Trump makes 315 political appointments as Senate confirmations lag

Trump Administration Fills 315 of 1,300 Key Political Posts, as Senate Confirmations Lag

As President Donald Trump continues shaping his administration in his second term, new data reveals that of the roughly 1,300 positions requiring Senate confirmation, only 66 have been successfully confirmed so far. The Trump administration has officially nominated 315 individuals to fill roles across Cabinet departments, federal agencies, and independent commissions, according to tracking by the Partnership for Public Service and The Washington Post.

Senate-confirmed roles far from fully staffed

Among the 822 roles currently tracked, 324 positions have yet to receive a Trump nominee, and 246 nominees are under active Senate consideration. Three candidates await formal nomination, and 185 officials are serving in termed roles or carried over from previous administrations.

The pace of confirmations, now in mid-May 2025, significantly trails previous administrations in their respective first years. By this point, George W. Bush had 403 confirmations, Barack Obama had 383, and Joe Biden had 267. Trump’s first term saw 238 confirmations during the same period.

Cabinet picks in place

Despite the slow confirmation rate, all Cabinet-level nominations have been made. High-profile picks include:

• Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services

• Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

• Linda E. McMahon at Education

• Pete Hegseth at Defense

• Scott Bessent at Treasury

All 22 Cabinet positions have a nominee, and most have been confirmed.

Notable confirmed nominees

Among the 66 confirmed officials are:

• Jamieson Greer as U.S. Trade Representative

• Doug Collins as Secretary of Veterans Affairs

• Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence

• Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the EPA

In contrast, major federal agencies and diplomatic posts remain vacant or await Senate action, raising operational concerns.

Confirmation bottlenecks

Dozens of nominees for key positions — including ambassadors, undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and inspector generals — are currently stalled in Senate committees or awaiting hearings. For example:

• David Perdue has been confirmed as Ambassador to China

• Mike Huckabee was approved as Ambassador to Israel

• Charles Kushner awaits final vote as Ambassador to France

Many others, including multiple ambassadorships in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, remain unfilled.

Agencies facing gaps in leadership

Departments such as Health and Human Services, the Interior, and the Department of Homeland Security have numerous assistant secretary and agency director roles without nominees. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is especially understaffed, with no current nominees for any of its 15 key roles.

Inspector General roles also remain critically vacant across multiple departments, including Treasury, Education, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs.

Political dynamics at play

The slow pace reflects both internal delays and Senate bottlenecks. Some nominees face ideological opposition or scrutiny over past statements. Others are reportedly delayed due to White House vetting and procedural holdups in Senate committees.

Trump’s use of holdover personnel and termed positions partially offsets the gap but has also drawn criticism about transparency and long-term planning.

Looking ahead

With nearly 1,000 federal roles still requiring attention — either by nomination or confirmation — the administration faces mounting pressure to fill these vacancies to ensure government functionality and policy continuity.

For now, the White House is expected to continue announcing new picks weekly as hearings and Senate votes slowly move forward.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for comprehensive tracking of federal appointments and confirmation updates across all agencies and departments.