Obama's New Cabinet: 14 to Watch

The heavily decorated Vietnam War Army infantryman and former Nebraska Republican should have been a shoe-in to succeed retiring secretary Leon E. Panetta. But his harsh assessment of U.S. policy in Iraq and Iran, and controversial statements about the “J

Secretary of Defense- Chuck Hagel The heavily decorated Vietnam War Army infantryman and former Nebraska Republican should have been a shoe-in to succeed retiring secretary Leon E. Panetta. But his harsh assessment of U.S. policy in Iraq and Iran, and controversial statements about the “J The heavily decorated Vietnam War Army infantryman and former Nebraska Republican should have been a shoe-in to succeed retiring secretary Leon E. Panetta. But his harsh assessment of U.S. policy in Iraq and Iran, and controversial statements about the “Jewish lobby” and gays will almost certainly invite a tough line of questioning from Republicans and Democrats alike – although Hagel recently won an important blessing from Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Some Republicans fear that Hagel, at the president’s behest, will cut too much from the Pentagon’s already shrinking budget. Getty Images

In choosing Lew -to succeed Timothy Geithner at Treasury, Obama has turned to a trusted aide and one of Washington’s most seasoned budget negotiators – a strong ally of liberal Democrats whose style has aggravated congressional Republicans. Lew, the curre

Treasury Secretary- Jack Lew In choosing Lew -to succeed Timothy Geithner at Treasury, Obama has turned to a trusted aide and one of Washington’s most seasoned budget negotiators – a strong ally of liberal Democrats whose style has aggravated congressional Republicans. Lew, the curre In choosing Lew -to succeed Timothy Geithner at Treasury, Obama has turned to a trusted aide and one of Washington’s most seasoned budget negotiators – a strong ally of liberal Democrats whose style has aggravated congressional Republicans. Lew, the current White House chief of staff, has a long history in Washington, beginning with working for the late House Speaker Tip O’Neill, D-Mass., and later taking on key posts in the Clinton and Obama administrations – twice as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Other than a brief stint as a senior executive in charge of operations at Citigroup’s alternative investments division from 2006 to 2009, Lew has had no long-term experience in the financial world. AP

<p>The acting Secretary of Commerce took over for John Bryson who departed the administration after a medical leave after suffering a seizure and hitting two cars in anincident last June. Blank has served as acting secretary twice since 2009. Before arr

Secretary of Commerce- Rebecca Blank

The acting Secretary of Commerce took over for John Bryson who departed the administration after a medical leave after suffering a seizure and hitting two cars in anincident last June. Blank has served as acting secretary twice since 2009. Before arr

The acting Secretary of Commerce took over for John Bryson who departed the administration after a medical leave after suffering a seizure and hitting two cars in anincident last June. Blank has served as acting secretary twice since 2009. Before arriving at the Department of Commerce, she was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and dean of the Gerald Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

<p>Zients stepped in as acting director after Jack Lew was elevated from budget director to White House chief of staff. Zients had specialized at OMB in personnel and management issues and previously was in the private sector, where he started his own p

OMB Director- Jeffrey Zients

Zients stepped in as acting director after Jack Lew was elevated from budget director to White House chief of staff. Zients had specialized at OMB in personnel and management issues and previously was in the private sector, where he started his own p

Zients stepped in as acting director after Jack Lew was elevated from budget director to White House chief of staff. Zients had specialized at OMB in personnel and management issues and previously was in the private sector, where he started his own private-equity firm. Some speculate that Wal-Mart Foundation President Sylvia Mathews Burwell is a frontrunner to take over as director.

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<p>The veteran Massachusetts Democratic senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee will succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Kerry, the current Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, breezed through his confirmation hearing before

Secretary of State- John F. Kerry

The veteran Massachusetts Democratic senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee will succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Kerry, the current Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, breezed through his confirmation hearing before

The veteran Massachusetts Democratic senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee will succeed Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. Kerry, the current Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, breezed through his confirmation hearing before the committee on Thursday. He has undertaken sensitive diplomatic missions for Obama in Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and helped prepare Obama for his presidential debates with Republican Mitt Romney last year. He got the nomination after U.N. ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration after taking GOP heat for her response to the September 11 terrorist attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.

REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Turkey Trotter, Attorney General -Eric Holder

The government’s top lawyer knows has danced his way around a buffet of scandals.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

<p>During his four years as education secretary, Duncan has worked on a series of initiatives including the Race to the Top program, Investing in Innovation and expanding Pell Grants for college students. Before joining the Obama administration, Duncan

Department of Education-Arne Duncan

During his four years as education secretary, Duncan has worked on a series of initiatives including the Race to the Top program, Investing in Innovation and expanding Pell Grants for college students. Before joining the Obama administration, Duncan

During his four years as education secretary, Duncan has worked on a series of initiatives including the Race to the Top program, Investing in Innovation and expanding Pell Grants for college students. Before joining the Obama administration, Duncan served as chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools, the third largest school district in the country.

REUTERS/Larry Downing

<p>The Veterans Affairs chief is a decorated Vietnam War vet who has made it a priority to put an end to veteran homelessness. Last year, under Shinseki’s direction, the VA moved 31,000 chronically homeless veterans off the streets and into permanent ho

Secretary of Veterans Affairs-Eric Shinseki

The Veterans Affairs chief is a decorated Vietnam War vet who has made it a priority to put an end to veteran homelessness. Last year, under Shinseki’s direction, the VA moved 31,000 chronically homeless veterans off the streets and into permanent ho

The Veterans Affairs chief is a decorated Vietnam War vet who has made it a priority to put an end to veteran homelessness. Last year, under Shinseki’s direction, the VA moved 31,000 chronically homeless veterans off the streets and into permanent housing. Before joining the president’s cabinet, Shinseki served as the U.S. Army’s chief of staff, retiring from active duty in 2003. Shinseki first gained attention while still in the military for publically questioning the Bush administration’s Iraq war plans.

REUTERS/Tim Shaffer

Napolitano was a highly popular Democratic governor in Arizona before she was picked by Obama four years ago to head the sprawling <a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/01/23/US-Government-Fails-Audit-Again.aspx#page1" target="_blank">Homel

Secretary of Homeland Security-Janet Napolitano Napolitano was a highly popular Democratic governor in Arizona before she was picked by Obama four years ago to head the sprawling Homel Napolitano was a highly popular Democratic governor in Arizona before she was picked by Obama four years ago to head the sprawling Homeland Security department. As governor, she was known for her tough approach to immigration policy. She has had a mixed record in her current job and has weathered repeated controversies over threat assessments. Napolitano was criticized for stating in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley that “the system worked” with regard to an attempted terrorist attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 approaching Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. She later went on NBC's Today Show with host Matt Lauer and admitted that the security system had indeed failed. REUTERS/Andrew Taylor

The former governor of Kansas <a href="http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/01/23/US-Government-Fails-Audit-Again.aspx#page1" target="_blank">took charge of HHS</a> just as the Obama administration was gearing up for a tough, nearly two year battle

Secretary of Health and Human Services-Kathleen Sebelius The former governor of Kansas took charge of HHS just as the Obama administration was gearing up for a tough, nearly two year battle The former governor of Kansas took charge of HHS just as the Obama administration was gearing up for a tough, nearly two year battle on Capitol Hill to pass major health care reform. While the White House took the lead in waging the fight against GOP opponents, Sebelius gradually assumed a bigger role. And since passage of the Affordable Care Act, Sebelius has been the point person in the drive to implement the complicated legislation and to negotiate with the states in establishing insurance exchanges and expanding Medicaid coverage. Sebelius, who is a Roman Catholic, pro-choice advocate, has drawn sharp criticism from social conservatives. Getty Images

<p>Donovan has made it clear he will remain in his position as secretary of Housing and Urban Development throughout the president’s second term. Donovan took over the agency amid a wave of housing foreclosures and broad economic hardship. Before joinin

Secretary of HUD-Shaun Donovan

Donovan has made it clear he will remain in his position as secretary of Housing and Urban Development throughout the president’s second term. Donovan took over the agency amid a wave of housing foreclosures and broad economic hardship. Before joinin

Donovan has made it clear he will remain in his position as secretary of Housing and Urban Development throughout the president’s second term. Donovan took over the agency amid a wave of housing foreclosures and broad economic hardship. Before joining the Obama administration, Donovan was New York City’s housing commissioner.

REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

<p>The former Republican House member from Illinois has been one of the more visible members of Obama’s cabinet, in part because of his affable personality and championing of the nation’s highways and infrastructure. He has been a strong advocate of air

Secretary of Transportation-Ray LaHood

The former Republican House member from Illinois has been one of the more visible members of Obama’s cabinet, in part because of his affable personality and championing of the nation’s highways and infrastructure. He has been a strong advocate of air

The former Republican House member from Illinois has been one of the more visible members of Obama’s cabinet, in part because of his affable personality and championing of the nation’s highways and infrastructure. He has been a strong advocate of airline safety and passenger rights, and took a tough line on auto safety during Toyota’s massive recalls in 2010. LaHood had very limited experience in transportation policy before he was picked for the job. He was s quoted in the New York Times as saying, “They picked me because of the bipartisan thing and the congressional thing, and the friendship thing.” LaHood has signaled that he will likely step down sometime this year.

REUTERS/Larry Downing

<p>The former Iowa governor plans to stay on at the Department of Agriculture for the immediate future. Vilsack is a strong proponent of renewable energy and developing the country’s alternative fuel industry. Like the president, he is a staunch advocat

Secretary of Agriculture-Tom Vilsack

The former Iowa governor plans to stay on at the Department of Agriculture for the immediate future. Vilsack is a strong proponent of renewable energy and developing the country’s alternative fuel industry. Like the president, he is a staunch advocat

The former Iowa governor plans to stay on at the Department of Agriculture for the immediate future. Vilsack is a strong proponent of renewable energy and developing the country’s alternative fuel industry. Like the president, he is a staunch advocate of ethanol and other bio-fuels as an opportunity to reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign oil.

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

<p>Obama has turned to McDonough, his deputy national security adviser and one of his most trusted confidants, to become his new chief of staff. McDonough is widely known for helping to guide the U.S. military drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan and the

White House Chief of Staff- Denis McDonough

Obama has turned to McDonough, his deputy national security adviser and one of his most trusted confidants, to become his new chief of staff. McDonough is widely known for helping to guide the U.S. military drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan and the

Obama has turned to McDonough, his deputy national security adviser and one of his most trusted confidants, to become his new chief of staff. McDonough is widely known for helping to guide the U.S. military drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan and the administration's response to the terrorist attack on a U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya.

But McDonough has had a far broader portfolio in recent years that includes developing political strategy and playing enforcer for those who stray from White House talking points, according to the Washington Post. More than any of Obama’s other chiefs of staff — Rahm Emanuel, William Daley and Jack Lew, McDonough is an Obama true believer who keeps an eye on burnishing his legacy.

REUTERS/Jorge Cabrera