A number of patterns have emerged among the people President-elect Donald J. Trump has indicated he wants to fill his cabinet and other senior-level positions in his administration.
Some points of commonality are historically typical among senior White House and cabinet officials — Harvard, Yale and Princeton are well represented among his selections’ alma maters, for instance. Other uniting factors are unprecedented: Many on the list have denied or questioned the results of the 2020 presidential election, often a prerequisite for gaining Mr. Trump’s favor. And some lack the traditional qualifications shared by their predecessors.
Indeed, it appears that the most important qualifier in Mr. Trump’s mind has been fealty to him, which many of his picks have demonstrated in various ways over the past few years.
See some of the links between more than 60 potential members (in some cases pending confirmation) of the incoming administration, below.
At least 5 are billionaires.
Mr. Trump has picked two billionaires to lead key economic departments, raising questions about whether his administration will follow through on promises to boost the working class.
Scott Bessent, his choice for treasury secretary, is a hedge fund manager who invested money for George Soros, a liberal philanthropist, for more than a decade. Howard Lutnick, his pick for commerce secretary, is a Wall Street executive. Both Mr. Bessent and Mr. Lutnick have been vocal in their support for Mr. Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on imports, although they may prefer a more targeted approach.
Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead what Mr. Trump is calling the Department of Government Efficiency. Mr. Trump has said the new initiative would operate outside of the government and offer input to federal officials.
At least 8 have been major Trump donors.
The president-elect has also selected major campaign donors for key positions, including four to lead cabinet agencies: Mr. Lutnick and Mr. Bessent, as well as Chris Wright to lead the Energy Department and Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department. (Ms. McMahon and Mr. Lutnick are also co-chairs of the Trump transition.) As of the last federal filing, their contributions to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle ranged from $350,000 to $20 million.
John Phelan, Mr. Trump’s pick for Navy secretary, and his wife, Amy, donated more than $1 million to Mr. Trump’s joint fund-raising campaign committee.
Steven Witkoff, a billionaire real estate mogul who has given nearly $2 million to Mr. Trump’s political causes over the past decade, was named special envoy to the Middle East. He was on the golf course with Mr. Trump in September during a second assassination attempt.
Mr. Musk poured at least $75 million into a new pro-Trump super PAC and promised on Oct. 19 to award one voter $1 million every day through Election Day. The Justice Department warned Mr. Musk that the giveaway might be illegal, but a judge in Philadelphia refused to halt the sweepstakes.
Charles Kushner, Mr. Trump’s pick for ambassador to France, is a real estate executive who gave at least $2 million to support Mr. Trump.
At least 12 hosted or co-hosted events at Mar-a-Lago.
After Mr. Trump left the White House, Mar-a-Lago became the headquarters of the MAGA movement. Events hosted by right-wing organizations and politicians there largely replaced traditional Palm Beach society galas on the resort’s calendar, as a visit became an essential rite for many Republican candidates.
Many of Mr. Trump’s recent picks were regular fixtures at Mar-a-Lago during this time. Some did more than visit, choosing to host expensive receptions on the property. As Mar-a-Lago’s owner, Mr. Trump is the beneficiary of its profits.
Several of the proposed officials have held campaign fund-raisers or served on the host committee to support another candidate’s event. Others hosted or co-hosted larger events for organizations they lead or champion.
At least 13 made appearances at Trump’s criminal trial in New York.
Mr. Trump’s criminal trial in Manhattan was a staging ground for allies to prove their loyalty. Several of his recent picks traveled to New York in the spring to show support. Some were there in a professional context. Todd Blanche, Mr. Trump’s choice for deputy attorney general, was one of his trial lawyers, and Susie Wiles, Mr. Trump’s incoming chief of staff, was co-chair of his 2024 presidential campaign.
Others, like Vice President-elect JD Vance and Doug Burgum, Mr. Trump’s pick for interior secretary, attended the trial as spectators and attacked members of the presiding judge’s family on behalf of Mr. Trump, who was under a rule of silence. Both were considered potential running mates at the time.
At least 17 are associated with the America First Policy Institute or Project 2025.
Mr. Trump spent much of the campaign distancing himself from Project 2025, a sprawling initiative spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation that included a “blueprint” document for a new conservative administration that was authored in part by former Trump staffers. But since winning the election, Mr. Trump has picked at least seven people with ties to the controversial conservative policy initiative to serve in his administration.
Project 2025 also includes a database of Heritage-vetted personnel intended to help a Republican president build rank-and-file staff. It remains to be seen to what extent those candidates will be hired in the new administration.
The America First Policy Institute, which like the Heritage Foundation is a pro-Trump think tank, is also heavily represented in his picks so far. At least 11 of the people among his picks have ties to the upstart policy group. Much like Project 2025, the think tank has prepared staffing plans and a policy agenda, and it reportedly has drafted nearly 300 executive orders ready for Mr. Trump’s signature.
At least 11 are or have been Fox hosts or contributors.
Some of Mr. Trump’s appointees are closely linked to Fox as either hosts, former hosts or contributors. Pete Hegseth was a host on “Fox & Friends” until he became Mr. Trump’s pick for defense secretary. Mr. Hegseth’s co-host was Rachel Campos-Duffy, who is married to Sean Duffy, Mr. Trump’s cabinet pick for transportation secretary. Mr. Duffy also co-hosted a show on Fox Business.
Mr. Trump’s choice for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, hosted a show on Fox for seven years. More recently, Mr. Ramaswamy was tapped to host a five-part series on Fox Nation.
Many more figures in Mr. Trump’s orbit are frequent guests on Fox News, and several not counted here have contributed digital columns to the Fox News website. Mr. Wright caught Mr. Trump’s attention in part through his appearances on Fox News.
At least 9 are or have been registered lobbyists.
The revolving door between lobbying and government is a tradition in Washington — and one of the practices Mr. Trump pledged to eliminate when he said he would “drain the swamp.” But some of the people Mr. Trump has tapped for his administration have deep ties to that very swamp.
Ms. Wiles was registered as a lobbyist until early this year. Pam Bondi, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, joined a lobbying firm run by a prominent Florida fund-raiser after she finished her second term as Florida attorney general. Mr. Duffy lobbied for a coalition of airlines in 2020.
Some of Mr. Trump’s selections not shown here have acted as lobbyists without officially registering — another longstanding custom in the nation’s capital. Russell T. Vought, Mr. Trump’s choice to lead the Office of Management and Budget, noted in paperwork for his 2017 Senate confirmation hearing that he had “engaged in grassroots lobbying.”
At least 28 served in or advised the previous Trump administration.
More than two dozen of Mr. Trump’s cabinet and other senior-level picks also served in some capacity in his first administration.
Some have been chosen for roles related to their previous jobs. Thomas Homan was the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Mr. Trump’s first term and has been named the border czar, a position that does not require Senate confirmation, for the coming term.
Others have been tapped for roles less related to their previous positions. Ms. McMahon was the administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019, and she is now Mr. Trump’s choice for education secretary.
Several on this list did not have official, full-time jobs during Mr. Trump’s last term, but they were chosen by him to sit on advisory boards. Those people include Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Huckabee and Mr. Musk.
Explore the members of Mr. Trump’s proposed senior staff below.
Scott Bessent Potential role
Treasury secretary
Role infirst term
—
BillionareYes Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Jay Bhattacharya Potential role
National Institutes of Health director
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
James Blair Potential role
White House deputy chief of staff
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Todd Blanche Potential role
Deputy attorney general
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Pam Bondi Potential role
Attorney general
Role infirst term
Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Massad Boulos Potential role
Senior adviser for Arab and Middle Eastern affairs
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
James Braid Potential role
White House legislative affairs director
Role infirst term
Deputy to the associate director for
legislative affairs
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Matt Brasseaux Potential role
White House political affairs director
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Taylor Budowich Potential role
White House deputy chief of staff
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Doug Burgum Potential role
Interior secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Brendan Carr Potential role
F.C.C. chairman
Role infirst term
F.C.C. commissioner
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Lori Chavez-DeRemer Potential role
Labor secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Steven Cheung Potential role
White House communications director
Role infirst term
White House director of strategic response
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Doug Collins Potential role
Veterans affairs secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Sean Duffy Potential role
Transportation secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes LobbyistYes
Tulsi Gabbard Potential role
Director of national intelligence
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Sergio Gor Potential role
White House director of personnel
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Sebastian Gorka Potential role
Deputy assistant to the president and senior director for counterterrorism
Role infirst term
Deputy assistant to the president and strategist
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Jamieson Greer Potential role
U.S. trade representative
Role infirst term
Chief of staff to trade representative
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Vince Haley Potential role
Director of the Domestic Policy Council
Role infirst term
Deputy assistant to the president
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Kevin Hassett Potential role
Director of White House National Economic Council
Role infirst term
Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Pete Hegseth Potential role
Defense secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Pete Hoekstra Potential role
Ambassador to Canada
Role infirst term
Ambassador to the Netherlands
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Thomas Homan Potential role
Border czar
Role infirst term
Acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Mike Huckabee Potential role
Ambassador to Israel
Role infirst term
Member of board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Keith Kellogg Potential role
Special envoy to Ukraine and Russia
Role infirst term
National security adviser to the vice president
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Potential role
Health and human services secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Charles Kushner Potential role
Ambassador to France
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Alex Latcham Potential role
White House public liaison director
Role infirst term
Special assistant to the president
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Karoline Leavitt Potential role
White House press secretary
Role infirst term
Assistant White House press secretary
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Howard Lutnick Potential role
Commerce secretary
Role infirst term
—
BillionareYes Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Martin A. Makary Potential role
F.D.A. commissioner
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Bill McGinley Potential role
White House counsel
Role infirst term
White House cabinet secretary
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Linda McMahon Potential role
Education secretary
Role infirst term
Small business administrator
Billionare— Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Stephen Miller Potential role
White House deputy chief of staff
Role infirst term
Senior adviser
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Elon Musk Potential role
Co-lead, government efficiency
Role infirst term
Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group
BillionareYes Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Janette Nesheiwat Potential role
U.S. surgeon general
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Kristi Noem Potential role
Homeland security secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Jim O’Neill Potential role
Deputy secretary of health and human services
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Mehmet Oz Potential role
Medicare and Medicaid administrator
Role infirst term
Member of president’s council on sports, fitness and nutrition
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Kash Patel Potential role
F.B.I. director
Role infirst term
Chief of staff to acting defense secretary
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
John Phelan Potential role
Navy secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Vivek Ramaswamy Potential role
Co-lead, government efficiency
Role infirst term
—
BillionareYes Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
John Ratcliffe Potential role
C.I.A. director
Role infirst term
Director of national intelligence
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Brooke Rollins Potential role
Agriculture secretary
Role infirst term
Acting domestic policy adviser
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Marco Rubio Potential role
Secretary of state
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
D. John Sauer Potential role
U.S. solicitor general
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Dan Scavino Potential role
White House deputy chief of staff
Role infirst term
White House deputy chief of staff
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Will Scharf Potential role
White House staff secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Elise Stefanik Potential role
U.N. ambassador
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Scott Turner Potential role
Housing and urban development secretary
Role infirst term
Executive director of White House opportunity and revitalization council
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
JD Vance Potential role
Vice president
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Russell T. Vought Potential role
Office of Management and Budget director
Role infirst term
Office of Management and Budget director
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Michael Waltz Potential role
National security adviser
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto FoxYes Lobbyist—
Dave Weldon Potential role
C.D.C. director
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Matthew Whitaker Potential role
NATO ambassador
Role infirst term
Acting attorney general
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Susie Wiles Potential role
White House chief of staff
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trialYes Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Steven Witkoff Potential role
Middle East envoy
Role infirst term
Member of Great American Economic Revival industry group
BillionareYes Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Alex Wong Potential role
Assistant to the president and principal deputy national security adviser
Role infirst term
Deputy special representative for North Korea
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— LobbyistYes
Chris Wright Potential role
Energy secretary
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donorYes Hosted M.A.L.event(s)— AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPI— Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Lee Zeldin Potential role
E.P.A. administrator
Role infirst term
—
Billionare— Major donor— Hosted M.A.L.event(s)Yes AttendedN.Y. trial— Ties to Proj. 2025 or AFPIYes Tiesto Fox— Lobbyist—
Methodology
This list reflects 61 cabinet and senior-level position picks that Mr. Trump had announced as of noon Eastern on Dec. 2.
To determine ties to Project 2025, The Times checked Mr. Trump’s proposed staff members against the authors, editors and contributors to the Project 2025 playbook, as well as the instructor lists in Project 2025’s training programs. Ties to the America First Policy Institute were determined by whether an individual had a listed role on the conservative group’s website or has served as a fellow for the group.
To determine ties to Fox News, The Times searched for each staff pick on Fox’s website, which lists individuals’ affiliations with Fox News. In instances where a biographical page was not available for a nominee, The Times attempted a further search on the Internet Archive and consulted news articles that described other relationships between the potential nominees and appointees and Fox News. In many cases, nominees had a presence on the Fox News website in the form of submitted opinion articles, but were not described as Fox contributors, so The Times did not classify them as being tied to Fox directly.
Accounts by Times reporters and photographers who covered Mr. Trump’s trial in New York were used to determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks attended the trial.
Those labeled billionaires have been referred to as such in other Times coverage.
Major donors include people who gave at least $250,000 to support Mr. Trump during the 2024 election cycle.
The Times used congressional lobbying disclosure databases to determine whether an individual is or has ever been a registered lobbyist.
To determine whether one of Mr. Trump’s picks hosted or co-hosted an event at Mar-a-Lago, The Times used permits from the town of Palm Beach; federal, state and county campaign finance records; tax records; social media posts; and promotional materials from organizations that held events.
The Times used the official White House archive from the first Trump administration to determine whether people selected for the second administration also served in the first. Some held multiple positions during the course of the administration. In most cases, the chart reflects the last position they held.