President’s Cabinet

Executive Offices AKA Secretaries Each department is headed by a secretary, except for the Department of Justice, whose work is directed by the attorney general. Each department is made up of a number of subunits, both staff and line. Today, the executive departments vary a great deal in terms of visibility, size, and importance.

The Cabinet is an informal advisory body brought together by the President to serve his needs. By tradition, the heads of the executive departments form the Cabinet. The President appoints the head of each of the executive departments, which are then subject to Senate approval. Cabinet members serve as both head of their respective departments and as advisors to the President.

The tradition of the Cabinet dates back to the beginnings of the Presidency itself. Established in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution, the Cabinet's role is to advise the President on any subject he may require relating to the duties of each member's respective office.

Dept. of State (1789) Hilary Clinton – Patricia Mook Chief engine of American diplomacy in executive branch, also manages American travel overseas.

Dept. of Treasury (1789) Tim Geithner – Kevin Buehler Manages federal finances, collects taxes, produces stamps, and provides government advice on matters of economic policy.

Dept. of the Interior (1849) Ken Salazar – Sarah Ahart Manages conservation efforts, national parks, and environmental protection.

Dept. of Justice (1870) Eric Holder – Anjali Bhatnagar Attorney General Enforces federal laws by taking offenders to court, investigates and detains offenders through the FBI.

Dept. of Agriculture (1889) Tom Vilsack – Julia Nguyen Oversees national forests & conservation efforts, responsible for safety of meat, poultry, and egg products, and attempts to provide open foreign markets for American agricultural products.

Dept. of Commerce (1903) Gary Locke – Zachary Engelmann “to foster, serve, and promote the Nation’s economic development and technological development.”

Dept. of Labor (1913) Hilda Solis – Julian Cronan Looks out for “job seekers, wage earners, and retirees” by administering federal labor laws and providing services like connecting potential employers to unemployed workers.

Dept. of Defense (1947) Leon Panetta – Elexa Palacio Manages the nation’s military and headquartered at the Pentagon.

Dept. of Health and Human Services (1953) Kathleen Sebelius – Emily Geyer Conducts health research, manages efforts to prevent disease, manages Medicare and Medicaid, and pursues efforts to remedy societal ills like drug abuse and child abuse.

Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (1965) Shaun Donovan – Alisa Fomenko Strives to increase domestic homeownership and improve access to affordable housing free of discrimination.

Dept. of Transportation (1966) Ray LaHood – Kirsten Nieber Manages national transportation infrastructure like highways, air traffic, and railways.

Dept. of Energy (1977) Steven Chu – Charlite Allen Manages the nation’s nuclear weapons and energy, develops energy policies, and conducts energy research.

Dept. of Education (1979) Arne Duncan – Sierra Carr Manages federal student aid programs, monitors academic performance nationwide, and administers federal education legislation like No Child Left Behind Act.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs (1988) Eric Shinseki – Vida Sarpong Provides for the healthcare, benefits, and memorial service needs of veterans.

Dept. of Homeland Security (2002) Janet Napolitano – Brian Proctor Oversees a wide range of federal agencies to help them coordinate plans to confront national emergencies and threats to national security.