Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a wave of new appointments for key White House roles as he prepares to assume office once again. The nominees, introduced through a series of posts on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, signal Trump’s focus on infrastructure, energy, and small business advocacy in his second administration.
Steven Gill Bradbury Named Deputy Secretary of Transportation
Trump began by nominating Steven Gill Bradbury as the next Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Bradbury previously served as General Counsel for the Department of Transportation during Trump’s first term, where he was instrumental in infrastructure reforms and regulatory rollbacks.
“For the entirety of my First Term, Steven served as the General Counsel of the Department of Transportation, where he helped rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and cut regulations that were killing jobs and our incredible small businesses,” Trump wrote.
Bradbury will work alongside Secretary of Transportation nominee Sean Duffy, pending Senate confirmation.
Katharine MacGregor to Join Interior Department Leadership
Shortly after announcing Bradbury’s nomination, Trump introduced Katharine MacGregor as his pick for Deputy Secretary of the Interior. MacGregor currently serves as Vice President of Environmental Services at NextEra Energy, Inc., and previously held a senior role at the Department of the Interior during Trump’s first term.
“Katharine helped us in our quest to make our nation energy dominant,” Trump stated. “She was also an integral part of the team that produced our historic ‘Salute to America’ celebration at the National Mall.”
James P. Danly Nominated for Deputy Energy Secretary
In the energy sector, Trump named James P. Danly as Deputy Secretary of Energy. A retired U.S. Army officer and veteran of two tours in Iraq, Danly earned both the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service.
During Trump’s first term, Danly served as General Counsel and later as Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where he led efforts to streamline regulatory processes and ensure affordable energy for Americans.
“He won countless cases before the federal courts and drove regulatory reform to ensure abundant and affordable energy for the American people,” Trump wrote.
Casey B. Mulligan to Advocate for Small Businesses
Economist Casey B. Mulligan has been tapped to serve as Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Trump praised Mulligan as a “highly respected expert on the regulations that are crushing our small businesses.” He is expected to play a key role in reducing regulatory burdens on small enterprises, a priority for the new administration.
Paul R. Lawrence Returns to Veterans Affairs
Trump also announced Paul R. Lawrence as the nominee for Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Lawrence previously served as the VA Under Secretary of Benefits during Trump’s first term, where he played a critical role in implementing new legislation to improve veterans’ services.
“Paul helped us drive the claims backlog to its lowest level in VA history,” Trump noted, adding that Lawrence was pivotal in modernizing the appeals process for veterans’ benefits.
David Fotouhi to Prioritize Environmental Issues
The final announcement concerned David Fotouhi, who has been nominated as Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Trump emphasized that Fotouhi’s priorities will include ensuring clean air, water, and soil for all Americans. Fotouhi, who previously served as the EPA’s General Counsel, is expected to focus on balancing environmental protection with economic growth.
A Focus on Continuity and Experience
The latest nominations reflect Trump’s strategy of bringing back experienced officials from his first administration to spearhead key initiatives. Each nominee has a track record of implementing Trump’s policies in areas like infrastructure, energy, veterans’ affairs, small business advocacy, and environmental protection.
Political analysts believe the appointments signal Trump’s focus on continuity and stability as he seeks to deliver on his campaign promises during his upcoming term.
The nominees now face Senate confirmation before they can officially assume their new roles.
