The Cabinet

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.

The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

In order of succession to the Presidency:

Vice President of the United States
Joseph R. Biden

Department of State
Secretary John Kerry
http://www.state.gov

Department of the Treasury
Secretary Jack Lew
http://www.treasury.gov

Department of Defense
Secretary Chuck Hagel
http://www.defense.gov

Department of Justice
Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr.
http://www.usdoj.gov

Department of the Interior
Secretary Sally Jewell
http://www.doi.gov
 
Department of Agriculture
Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack
http://www.usda.gov
 
Department of Commerce
Secretary Penny Pritzker
http://www.commerce.gov

Department of Labor
Secretary Thomas E. Perez
http://www.dol.gov

Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell
http://www.hhs.gov
 
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Secretary Julián Castro
http://www.hud.gov
 
Department of Transportation
Secretary Anthony Foxx
http://www.dot.gov
 
Department of Energy
Secretary Ernest Moniz
http://www.energy.gov
 
Department of Education
Secretary Arne Duncan
http://www.ed.gov
 
Department of Veterans Affairs
Secretary Robert McDonald
http://www.va.gov
 
Department of Homeland Security
Secretary Jeh Johnson
http://www.dhs.gov

The following positions have the status of Cabinet-rank:
 
White House Chief of Staff
Denis McDonough

Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Gina McCarthy
http://www.epa.gov

Office of Management & Budget
Director Shaun L.S. Donovan
whitehouse.gov/omb

United States Trade Representative
Ambassador Michael Froman
www.ustr.gov

United States Mission to the United Nations
Ambassador Samantha Power
usun.state.gov/

Council of Economic Advisers
Chairman Jason Furman
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/cea/
 
Small Business Administration
Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet
www.sba.gov/