "Obama announces nominees for energy secretary, EPA chief and budget director". The Washington Post.
176. ^ Restuccia, Andrew (April 19, 2013). "Senate energy committee gives Ernest Moniz thumbs-up". Politico. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
177. ^ "Sorry, we can't seem to find the page you're looking for". May 16, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013 - via washingtonpost.com.
178. ^ a b c "U.S. Senate: Obama cabinet nominations". Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
179. ^ President-elect Obama nominates Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education, December 16, 2008, archived from the original on February 26, 2009, retrieved March 1, 2009
180. ^ Maria Glod (January 14, 2009). "Education Nominee Is Warmly Received in Senate". The Washington Post.
181. ^ Eilperin, Juliet; Layton, Lyndsey; Brown, Emma (October 2, 2015). "U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to step down at end of year". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
182. ^ "If you think Arne Duncan is controversial, meet his successor". The Washington Post.
183. ^ Severns, Maggie (March 14, 2016) "Senate confirms education secretary", Politico. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
184. ^ Zoroya, Gregg; Jackson, David (May 30, 2014). "Embattled VA chief Shinseki resigns". USA Today. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
185. ^ "Veterans Secretary Eric Shinseki resigns". CNN. May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
186. ^ "Obama selects former Procter and Gamble executive Robert McDonald to head Veterans Affairsl".
187. ^ "Panel approves VA nomination". Politico. July 23, 2014.
188. ^ "Senate unanimously confirms Robert McDonald as VA secretary". The Washington Post.
189. ^ Sweet, Lynn Jarrett, Podesta, Rouse to lead Obama transition; Bill Daley co-chair Archived December 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Chicago Sun-Times, November 5, 2008.
190. ^ "Obama names Napolitano to Cabinet post". Tucson Citizen. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
191. ^ "Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano stepping down to run UC system". The Washington Post.
192. ^ "Obama picks attorney Jeh Johnson for Homeland Security chief" by Jeff Mason, The Washington Post, October 17, 2013|, Retrieved 2013-10-18
193. ^ "Jeh Johnson confirmed as secretary of homeland security". The Washington Post.
194. ^ Merrion, Paul (December 29, 2008). "Emanuel resigns seat effective Friday". ChicagoBusiness.com. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
195. ^ "Emanuel's departure will trigger special election". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
196. ^ Mihalopoulos, Dan (January 20, 2009). "26 file for congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 9, 2009.
197. ^ "Candidate says Emanuel might want to reclaim House seat someday". Chicago Tribune. February 1, 2009.
198. ^ Talev, Margaret (November 7, 2008). "Obama names chief of staff, plans news conference as transition pace picks up". McClatchy Newspapers.
199. ^ Goldberg, Jeffrey (November 6, 2008). "Rahm Emanuel and Israel". The Atlantic. Kenner, David (November 7, 2008). "Rahm Emanuel and Israel". Foreign Policy.
200. ^ Kalman, Matthew (November 6, 2008). "Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is no pal of ours, Israel's foes say". New York Daily News.
201. ^ "President-Elect Obama and the Future of US Foreign Policy: A Roundtable Discussion". Democracy Now. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on November 11, 2008. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
202. ^ "Top Obama aide apologizes for father's remarks". Reuters. November 13, 2008. Retrieved March 8, 2009.
203. ^ Eggen, Dan; Fletcher, Michael A. (November 26, 2008). "Obama Promotes an Array of Financial Proposals". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
204. ^ "cboblog.cbo.gov". Archived from the original on April 30, 2009.
205. ^ "President Obama Announces His Intent to Nominate Jacob Lew as OMB Director". whitehouse.gov. July 13, 2010. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2013 - via National Archives.
206. ^ Nasiripour, Shahien (September 21, 2010). "Obama Nominee Doesn't Believe Deregulation Led To Financial Crisis". HuffPost.
207. ^ "Matt Taibbi & Bill Black: Obama's New Treasury Secretary a 'Failure of Epic Proportions'". www.alternet.org. January 11, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
208. ^ Reilly, Mollie (March 3, 2013). "Sylvia Mathews Burwell To Be Nominated As White House Budget Chief: Sources". HuffPost. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
209. ^ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress - 1st Session". www.senate.gov.
210. ^ "Senate confirms Donovan to run OMB". Politico. July 10, 2014.
211. ^ Sweet, Lynn (November 5, 2008). "Jarrett, Podesta, Rouse to lead Obama transition; Bill Daley co-chair". The scoop from Washington. The Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original (Blog) on December 10, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
212. ^ a b "Ambassador to the United Nations – Susan Rice (Announced)" (Blog). Obama's Cabinet. Real Clear Politics. December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
213. ^ Lederer, Edith M. (December 1, 2008). "Trusted Obama adviser Susan Rice is first African-American woman named to be US envoy to UN". Star Tribune. Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
214. ^ Donilon to Resign as National Security AdvisorThe New York Times, Mark Landler Published: June 5, 2013.
215. ^ "Senate panel OKs Samantha Power as U.N. ambassador". Reuters. July 23, 2016.
216. ^ "Samantha Power approved by Senate as ambassador to United Nations". The Washington Post.
217. ^ Claire Hellinger; Josh Margolin (October 12, 2008). "Obama picks N.J. official to lead environmental agency". Newark Star Ledger.
218. ^ Senate confirms Lisa Jackson as EPA administrator. (January 23, 2009). The Star-Ledger. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
219. ^ Kocieniewski, David (December 11, 2008). "The New Team Lisa P. Jackson". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
220. ^ "McCarthy's EPA nomination in doubt". Politico. May 12, 2013.
221. ^ "Senate committee approves Obama's nomination of Gina McCarthy to head EPA". The Washington Post.
222. ^ "Senate confirms Gina McCarthy as EPA administrator". The Washington Post.
223. ^ Recio, Maria (December 12, 2008). "Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk a finalist to be transportation secretary". McClatchy Company. Retrieved January 2, 2009. [dead link]
224. ^ Wu, Brandon (December 19, 2008). "Ron Kirk tapped as next USTR". Retrieved January 20, 2009.
225. ^ Jackson, David (January 22, 2013). "U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to leave post". USA Today. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
226. ^ Kamen, Al (January 22, 2013). "U.S. Trade Rep Ron Kirk is leaving administration". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
227. ^ "- The Washington Post". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013.
228. ^ "Senate confirms Froman as next trade representative". The Washington Post.
229. ^ Bohan, Caren (November 24, 2008). "Obama taps Berkeley professor as senior economist". Reuters.
230. ^ "Obama to Tap Berkeley Prof to Chair Council of Economic Advisers". ABC News. November 24, 2008.
231. ^ http://otrans.3cdn.net/ee40602f9a7d8172b8_ozm6bt5oi.pdf Archived March 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan
232. ^ "Video: Christina Romer explains a new report about job creation | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team". Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
233. ^ Mullany, Gerry (August 5, 2010). "Romer Leaves as Head of Council of Economic Advisers". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
234. ^ The White House (10–09–10). "President Obama Appoints Austan Goolsbee as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers,", accessed April 4, 2011.
235. ^ "Obama's top economist returning to classroom". CNN. June 7, 2011.
236. ^ Calmes, Jackie (June 6, 2011). "Austan Goolsbee to Leave Obama Team". The New York Times.
237. ^ "Obama nominates Alan Krueger as his new chief economist". BBC News. August 29, 2011.
238. ^ "Obama to tap Princeton's Alan Krueger to fill key economic post". August 29, 2011.
239. ^ 157 Congressional Record S7141 (November 3, 2011).
240. ^ "Obama to name Furman chair of economic advisers". The Washington Post.
241. ^ The White House. "Remarks by the President Nominating Jason Furman as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers." June 10, 2013.
242. ^ Paletta, Damian (August 2, 2013). "Senate Confirms Furman to Top Economic Post". The Wall Street Journal.
243. ^ McLoone, Sharon (December 19, 2008). "Obama Taps Venture Capitalist to Head Small Business Administration". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
244. ^ "Senate approves venture capitalist as SBA administrator". Government Executive. April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
245. ^ "SBA head, Maine native Mills to be elevated to cabinet level position". Archived from the original on May 9, 2013.
246. ^ Puzzanghera, Jim (February 11, 2013). "Karen Mills to step down as head of Small Business Administration". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
247. ^ "Small Business Administration chief Karen Mills resigns". money.cnn.com. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
248. ^ Eilperin, Juliet (January 14, 2014). Obama picks Maria Contreras-Sweet to head SBA, The Washington Post.
249. ^ "Senate Periodical Press Gallery". United States Senate. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
250. ^ "The SBA Administrator". The U.S. Small Business Administration. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
251. ^ "The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest". www.seattletimes.com.
252. ^ Library of Congress, Senate Roll Call Vote no. 187, 111th Congress, 1st Session (retrieved on July 1, 2009).
253. ^ Jake Tapper (November 3, 2009). "President to Downgrade Drug Czar Position from Cabinet Rank – A Move Biden Criticized in 1989". ABC News.

## External links

[edit]

* List of Cabinet and Cabinet Level Officers at Obama White House archived website (As of January 20, 2017)

* v
* t
* e

Barack Obama

* 44th President of the United States (2009–2017)
* U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–2008)
* Illinois Senator from the 13th district (1997–2004)

| Life and
politics|

* Early life and career
* Illinois Senate career
* 2004 Democratic National Convention
* U.S. Senate career
* Political positions
* Administration foreign policy
* Cannabis
* Mass surveillance
* Social
* Space
* 2009 Nobel Peace Prize
* West Wing Week

|

Presidency
(timeline)|

* Transition
* Inaugurations
* 2009
* 2013
* First 100 days
* Timeline
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* January 2017
* Foreign policy
* Middle East
* Afghanistan withdrawal
* Iraq withdrawal
* Killing of Osama bin Laden
* Benghazi attack
* Return to Iraq
* War in Syria
* Relations with Iran
* Iran nuclear deal
* Pivot to Asia
* Cuban thaw
* Obama Doctrine
* Europe
* Economic policy
* Affordable Care Act
* American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
* Dodd–Frank Act
* Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
* Energy/Environmental
* Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act
* Marine policy
* New Energy for America
* Regulation of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act
* Clean Power Plan
* Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014
* Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
* New START
* MAP-21st Century Act
* FAST Act
* Pardons
* Presidential trips
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016–17
* international
* Judicial appointments
* Supreme Court
* Sotomayor
* Kagan
* Garland
* controversies
* Cabinet
* Biden vice presidency
* Presidential Library and Center
* Executive actions
* Executive orders
* Memoranda
* Proclamations
* Trump transition
* Plantation Estate

Books|

* Dreams from My Father (1995)
* The Audacity of Hope (2006)
* Of Thee I Sing (2010)
* A Promised Land (2020)

Speeches|

* "The Audacity of Hope" (2004)
* "Yes We Can" (2008)
* "A More Perfect Union" (2008)
* "Change Has Come to America" (2008)
* "A New Birth of Freedom" (2009)
* Joint session of Congress (2009)
* "A New Beginning" (2009)
* Joint session of Congress (health care reform) (2009)
* State of the Union Address
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* Tucson memorial speech (2011)
* Joint session of Congress (jobs) (2011)
* "You didn't build that" (2012)
* Selma 50th anniversary (2015)
* Farewell address (2017)

Elections|

| Illinois|

* State Senate
* 1996
* 1998
* 2002
* U.S. House of Representatives
* 2000

|

U.S. Senate|

* 2004

Presidential|

* 2008 campaign
* endorsements
* GOP/conservative support
* staff members
* primaries
* primary campaign
* running mate selection
* convention
* debates
* election
* 2012 campaign
* endorsements
* primaries
* convention
* debates
* election

Family|

* Michelle Obama (wife)
* Ann Dunham (mother)
* Barack Obama Sr. (father)
* Lolo Soetoro (stepfather)
* Maya Soetoro-Ng (maternal half-sister)
* Stanley Armour Dunham (maternal grandfather)
* Madelyn Dunham (maternal grandmother)
* Auma Obama (paternal half-sister)
* Malik Obama (paternal half-brother)
* Marian Robinson (mother-in-law)
* Craig Robinson (brother-in-law)
* Bo (family dog)
* Sunny (family dog)

Public image

News and
political events|

* Oprah Winfrey's endorsement
* Citizenship conspiracy theories
* litigation
* Religion conspiracy theories
* Bill Ayers controversy
* Jeremiah Wright controversy
* Republican and conservative support (2008)
* Assassination threats
* 2008 Denver
* 2008 Tennessee
* First inauguration invitations
* Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
* Citizen's Briefing Book
* Tea Party protests
* New Energy for America
* Gates–Crowley Rose Garden meeting
* Firing of Shirley Sherrod
* Impeachment efforts
* Tan suit controversy

Books about|

* Bibliography
* Obama: From Promise to Power
* Barack Obama: Der schwarze Kennedy
* Redemption Song
* The Case Against Barack Obama
* The Obama Nation
* Culture of Corruption
* Catastrophe
* Barack and Michelle
* The Speech
* The Obama Story
* Between Barack and a Hard Place
* Game Change
* Obama Zombies
* Conservative Victory
* The Bridge
* The Obama Diaries
* The Obama Syndrome
* The Obama Identity
* O: A Presidential Novel
* Where's the Birth Certificate?
* Obama's Last Stand
* Barack Obama: The Story
* Game Change 2012
* Buyer's Remorse
* Rising Star
* Shade
* The World as It Is

Music|

* Obama Girl
* "I Got a Crush... on Obama"
* "Barack the Magic Negro"
* will.i.am
* "Yes We Can"
* "The President Sang Amazing Grace"
* "There's No One as Irish as Barack O'Bama"
* "Sí Se Puede Cambiar"
* "My President"
* "Deadheads for Obama"
* "Air and Simple Gifts"
* Change Is Now
* Hope! – Das Obama Musical
* "Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney"
* Barack's Dubs
* "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"

Film, TV,
and stage|

* By the People: The Election of Barack Obama (2009)
* Change (2010)
* Obama Anak Menteng (2010)
* 2016: Obama's America (2012)
* The Road We've Traveled (2012)
* Southside with You (2016)
* Hillary and Clinton (2016)
* Barry (2016)
* America's Great Divide (2020)
* We the People (2021)
* Renegades: Born in the USA (2021)
* Obama: In Pursuit of a More Perfect Union (2021)
* The First Lady (2022)
* Picturing the Obamas (2022)

Other media|

* Social media use
* Artists for Obama
* "Hope" poster
* "Joker" poster
* Hair Like Mine
* Situation Room
* Iman Crosson
* The Forgotten Man (2010 painting)
* Saraswati (2013 sculpture)
* President Barack Obama (2018 portrait)
* Official White House portrait (2022)
* Obama logo
* In comics
* Barack Obama's summer playlist

Related|

* Barack Obama Day (Illinois)
* Obama Day (Kenya)
* Awards and honors
* Namesakes
* Higher Ground Productions
* "One Last Time (44 Remix)"
* Sunlight before signing

* ← George W. Bush
* Donald Trump →

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Obama administration personnel

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet and cabinet-level

|  Office|  Name|  Term|  Office|  Name|  Term

|
|
|
|
|

Secretary of State|  John Kerry|  2013–2017|  Secretary of Treasury|  Jack Lew|  2013–2017
Secretary of Defense|  Ashton Carter|  2015–2017|  Attorney General|  Loretta Lynch|  2015–2017
Secretary of the Interior|  Sally Jewell|  2013–2017|  Secretary of Agriculture|  Tom Vilsack|  2009–2017
Secretary of Commerce|  Penny Pritzker|  2013–2017|  Secretary of Labor|  Thomas Perez|  2013–2017
Secretary of Health and
Human Services|  Sylvia Mathews Burwell|  2014–2017|  Secretary of Education
Secretary of Transportation|  John King Jr.
Anthony Foxx|  2016–2017
2013–2017
Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development|  Julian Castro|  2014–2017|  Secretary of Veterans Affairs|  Robert A. McDonald|  2014–2017
Secretary of Energy|  Ernest Moniz|  2013–2017|  Secretary of Homeland Security|  Jeh Johnson|  2013–2017
Vice President|  Joe Biden|  2009–2017|  White House Chief of Staff|  Denis McDonough|  2013–2017
Director of the Office of Management and
Budget|  Shaun Donovan|  2014–2017|  Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency|  Gina McCarthy|  2013–2017
Ambassador to the United Nations|  Samantha Power|  2013–2017|  Chair of the Council of Economic
Advisers|  Jason Furman|  2013–2017
Trade Representative|  Michael Froman|  2013–2017|  Administrator of the Small Business Administration|  Maria Contreras-Sweet|  2014–2017

Below solid line: Granted Cabinet rank although not automatically part of the Cabinet. See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet

* v
* t
* e

Executive Office of the President

|  Office|  Name|  Term|  Office|  Name|  Term

|
|
|
|
|

White House Chief of Staff|  Rahm Emanuel|  2009–10|  National Security Advisor|  James L. Jones|  2009–10
|  Pete Rouse|  2010–11| |  Thomas E. Donilon|  2010–13
|  William M. Daley|  2011–12| |  Susan Rice|  2013–17
|  Jack Lew|  2012–13|  Deputy National Security Advisor|  Thomas E. Donilon|  2009–10
|  Denis McDonough|  2013–17| |  Denis McDonough|  2010–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy|  Mona Sutphen|  2009–11| |  Antony Blinken|  2013–14
|  Nancy-Ann DeParle|  2011–13| |  Avril Haines|  2015–17
|  Rob Nabors|  2013–15|  Dep. National Security Advisor, Homeland Security|  John O. Brennan|  2009–13
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations|  Jim Messina|  2009–11| |  Lisa Monaco|  2013–17
|  Alyssa Mastromonaco|  2011–14|  Dep. National Security Advisor, Iraq and Afghanistan|  Douglas Lute†|  2009–13
|  Anita Decker Breckenridge|  2014–17|  Dep. National Security Advisor, Strategic Comm.|  Ben Rhodes|  2009–17
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning|  Mark B. Childress|  2012–14|  Dep. National Security Advisor, Chief of Staff|  Mark Lippert|  2009
|  Kristie Canegallo|  2014–17| |  Denis McDonough|  2009–10
Counselor to the President|  Pete Rouse|  2011–13| |  Brooke D. Anderson|  2011–12
|  John Podesta|  2014–15|  White House Communications Director|  Ellen Moran|  2009
Senior Advisor to the President|  David Axelrod|  2009–11| |  Anita Dunn|  2009
|  David Plouffe|  2011–13| |  Daniel Pfeiffer|  2009–13
|  Daniel Pfeiffer|  2013–15| |  Jennifer Palmieri|  2013–15
|  Shailagh Murray|  2015–17| |  Jen Psaki|  2015–17
Senior Advisor to the President|  Pete Rouse|  2009–10|  Deputy White House Communications Director|  Jen Psaki|  2009–11
|  Brian Deese|  2015–17| |  Jennifer Palmieri|  2011–14
Senior Advisor to the President and|  Valerie Jarrett|  2009–17| |  Amy Brundage|  2014–16
Assistant to the President for| | | |  Liz Allen|  2016–17
Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs| | |  White House Press Secretary|  Robert Gibbs|  2009–11
Director, Public Engagement|  Tina Tchen|  2009–11| |  Jay Carney|  2011–13
|  Jon Carson|  2011–13| |  Josh Earnest|  2013–17
|  Paulette L. Aniskoff|  2013–17|  Deputy Press Secretary|  Bill Burton|  2009–11
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs|  Cecilia Muñoz|  2009–12| |  Josh Earnest|  2011–13
|  David Agnew|  2012–14| |  Eric Schultz|  2014–17
|  Jerry Abramson|  2014–17|  Director of Special Projects|  Stephanie Cutter|  2010–11
Director, National Economic Council|  Lawrence Summers|  2009–10|  Director, Speechwriting|  Jon Favreau|  2009–13
|  Gene Sperling|  2011–14| |  Cody Keenan|  2013–17
|  Jeff Zients|  2014–17|  Director, Digital Strategy|  Macon Phillips|  2009–13
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers|  Christina Romer|  2009–10|  Chief Digital Officer|  Jason Goldman|  2015–17
|  Austan Goolsbee|  2010–13|  Director, Legislative Affairs|  Phil Schiliro|  2009–11
|  Jason Furman|  2013–17| |  Rob Nabors|  2011–13
Chair, Economic Recovery Advisory Board|  Paul Volcker|  2009–11| |  Katie Beirne Fallon|  2013–16
Chair, Council on Jobs and Competitiveness|  Jeff Immelt|  2011–13| |  Miguel Rodriguez|  2016
Director, Domestic Policy Council|  Melody Barnes|  2009–12| |  Amy Rosenbaum|  2016–17
|  Cecilia Muñoz|  2012–17|  Director, Political Affairs|  Patrick Gaspard|  2009–11
Director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships|  Joshua DuBois|  2009–13| |  David Simas|  2011–16
|  Melissa Rogers|  2013–17|  Director, Presidential Personnel|  Nancy Hogan|  2009–13
Director, Office of Health Reform|  Nancy-Ann DeParle|  2009–11| |  Johnathan D. McBride|  2013–14
Director, Office of National AIDS Policy|  Jeffrey Crowley|  2009–11| |  Valerie E. Green|  2014–15
|  Grant N. Colfax|  2011–13| |  Rodin A. Mehrbani|  2016–17
|  Douglas M. Brooks|  2013–17|  White House Staff Secretary|  Lisa Brown|  2009–11
Director, Office of Urban Affairs|  Adolfo Carrión Jr.|  2009–10| |  Rajesh De|  2011–12
|  Racquel S. Russell|  2010–14| |  Douglas Kramer|  2012–13
|  Roy Austin Jr.|  2014–17| |  Joani Walsh|  2014–17
Director, Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy|  Carol Browner|  2009–11|  Director, Management and Administration|  Bradley J. Kiley|  2009–11
White House Counsel|  Greg Craig|  2009–10| |  Katy A. Kale|  2011–15
|  Bob Bauer|  2010–11| |  Maju Varghese|  2015–17
|  Kathryn Ruemmler|  2011–14|  Director, Scheduling and Advance|  Alyssa Mastromonaco|  2009–11
|  Neil Eggleston|  2014–17| |  Danielle Crutchfield|  2011–14
White House Cabinet Secretary|  Chris Lu|  2009–13| |  Chase Cushman|  2014–17
|  Danielle C. Gray|  2013–14|  Director, White House Information Technology|  David Recordon|  2015–17
|  Broderick D. Johnson|  2014–17|  Director, Office of Administration|  Cameron Moody|  2009–11
Personal Aide to the President|  Reggie Love|  2009–11| |  Beth Jones|  2011–15
|  Brian Mosteller|  2011–12| |  Cathy Solomon|  2015–17
|  Marvin D. Nicholson|  2012–17|  Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy|  John Holdren|  2009–17
Director, Oval Office Operations|  Brian Mosteller|  2012–17|  Chief Technology Officer|  Aneesh Chopra|  2009–12
Personal Secretary to the President|  Katie Johnson|  2009–11| |  Todd Park|  2012–14
|  Anita Decker Breckenridge|  2011–14| |  Megan Smith|  2014–17
|  Ferial Govashiri|  2014–17|  Director, Office of Management and Budget|  Peter R. Orszag|  2009–10
Chief of Staff to the First Lady|  Jackie Norris|  2009| |  Jack Lew|  2010–12
|  Susan Sher|  2009–11| |  Jeff Zients|  2012–13
|  Tina Tchen|  2011–17| |  Sylvia Mathews Burwell|  2013–14
White House Social Secretary|  Desirée Rogers|  2009–10| |  Brian Deese|  2014
|  Julianna Smoot|  2010–11| |  Shaun Donovan|  2014–17
|  Jeremy Bernard|  2011–15|  Chief Information Officer|  Vivek Kundra|  2009–11
|  Deesha Dyer|  2015–17| |  Steven VanRoekel|  2011–14
Chief of Staff to the Vice President|  Ron Klain|  2009–11| |  Tony Scott|  2015–17
|  Bruce Reed|  2011–13|  United States Trade Representative|  Ron Kirk|  2009–13
|  Steve Ricchetti|  2013–17| |  Michael Froman|  2013–17
White House Chief Usher|  Stephen W. Rochon†|  2009–11|  Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy|  Gil Kerlikowske|  2009–14
|  Angella Reid|  2011–17| |  Michael Botticelli|  2014–17
Director, White House Military Office|  George Mulligan|  2009–13|  Chair, Council on Environmental Quality|  Nancy Sutley|  2009–14
|  Emmett Beliveau|  2013–15| |  Michael Boots|  2014–15
|  Dabney Kern|  2016–17| |  Christy Goldfuss|  2015–17

† Remained from previous administration.

* v
* t
* e

Office of the Vice President

|  Position|  Appointee

|

Chief of Staff to the Vice President|  Steve Ricchetti
Counsel to the Vice President|  Cynthia Hogan
Counselor to the Vice President|  Mike Donilon
Assistant to the Vice President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison|  Evan Ryan
Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Communications|  Shailagh Murray
Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice President|  Shailagh Murray
Deputy National Security Adviser to the Vice President|  Brian P. McKeon
Residence Manager and Social Secretary for the Vice President and Second Lady|  Carlos Elizondo
National Security Adviser to the Vice President|  Colin Kahl

|  Position|  Appointee

|

Chief of Staff to the Second Lady|  Catherine M. Russell
Director of Administration for the Office of the Vice President|  Moises Vela
Domestic Policy Adviser to the Vice President|  Terrell McSweeny
Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser to the Vice President|  Jared Bernstein
Press Secretary to the Vice President|  Elizabeth Alexander
Deputy Press Secretary to the Vice President|  Annie Tomasini
Director of Legislative Affairs|  Sudafi Henry
Director of Communications for the Second Lady|  Courtney O’Donnell

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet of President Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Cabinet

Vice President|

* Joe Biden (2009–2017)

Secretary of State|

* Hillary Clinton (2009–2013)
* John Kerry (2013–2017)

Secretary of the Treasury|

* Timothy Geithner (2009–2013)
* Jack Lew (2013–2017)

Secretary of Defense|

* Robert Gates (2009–2011)
* Leon Panetta (2011–2013)
* Chuck Hagel (2013–2015)
* Ash Carter (2015–2017)

Attorney General|

* Eric Holder (2009–2015)
* Loretta Lynch (2015–2017)

Secretary of the Interior|

* Ken Salazar (2009–2013)
* Sally Jewell (2013–2017)

Secretary of Agriculture|

* Tom Vilsack (2009–2017)

Secretary of Commerce|

* Gary Locke (2009–2011)
* John Bryson (2011–2012)
* Penny Pritzker (2013–2017)

Secretary of Labor|

* Hilda Solis (2009–2013)
* Tom Perez (2013–2017)

Secretary of Health and Human Services|

* Kathleen Sebelius (2009–2014)
* Sylvia Mathews Burwell (2014–2017)

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development|

* Shaun Donovan (2009–2014)
* Julian Castro (2014–2017)

Secretary of Transportation|

* Ray LaHood (2009–2013)
* Anthony Foxx (2013–2017)

Secretary of Energy|

* Steven Chu (2009–2013)
* Ernest Moniz (2013–2017)

Secretary of Education|

* Arne Duncan (2009–2016)
* John King Jr. (2016–2017)

Secretary of Veterans Affairs|

* Eric Shinseki (2009–2014)
* Bob McDonald (2014–2017)

Secretary of Homeland Security|

* Janet Napolitano (2009–2013)
* Jeh Johnson (2013–2017)

Cabinet-level

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency|

* Lisa P. Jackson (2009–2013)
* Gina McCarthy (2013–2017)

Director of the Office of Management and Budget|

* Peter R. Orszag (2009–2010)
* Jack Lew (2010–2012)
* Sylvia Mathews Burwell (2013–2014)
* Shaun Donovan (2014–2017)

Trade Representative|

* Ron Kirk (2009–2013)
* Michael Froman (2013–2017)

Ambassador to the United Nations|

* Susan Rice (2009–2013)
* Samantha Power (2013–2017)

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers|

* Christina Romer (2009–2010)
* Austan Goolsbee (2010–2011)
* Alan Krueger (2011–2013)
* Jason Furman (2013–2017)

Administrator of the Small Business Administration|

* Karen Mills (2012–2013)*
* Maria Contreras-Sweet (2014–2017)

White House Chief of Staff|

* Rahm Emanuel (2009–2010)
* William M. Daley (2011–2012)
* Jack Lew (2012–2013)
* Denis McDonough (2013–2017)

* took office in 2009, raised to cabinet-rank in 2012

See also: Confirmations of Barack Obama's Cabinet
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template