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The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is aiming to improve standards for crew aboard fishing vessels operating in the region. At its just-finished conference in Suva, the Commission agreed to implement measures aimed at ensuring fair pay, safe and decent working conditions, and protections against forced labour and other abuses. Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) deputy director general Dr Pio Manoa said the new labour standards are crucial to ensure the safety and dignity of crew. Pio said the FFA members have been key drivers of this initiative, reflecting the agency's collective commitment to social responsibility in fisheries management. Meanwhile, non-government organisation Pew Charitable Trust said the WCPFC is making a critical effort to modernise oversight of the world's largest tuna fishery. The Commission has adopted interim electronic monitoring standards - after ten years of effort - which will ultimately help improve oversight of the region's valuable fisheries. The move means the work of human observers will be augmented by onboard cameras and other technology. An officer for the Pew Charitable Trusts' international fisheries project Dave Gershman said electronic monitoring will increase data collection and help ensure that fishers are following the Commission's rules. However, he said the Commission has again failed to agree to on ways to improve the transparency of transshipment of fish catches. Pew said the Commission's rules on transshipment remain out of alignment with UN recommendations and lag behind standards adopted by the other four tuna regional fisheries management organisations.
OTTAWA — Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says Canada didn't live up to its values on immigration over the last few years as it allowed more people into the country than it could absorb. Carney, who is currently a special adviser to the Liberal party, made those comments during an event in Ottawa held by Cardus, a Christian think tank. Carney says Canada let newcomers down by admitting more workers and students than it could provide for, including with housing, health care and social services. Earlier this fall, the Liberal government announced a plan to significantly reduced its immigration target for permanent residents and to dramatically scale back the number of temporary residents in Canada. Those changes came about after a period of strong population growth that led to mounting criticism of the Liberal government's immigration policies. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged that the federal government did not get the balance right on immigration after the COVID-19 pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian PressNone
Panic among spectators at soccer game kills at least 56 in the West African nation of GuineaAs poultry farms and dairies across California continue to battle bird flu outbreaks, residents may be worried about food safety this holiday season.Our HS sports photos like the ones above put you right up close with the action and the whole experience. Check them out by clicking anywhere in the collage above to open the photo gallery. Don’t forget to share the gallery with friends and relatives. These photos are also available for purchase in a variety of sizes and finishes – just click the “BUY IMAGE” link below any photo to see available options and make a purchase. NJ.com subscribers can also get free print-quality digital downloads of any images in this gallery. Note: Because we are trying to make these galleries available for viewing as quickly as possible, the gallery may not be in its final form. If you only see a few photos, you are probably seeing an early version and more photos will be added later. Please return and refresh the page to see additions. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Football photos: Woodstown at No. 19 Glassboro, Group 1 semifinals, Nov. 22, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 9:13 p.m. Football photos: No. 15 Point Pleasant Boro at No. 7 Rumson-Fair Haven, Group 2 semis, Nov. 22, 2024 Nov. 22, 2024, 10:00 p.m. Mobile device users: For the best experience downloading high-resolution images (available free and to subscribers only) and making photo purchases, it’s best to visit this page from your desktop or laptop computer. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)
The Department of Defense (DoD) published the updated Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program to enforce existing cybersecurity standards across the defense industrial base. This program is designed to ensure the protection of Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) from growing cyber threats. CMMC requirements will be phased into contracts starting in 2025, marking a shift in accountability for safeguarding non-public information throughout the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Key Aspects of the CMMC Program The CMMC framework includes three certification levels, each with progressively more stringent requirements based on the sensitivity of the information handled. Level 1 requires contractors to complete a self-assessment covering 15 basic safeguards outlined in FAR 52.204-21. Level 2 necessitates contractors implement 110 requirements under NIST SP 800-171 and adds a third-party assessment for some contracts. Level 3 adds 24 additional requirements from NIST SP 800-172 with the Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC) conducting assessments every three years. Certification Process and Compliance Steps Each certification level requires specific accountability measures. Level 1 and certain Level 2 contractors conduct self-assessments and report their scores to DoD’s Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS). For some Level 2 and all Level 3 certifications, contractors must undergo a third-party assessment by a certified C3PAO or DIBCAC. Contractors may use a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for up to 180 days to address gaps in requirements. Contractors must submit an annual affirmation to maintain certification, while periodic reassessments ensure ongoing compliance. If requirements cannot be implemented, contractors may request enduring exceptions, particularly if specific technologies lack compatibility with a requirement. Integration of CMMC Requirements in DoD Contracts DoD will roll out CMMC requirements across contracts gradually, with full implementation expected by 2028. Initially, CMMC requirements will apply only to contracts requiring Level 1 or Level 2 self-assessments, but all contracts involving FCI and CUI will include CMMC requirements by 2028. This phased approach gives contractors time to comply yet underscores the need for prompt action. Implications for the Defense Supply Chain CMMC requirements extend beyond prime contractors to subcontractors handling FCI or CUI. Prime contractors must ensure their subcontractors meet the necessary certification level, creating accountability across the supply chain. Preparing for CMMC Certification To prepare for certification, contractors should conduct a thorough internal cybersecurity review under privilege to identify gaps. Contractors who handle CUI must develop a System Security Plan (SSP) to document compliance strategies. Engaging a C3PAO for higher-level certifications and reviewing subcontractor compliance are key steps. Acting early allows contractors to align cybersecurity practices with CMMC requirements. Conclusion The CMMC Program shows the DoD’s commitment to securing its supply chain. Contractors who fail to comply with CMMC requirements risk losing DoD contracts and/or facing government enforcement actions. Defense contractors who plan ahead and take necessary actions will maintain contract eligibility and safeguard sensitive information effectively.
Michigan football secures bowl eligibility in 44-point blowout over Northwestern on Senior Day
TCU's TD barrage breaks open tight game vs. ArizonaNebraska football defeats Wisconsin 44-25, securing program’s first bowl game since 2016
Faster, Smarter, and More Affordable – The U.S.-Made GEN3 Model Delivers Endless Hot Water, Exceptional Efficiency, and Adaptable Design for Every Home SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TrutanklessTM (OTC: TKLS), the premier name in residential electric tankless water heaters, proudly announces the launch of its highly anticipated GEN3 model. Known for its innovation and engineering excellence, Trutankless is back with a cutting-edge solution that promises unmatched reliability, efficiency, and performance for every household. The Trutankless GEN3, shipping now from a U.S.-based manufacturing partner, is built to meet the needs of today's homeowners, combining professional-grade durability with advanced technology for a superior user experience. With faster time-to-temperature – reaching the set point in just 15 seconds, twice as fast as previous models – the GEN3 delivers endless hot water with exceptional energy efficiency. Its sleek, compact, wall-mounted design saves up to 9 square feet of space compared to traditional tanks, making it ideal for modern homes. "Our goal with the GEN3 is to redefine what homeowners can expect from a water heater," said Guy Newman , CEO of Trutankless. "We've taken everything our customers love about Trutankless and made it even better, more reliable, more efficient, and more adaptable to modern living, while keeping affordability in focus." The Trutankless GEN3 is packed with features that set it apart: Every Trutankless GEN3 unit is engineered, tested, and built in the U.S. to meet the highest standards of quality. Backed by an industry-leading protection plan for sellers with a 5-year parts warranty and a 2-year full system warranty, GEN3 ensures long-term peace of mind for homeowners. Trutankless has a legacy of innovation, previously recognized as the Best Home Technology Product by the National Association of Home Builders. With GEN3, the brand continues to lead the electric tankless water heater industry, setting new benchmarks in performance and sustainability. The Trutankless GEN3 is available for purchase through authorized dealers and installers. For more information or to find a local installer, visit https://www.trutankless.com/ . About TrutanklessTM TrutanklessTM is a leading innovator in electric tankless water heating technology. Dedicated to providing efficient, reliable, and eco-friendly solutions, Trutankless continues to set the standard for performance and innovation in the residential water heating industry. https://www.instagram.com/trutankless/ https://www.facebook.com/trutankless https://www.linkedin.com/company/trutankless / View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trutankless-shipping-gen3-redefining-electric-tankless-water-heating-302320061.html SOURCE Trutankless, Inc.
Kindle Unlimited Subscription Costs Less Than a DollarCarver Bancorp director Grannum Colvin buys $19,999 in common stockArticle content Toronto Raptors management and head coach Darko Rajakovic felt pretty good about the team’s haul after last June’s draft, but you never really know for sure until the players take the court. It’s early days sure, with only about a quarter of this season completed, but the team has to be feeling even better now after seeing No. 19 selection Ja’Kobe Walter start to blossom with a bigger opportunity, No. 31 pick Jonathan Mogbo bringing a varied toolkit every night, No. 45 pick Jamal Shead providing dogged determination, aggressive defence and an ability to get to the basket. Finally, rookie Jamison Battle, who went undrafted but was quickly snapped up by the Raptors on a two-way contract, was expected to spend most of the year in Mississauga with Raptors 905. Instead, he’s only played one G League game so far and 20 NBA contests, shooting 41% on three-point shots in a floor-spacing role. For a franchise that was rightly hailed for a while as one of the best developmental organizations in the NBA, only to see the pipeline stall in recent years, the emergence of this class as viable NBA players so quickly is a needed win. Financially speaking, when you’re paying mega-money to franchise player Scottie Barnes and starters Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, plus sizeable amounts to other veterans, you need a bunch of productive players on more manageable rookie scale deals to make it all work. And competitively, the more serviceable players (and ideally ones who complement your top talent) you have, the better you’re going to be. Shead and Battle turned strong training camps and preseason games into longer looks and have had their moments, while Mogbo, asked to do more, has had stops and starts. Sometimes he blends in, but in plenty of games he’s wowed with his rebounding and passing ability (including in the two previous games against the Miami Heat, where Mogbo dominated the boards and also excelled as an outlet when Miami went into a zone). Though Toronto has been hit with a double whammy of tons of injuries and close losses, spirits have remained high, with little signs of frustration. Rajakovic and his staff have done a strong job in that regard and it’s helped that the rookies have brought positive energy. Mogbo credited the coaches, as well as veterans like Garrett Temple for creating the good vibes. “I feel like everyone takes care of each other here,” Mogbo told Postmedia after Sunday’s home win over Miami. Whether it’s the rookies supporting their peers, the coaches helping them get better, or the veterans getting in their ears, it’s all made the adjustment to the NBA a lot easier. “You have guys on the bench, all the vets, just giving great advice and tips. We have a great surrounding, so there’s not a time where we should be sped up or we shouldn’t know what to expect,” Mogbo said. When the losses were piling up, we sought out the sage Temple to see how the youngsters were doing. Keep in mind that Shead was the winningest player in Houston Cougars history and the others are used to winning most of the time as well. “I think they’ve handled it well,” Temple told Postmedia a couple of weeks ago when Toronto was mired in a tough losing skid. “I think, the atmosphere has been amazing. On a team that’s (struggling in the win-loss column) ... a lot of credit goes to Coach, and a lot of credit goes to the young guys, keeping things fresh, understanding when to be silly and have fun and when to lock in, and that’s difficult for a team with four rookies,” said Temple, who is in his 15th NBA season. “They haven’t gone through a stretch like this, probably before, definitely not recently, in their college career, so I think they’ve handled it really well, and it’s going to bode well for their growth,” he predicted. So far, Temple has been right. An injury to promising sophomore guard Gradey Dick has given Walter a chance to start recent games and he’s flashed intriguing potential at both ends of the floor. “It’s amazing for him to have this opportunity, he worked really hard during his rehab program (with Raptors 905),” Rajakovic said. “He took that very seriously, he was very professional about it, played really hard, played inside the system and that gave me enough confidence to throw him into the fire and see how he does.” Rajakovic said he’s liked that Walter is “not afraid” on offence. In the games against Miami he dropped his shoulder to gain a path for a bucket, scored on fadeaways and pull-ups and from beyond the arc. None of the rookies have looked afraid. All believe they belong and have acted like it from the start, even if none of them were as highly touted as some of the other players in their draft class. “People might say we’re not this or that, but I feel like we just got to play our roles,” Mogbo said. “I feel like we do a great job of doing that and going out there, playing hard ... That’s what we take pride in. The team gets along, the coaches get along, and that’s why we’re comfortable. You can’t get too comfortable, obviously, but I feel like we’re doing good. Everyone has a good head on their shoulders,” he said. Walter mentioned post-game that the game is starting to slow down a bit for him, making it easier to do the things that have gotten him to this level. Mogbo agreed. “The game is slowing down, you’ve just got to take your time with it. NBA is a high pace. Has its pace, different pace at different times,” he said. “Just being yourself, not trying to do too much. Just play hard. When you play hard everything comes into place.” @WolstatSunWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday that he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be his agriculture secretary, the last of his picks to lead executive agencies and another choice from within his established circle of advisers and allies. The nomination must be confirmed by the Senate, which will be controlled by Republicans when Trump takes office Jan. 20. Then-President Donald Trump looks to Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, as she speaks during a Jan. 11, 2018, prison reform roundtable in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins would succeed Tom Vilsack , President Joe Biden’s agriculture secretary who oversees the sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition. Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as his former domestic policy chief. She is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. Rollins, 52, previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Brooke Rollins, assistant to the president and director of the Domestic Policy Council at the time, speaks during a May 18, 2020, meeting with restaurant industry executives about the coronavirus response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. Rollins’ pick completes Trump’s selection of the heads of executive branch departments, just two and a half weeks after the former president won the White House once again. Several other picks that are traditionally Cabinet-level remain, including U.S. Trade Representative and head of the small business administration. Trump didn’t offer many specifics about his agriculture policies during the campaign, but farmers could be affected if he carries out his pledge to impose widespread tariffs. During the first Trump administration, countries like China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports like the corn and soybeans routinely sold overseas. Trump countered by offering massive multibillion-dollar aid to farmers to help them weather the trade war. President Abraham Lincoln founded the USDA in 1862, when about half of all Americans lived on farms. The USDA oversees multiple support programs for farmers; animal and plant health; and the safety of meat, poultry and eggs that anchor the nation’s food supply. Its federal nutrition programs provide food to low-income people, pregnant women and young children. And the agency sets standards for school meals. Brooke Rollins speaks at an Oct. 27 campaign rally for then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has vowed to strip ultraprocessed foods from school lunches and to stop allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other so-called junk foods. But it would be the USDA, not HHS, that would be responsible for enacting those changes. In addition, HHS and USDA will work together to finalize the 2025-2030 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. They are due late next year, with guidance for healthy diets and standards for federal nutrition programs. ___ Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Associated Press writers Josh Funk and JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report. Among President-elect Donald Trump's picks are Susie Wiles for chief of staff, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state, former Democratic House member Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general. Susie Wiles, 67, was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager. Trump named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat. Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement. The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations. Pete Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. Hegseth lacks senior military or national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year. Trump tapped Pam Bondi, 59, to be attorney general after U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration. She was Florida's first female attorney general, serving between 2011 and 2019. She also was on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2020. Considered a loyalist, she served as part of a Trump-allied outside group that helped lay the groundwork for his future administration called the America First Policy Institute. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. A fierce defender of Trump, she also frequently appears on Fox News and has been a critic of the criminal cases against him. Trump picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog, to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda. Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics. South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic. She takes over a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports. The governor of North Dakota, who was once little-known outside his state, Burgum is a former Republican presidential primary contender who endorsed Trump, and spent months traveling to drum up support for him, after dropping out of the race. Burgum was a serious contender to be Trump’s vice presidential choice this summer. The two-term governor was seen as a possible pick because of his executive experience and business savvy. Burgum also has close ties to deep-pocketed energy industry CEOs. Trump made the announcement about Burgum joining his incoming administration while addressing a gala at his Mar-a-Lago club, and said a formal statement would be coming the following day. In comments to reporters before Trump took the stage, Burgum said that, in recent years, the power grid is deteriorating in many parts of the country, which he said could raise national security concerns but also drive up prices enough to increase inflation. “There's just a sense of urgency, and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration,” Burgum said. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as a Democrat, than as an independent, and then endorsed Trump . He's the son of Democratic icon Robert Kennedy, who was assassinated during his own presidential campaign. The nomination of Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services alarmed people who are concerned about his record of spreading unfounded fears about vaccines . For example, he has long advanced the debunked idea that vaccines cause autism. Scott Bessent, 62, is a former George Soros money manager and an advocate for deficit reduction. He's the founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management, after having worked on-and-off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the nation’s first openly gay treasury secretary. He told Bloomberg in August that he decided to join Trump’s campaign in part to attack the mounting U.S. national debt. That would include slashing government programs and other spending. “This election cycle is the last chance for the U.S. to grow our way out of this mountain of debt without becoming a sort of European-style socialist democracy,” he said then. Oregon Republican U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her reelection bid this month, but received strong backing from union members in her district. As a potential labor secretary, she would oversee the Labor Department’s workforce, its budget and put forth priorities that impact workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employer’s rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. Chavez-DeRemer is one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and would add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The act would also weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Scott Turner is a former NFL player and White House aide. He ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term in office. Trump, in a statement, credited Turner, the highest-ranking Black person he’s yet selected for his administration, with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” Sean Duffy is a former House member from Wisconsin who was one of Trump's most visible defenders on cable news. Duffy served in the House for nearly nine years, sitting on the Financial Services Committee and chairing the subcommittee on insurance and housing. He left Congress in 2019 for a TV career and has been the host of “The Bottom Line” on Fox Business. Before entering politics, Duffy was a reality TV star on MTV, where he met his wife, “Fox and Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. They have nine children. A campaign donor and CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, Write is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking — a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright also has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change. He said the climate movement around the world is “collapsing under its own weight.” The Energy Department is responsible for advancing energy, environmental and nuclear security of the United States. Wright also won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term. President-elect Donald Trump tapped billionaire professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the Education Department, tasked with overseeing an agency Trump promised to dismantle. McMahon led the Small Business Administration during Trump’s initial term from 2017 to 2019 and twice ran unsuccessfully as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. She’s seen as a relative unknown in education circles, though she expressed support for charter schools and school choice. She served on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year starting in 2009 and has spent years on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Brooke Rollins, who graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is a longtime Trump associate who served as White House domestic policy chief during his first presidency. The 52-year-old is president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a group helping to lay the groundwork for a second Trump administration. She previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank, the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Trump chose Howard Lutnick, head of brokerage and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and a cryptocurrency enthusiast, as his nominee for commerce secretary, a position in which he'd have a key role in carrying out Trump's plans to raise and enforce tariffs. Trump made the announcement Tuesday on his social media platform, Truth Social. Lutnick is a co-chair of Trump’s transition team, along with Linda McMahon, the former wrestling executive who previously led Trump’s Small Business Administration. Both are tasked with putting forward candidates for key roles in the next administration. The nomination would put Lutnick in charge of a sprawling Cabinet agency that is involved in funding new computer chip factories, imposing trade restrictions, releasing economic data and monitoring the weather. It is also a position in which connections to CEOs and the wider business community are crucial. Doug Collins is a former Republican congressman from Georgia who gained recognition for defending Trump during his first impeachment trial, which centered on U.S. assistance for Ukraine. Trump was impeached for urging Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden in 2019 during the Democratic presidential nomination, but he was acquitted by the Senate. Collins has also served in the armed forces himself and is currently a chaplain in the United States Air Force Reserve Command. "We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," Trump said in a statement about nominating Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. Karoline Leavitt, 27, was Trump's campaign press secretary and currently a spokesperson for his transition. She would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, was a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. Leavitt worked in the White House press office during Trump's first term before she became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been tapped by Trump to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields. Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall. “I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement. Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions. Trump has picked John Ratcliffe, a former Texas congressman who served as director of national intelligence during his first administration, to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency in his next. Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic. “I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.” Trump has chosen former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to serve as his pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency . Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on X , “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.” “We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added. During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referring to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign his administration would “Drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration. In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.” Trump has named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. Carr made past appearances on “Fox News Channel," including when he decried Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris' pre-Election Day appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He wrote an op-ed last month defending a satellite company owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk. Rep. Elise Stefanik is a representative from New York and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment. Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership. Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile. If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine begun in 2022. He has also called for peace as Israel continues its offensive against Hamas in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah. President-elect Donald Trump says he's chosen former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as U.S. ambassador to NATO. Trump has expressed skepticism about the Western military alliance for years. Trump said in a statement Wednesday that Whitaker is “a strong warrior and loyal Patriot” who “will ensure the United States’ interests are advanced and defended” and “strengthen relationships with our NATO Allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to Peace and Stability.” The choice of Whitaker as the nation’s representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an unusual one, given his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy. Trump will nominate former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee to be ambassador to Israel. Huckabee is a staunch defender of Israel and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. “He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.” Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland. Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Trump on Tuesday named real estate investor Steven Witkoff to be special envoy to the Middle East. The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination. Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud." Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee. Trump asked Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., a retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran, to be his national security adviser, Trump announced in a statement Tuesday. The move puts Waltz in the middle of national security crises, ranging from efforts to provide weapons to Ukraine and worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the persistent attacks in the Middle East by Iran proxies and the push for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah. “Mike has been a strong champion of my America First Foreign Policy agenda,” Trump's statement said, "and will be a tremendous champion of our pursuit of Peace through Strength!” Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs. He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population. Stephen Miller, an immigration hardliner , was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration. Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families. Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security. Thomas Homan, 62, has been tasked with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history. Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign. Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.” Democrats have criticized Homan for his defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border. Dr. Mehmet Oz, 64, is a former heart surgeon who hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a long-running daytime television talk show. He ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as the Republican nominee in 2022 and is an outspoken supporter of Trump, who endorsed Oz's bid for elected office. Elon Musk, left, and Vivek Ramaswamy speak before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at an Oct. 27 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden in New York. Trump on Tuesday said Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency" — which is not, despite the name, a government agency. The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to Musk's favorite cryptocurrency, dogecoin. Trump said Musk and Ramaswamy will work from outside the government to offer the White House “advice and guidance” and will partner with the Office of Management and Budget to “drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.” He added the move would shock government systems. It's not clear how the organization will operate. Musk, owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been a constant presence at Mar-a-Lago since Trump won the presidential election. Ramaswamy suspended his campaign in January and threw his support behind Trump. Trump said the two will “pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.” Russell Vought held the position during Trump’s first presidency. After Trump’s initial term ended, Vought founded the Center for Renewing America, a think tank that describes its mission as “renew a consensus of America as a nation under God.” Vought was closely involved with Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for Trump’s second term that he tried to distance himself from during the campaign. Vought has also previously worked as the executive and budget director for the Republican Study Committee, a caucus for conservative House Republicans. He also worked at Heritage Action, the political group tied to The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president. Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president. Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago. Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president. Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency. McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign. In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.” Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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