Trump names Cabinet choices for surgeon general, CDC, FDA, USDA

Nov. 23 (UPI) -- President-elect Donald Trump announced nominations for surgeon general, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration among others late Friday and on Saturday.

On Friday, Trump nominated Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as U.S. Surgeon General. Nesheiwat is a medical doctor, treated thousands during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to Operation Warp Speed to fast-track a COVID-19 vaccine.

Dr. Dave Weldon is Trump's appointee as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Given the current chronic health crisis in our country, the CDC must step up and correct past errors to focus on the prevention of disease," Trump said in a statement announcing Weldon's appointment.

Weldon is an Army veteran and a former U.S. representative who served on the Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee and has 40 years of experience providing healthcare.

Trump also appointed Dr. Marty Makary as director of the Food and Drug Administration.

Makary is a surgeon, professor at Johns Hopkins University and an author who opposed vaccine mandates. During a 2023 congressional hearing, Makary said COVID-19 was caused by a lab leak in China.

U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., is Trump's choice for secretary of labor.

Alex Wong is Trump's pick as principal deputy national security advisor and assistant to the president. Wong previously was part of Trump's national security team during his first term.

Trump also nominated Sebastian Gorka as senior director for counter-terrorism and deputy assistant to the president. Gorka was a deputy assistant to Trump in 2017 and is a military and intelligence adviser. He also is a radio personality who makes frequent appearances on Fox News.

Scott Turner also is Trump's choice for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Turner is a former pro football player and served as the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in Trump's first administration.

And on Saturday, Trump filled the last of 19 Cabinet positions by tapping Brooke Rollins to be the Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins, who was a member of Trump's Economic Advisory Council during his first term, is currently CEO of America First Policy Institute think-tank.

Her choice something of a surprise after former Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia was widely considered to be the front-runner for the USDA job.