Women in Presidential Cabinets and High-Level Staff in the Executive Office of the President

Women currently hold four of 24 (16.7%) Cabinet or Cabinet-level appointments in the Trump administration. Eight total women have been appointed to these positions in Trump’s second term, with representation of women peaking at 33.3%. 

Women in presidential Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions and high-level staff in the Executive Office of the President wield great political power. They are often in the room or at the tables where decisions are made and are trusted sources of information to guide political decisions. 

The four women who currently serve in President Trump’s Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions are:

• Kelly Loeffler, Small Business Administrator (from 02/2025)
• Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education (from 03/2025
• Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture (from 02/2025)
• Susan Wiles, Chief of Staff (from 01/2025) *This position does not require Senate confirmation.

Susan Wiles is the first woman to serve as a president's chief of staff in U.S. history. 

Women’s representation in presidential Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions dropped by half in the last three months. These women left their positions as Cabinet or Cabinet-level members:

• Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security (01/2025 – 03/2026)
• Pam Bondi, Attorney General (02/2025 – 04/2026)
• Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Secretary of Labor (03/2025 – 04/2026)
• Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (02/2025 – 06/2026)

Seventy-three women (43D, 30R) have been appointed to presidential Cabinets throughout U.S. history.1 This includes nine (5D, 4R) women who served in more than one Cabinet or Cabinet-level position. 

To date, eight women have served as secretary of labor, making it the position where greatest number of women have served. In fact, the first woman appointed to a presidential Cabinet, Frances Perkins, was appointed as secretary of labor. She was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 and served in this position until 1945, including the entirety of Roosevelt’s time in office and briefly after Harry Truman succeeded him. 

Similarly, many other women made history as members of presidential Cabinets. 

• Patricia Roberts Harris became the first Black woman appointed to a presidential Cabinet when President Carter appointed her as secretary of housing and urban development in 1977.
• Aída Álvarez became the first Latina appointed to a presidential Cabinet when President Clinton appointed her as small business administrator in 1997.
• Elaine Chao became the first Asian American/Pacific Islander woman appointed to a presidential Cabinet when President George W. Bush appointed her as secretary of labor in 2001. 
• Deb Haaland became the first Native American woman appointed to a presidential Cabinet when President Biden appointed her as secretary of the interior in 2021. 

Only 12 U.S. presidents (5D, 7R) in total have appointed women to Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions. The percentage of women in Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions reached its historic high during the Biden administration when 13 women served, representing 52% of those in Biden's Cabinet. These 13 women served concurrently from September 2022 to March 2023. 

Women who have been appointed to presidential Cabinets have brought experiences and expertise from various professions, including elective offices, the law, and academia to guide critical policy decisions. 

• 27 women Cabinet/Cabinet-level members have been attorneys.
• 19 women Cabinet/Cabinet-level members have held federal or statewide offices.
• 14 women Cabinet/Cabinet-level members have been in academia.

Women Cabinet or Cabinet-level members with experience in more than one of the categories above are counted in each of them.

In addition to Cabinet and Cabinet-level appointments, women have played vital roles as high-level staff in the Executive Office of the President. Among them are press secretaries, senior advisors, and chairs and directors of executive councils or offices. 

Women who are currently in high-level executive office staff positions include:

• Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary (from 01/2025)
• Catherine Keller, Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (from 01/2025)
• Hayley Harrison, Chief of Staff to the First Lady (from 01/2025)
• Sara Carter, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (from 01/2026)
• Lea Bardon, White House Cabinet Secretary (from 09/2025)
• Katherine Scarlett, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality & Member of National Energy Dominance Council (from 09/2025)

These data highlight the importance of identifying women’s political power and influence in unelected roles. 

For more information, see our High-Level Presidential Appointments page. 

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  CAWP collects data on women who are appointed to positions designated as Cabinet or Cabinet-level, including vice president, by a presidential administration. This designation depends on each presidential administration.