George W. Bush’s cabinet members numbered more than three dozen across his two terms from January 2001 to January 2009, leading fourteen executive departments at the start and fifteen after the Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002.1Congress.gov. H.R. 5005 – 107th Congress (2001-2002) – Homeland Security Act of 2002 Only Elaine Chao at the Department of Labor stayed the entire eight years. Every other seat turned over at least once, and Treasury and Attorney General turned over twice.
State Department
Colin Powell was sworn in as Secretary of State on January 20, 2001, the first African American to hold the office.2Office of the Historian. Colin Luther Powell He led U.S. diplomacy through the response to September 11 and the buildup to the Iraq War, and served until January 2005. Condoleezza Rice, previously the President’s National Security Advisor, was sworn in on January 26, 2005, and served the second term.3The White House Archives. Condoleezza Rice She was the first African American woman in the role.4Office of the Historian. Condoleezza Rice
Defense Department
Donald Rumsfeld became Secretary of Defense in January 2001 and oversaw the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. He had previously held the same post under President Ford, making him both the youngest and oldest person to serve in it. He resigned on November 8, 2006, the day after the midterm elections.5The American Presidency Project. Remarks on the Resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and the Nomination of Robert M. Gates Robert Gates, a former CIA director, replaced him and continued serving into the Obama administration.
Treasury Department
Treasury had three secretaries. Paul O’Neill, the 72nd Secretary, was sworn in on Inauguration Day 2001 and left office in December 2002 after clashes with other members of the economic team.6U.S. Department of the Treasury. Paul H. O’Neill (2001 – 2002) John Snow was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on January 30, 2003.7The White House Archives. John W. Snow, Secretary of the Treasury, 2003-2006 Henry Paulson, formerly chairman of Goldman Sachs, was confirmed on June 28, 2006, and his tenure was defined by the 2008 financial crisis and the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, which created the Troubled Asset Relief Program.8Congress.gov. H.R. 1424 – 110th Congress (2007-2008)
Justice Department
John Ashcroft served as the 79th Attorney General from 2001 through early February 2005, focused on federal law enforcement powers after September 11 and the implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act.9United States Department of Justice. Attorney General John David Ashcroft Alberto Gonzales, who had been White House Counsel, was sworn in as the 80th Attorney General on February 3, 2005.10The White House. Alberto Gonzales – Former Attorney General Gonzales announced his resignation on August 27, 2007, effective September 17, amid controversy over the dismissal of several U.S. Attorneys.11United States Department of Justice. Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales Announcing His Resignation Michael Mukasey, a retired federal judge, served as the 81st Attorney General through the end of the administration.
Education Department
Rod Paige, former superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, was confirmed as the 7th Secretary of Education on January 21, 2001.12U.S. Department of Education. Rod Paige His central task was passing and implementing the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.13Congress.gov. H.R. 1 – 107th Congress (2001-2002) – No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Margaret Spellings succeeded him in early 2005 and served through January 2009.
Health and Human Services
Tommy Thompson was sworn in on February 2, 2001, and served until January 26, 2005.14The White House Archives. Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services His department handled the federal response to the 2001 anthrax attacks and the administration’s policy limiting federal funding for embryonic stem cell research to cell lines existing before August 9, 2001. Michael Leavitt replaced Thompson and oversaw the January 1, 2006, launch of Medicare Part D, created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003.15Congress.gov. H.R. 1 – 108th Congress (2003-2004) – Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
Labor Department
Elaine Chao served as Secretary of Labor for all eight years, the longest-serving Labor Secretary since World War II and the first Asian American woman appointed to a President’s Cabinet.16U.S. Department of Labor. Hall of Secretaries – Elaine L. Chao During her tenure the department updated white-collar overtime regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.17The White House Archives. Elaine L. Chao Secretary of Labor
Agriculture Department
Ann Veneman led the Department of Agriculture from 2001 to 2005, the first woman to hold the position.18USDA. In Conversation with WomeninAg – Ann Veneman Ed Schafer served the remainder of the administration.
Housing and Urban Development
Mel Martinez served from 2001 to 2003 before leaving to run for the U.S. Senate. Alphonso Jackson followed, and Steve Preston finished out the administration.
Commerce Department
Donald Evans, a close personal friend of the President, served as the 34th Secretary of Commerce from 2001 to 2005.19The White House Archives. Former Secretary of Commerce Don Evans Carlos Gutierrez, formerly CEO of Kellogg Company, took over for the second term.
Energy Department
Spencer Abraham became the 10th Secretary of Energy on Inauguration Day 2001 and helped develop the administration’s first National Energy Policy, recommended Yucca Mountain as the national nuclear waste repository, and launched the FreedomCAR hydrogen fuel cell program.20U.S. Department of Energy. Spencer Abraham, Secretary, Department of Energy Samuel Bodman served the second term and oversaw passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Interior Department
Gale Norton served as Secretary of the Interior from January 2001 through March 2006, followed by Dirk Kempthorne.
Transportation Department
Norman Mineta, a Democrat who had served as Commerce Secretary under President Clinton, became the first cabinet member to move directly from a Democratic to a Republican administration. He served as the 14th Secretary of Transportation from January 25, 2001, until July 6, 2006, the longest-serving Transportation Secretary in the department’s history.21The White House Archives. Norman Y. Mineta, Former Secretary of Transportation, 2001-2006 Mary Peters succeeded him.
Veterans Affairs
Anthony Principi led the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2001 to 2005. Jim Nicholson was confirmed in January 2005, and James Peake finished out the administration.
Homeland Security
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 consolidated 22 federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, FEMA, the Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the newly created Transportation Security Administration, into a fifteenth cabinet department.1Congress.gov. H.R. 5005 – 107th Congress (2001-2002) – Homeland Security Act of 2002 Tom Ridge had run the earlier White House Office of Homeland Security, a position created by executive order on October 8, 2001, before becoming the first Senate-confirmed Secretary when the department stood up in 2003.22The White House Archives. Biography of Governor Tom Ridge Michael Chertoff, a former federal judge and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, was sworn in as the second Secretary on February 15, 2005, and led the department’s response to Hurricane Katrina.23The White House Archives. Michael Chertoff Secretary of Homeland Security
Cabinet-Rank Officials Beyond the Departments
Bush also gave cabinet rank to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Director of National Drug Control Policy, and they attended cabinet meetings.24The White House Archives. President Bush’s Cabinet Vice President Dick Cheney and the White House Chief of Staff also sat with the cabinet.
Historical Firsts
Powell’s 2001 appointment made him the first African American Secretary of State, and Rice’s 2005 appointment made her the first African American woman to hold the office; both put an African American fourth in the presidential line of succession.2Office of the Historian. Colin Luther Powell Elaine Chao was the first Asian American woman in any President’s Cabinet.16U.S. Department of Labor. Hall of Secretaries – Elaine L. Chao Ann Veneman was the first woman to lead the Department of Agriculture.18USDA. In Conversation with WomeninAg – Ann Veneman Mel Martinez was the first Cuban American in a cabinet post, and Alberto Gonzales was the first Hispanic Attorney General.
The Cabinet on January 20, 2009
The final lineup was Condoleezza Rice at State, Robert Gates at Defense, Henry Paulson at Treasury, Michael Mukasey at Justice, Ed Schafer at Agriculture, Carlos Gutierrez at Commerce, Margaret Spellings at Education, Samuel Bodman at Energy, Michael Leavitt at Health and Human Services, Steve Preston at Housing and Urban Development, Elaine Chao at Labor, Mary Peters at Transportation, Dirk Kempthorne at Interior, James Peake at Veterans Affairs, and Michael Chertoff at Homeland Security.24The White House Archives. President Bush’s Cabinet