President-Elect Donald Trump' Cabinet - Jacob Greifer & Ben Ellman

Ben Carson: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

1. Carson is a former neurosurgeon that ran for President this year. Earning a medical degree, Carson’s entire career has been dedicated to being a doctor. Of his medical accolades, one of his most well-known was his successes in separating twins. His short presidential campaign showed his inexperience in politics, and I don’t think he’s qualified to be in the cabinet.
2. I don’t think Carson will have a good likelihood for being confirmed to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. His presidential campaign showed the country how unknowledgeable he is politically, and I think people will remember that more than his doctoral successes when deciding.
3. Carson’s political commentary has shown him to be against Obama’s efforts to improve racial integration in housing. If elected, his policies may take a step backwards for integrating communities.

Rex Tillerson: Secretary of State

1. Tillerson has no experience for his position of Secretary of State. He has been a businessman, a successful one, for his entire career. Tillerson has dealt with foreign countries before, but this was only for business deals, not political agreements or decisions. These are two very different things, so it remains to be seen whether or not Tillerson’s business experience will translate into political success. Tillerson rose the ranks of Exxon and is now the CEO.
2. Tillerson has a good likelihood for being confirmed to be Secretary of State. He has been a lifelong Republican, and is a very successful businessman. Given that Congress has a Republican majority, who supported Trump, then Tillerson will most likely be confirmed.
3. Tillerson is known to be very close with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and as CEO of Exxon has made many deals with them. Considering Trump also has a relationship with Putin, Tillerson will likely implement deals with Russia, and attempt to be friends with them. I think that this plan will hurt the US, since Russia has always been an enemy of the US, and with their recent actions in Crimea and Syria, and possible involvement in meddling in the Presidential Election, I don’t think it is a good idea to be friendly with a country that does these unacceptable actions.

Betsy DeVos: Secretary of Education

1. Betsy DeVos has very little experience in regards to her position as Secretary of Education. She has limited political experience, and no educational experience. DeVos attended private, Christian schools her entire life. She has participated political fundraising and has some experience as being a local delegate in Michigan.
2. Betsy DeVos will most likely be confirmed for Secretary of Education due to her Republican views. She is for school choice and competition between schools. She also holds traditional Christian values, something many Republicans, especially those in Congress, like.
3. DeVos is an opponent of public schools, so will most likely try and implement policies for charter schools. She will also most likely try to implement competition in public schools in order to try and make them more successful. DeVos is an extremely rich Republican, and will probably not support Teacher unions. Her policies will lend more favorably towards richer people, since she supports private and charter institutions. Additionally, poorer public schools will not receive additional funding either, meaning many will most likely close down.