Here's a closer look at some people who could take top jobs in the next administration:
Andrew Wheeler
Wheeler served at the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after the departure of predecessor Scott Pruitt.
In that role, Wheeler led the rollback of significant environmental protections, including issuing less-stringent climate standards for power plants and cars, as well as looser water pollution regulations.
Prior to joining the EPA, Wheeler was a lawyer and lobbyist for firms including coal company Murray Energy.
He appears to remain in Trump's orbit, with a post on Trump's Truth Social account indicating Wheeler sent the then-candidate talking points ahead of his debate with President Biden.
David Bernhardt
Bernhardt led the Interior Department in the prior Trump administration after the departure of Ryan Zinke.
Under his tenure, the department expanded opportunities for oil and gas drilling on public lands. A former oil lobbyist, he was known for carrying a list of his potential conflicts of interest.
He also appears to have remained part of the Trump world: Over the summer, he took part in a Trump campaign and Republican National Committee (RNC) press conference on energy policy.
Dan Brouillette
Brouillette led the Energy Department under Trump following the departure of his predecessor Rick Perry.
Brouillette had previously worked for financial services firm USAA and Ford Motor Company, as well as the George W. Bush administration.
In 2023, he joined the Edison Electric Institute, a lobbying group representing power companies, but announced late last month that he would leave that post this year in order to spend time “engaging directly with world business and policy leaders.”
Doug Burgum
Burgum is the outgoing governor of North Dakota and was considered a top contender to be Trump’s vice president before Trump ultimately settled on Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio).
Burgum told CNN after he wasn’t selected as Trump's running mate that the former president called him “Mr. Secretary.”
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told The Hill in July that “over a year ago, Donald Trump asked me if I thought Doug Burgum would be a good energy secretary.”
Cramer said at the time that he thinks Burgum should instead be an overarching energy czar that coordinates government energy policy across the board.
Read more when the full story runs this weekend at TheHill.com.
