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Obama 2nd Administration
Click on a Cabinet Member's name below to see their stances on the issues,
Click on the Cabinet Member's title for the cabinet agency's home page,
or click on an agency name for its home page.
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Rebecca Blank
(Commerce Secretary )
2013 Budget: $9.5 billion; 2009 Budget: $8.2 billion; 2001 Budget: $5.1 billion
Commerce tries to make sure businesses and industries run well and can sell things overseas. Some of its agencies:
- Census2010: The department also runs the Census Bureau.
- NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- NWS: The National Weather Service (part of NOAA).
- USPTO: The Patent and Trademark Office.
- Gary Locke Commerce Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2011); appointed as Ambassador to China in 2011.
- Gov. Bill Richardson was nominated as Commerce Secretary in 2009 but withdrew.
- Carlos Gutierrez served as Commerce Secretary in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
- Donald Evans served as Commerce Secretary in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004)
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Sylvia Mathews Burwell
(Secretary of Health and Human Services)
2013 Budget: $81 billion for operations plus $860 billion for Medicare/Medicaid; 2006 Budget: $67.2 billion for operations plus $574 billion for Medicare/Medicaid; 2001 Budget: $53.9 billion
Protects the health and well-being of Americans. HHS is in charge of Medicare (which provides health insurance to older and disabled Americans) and Medicaid (which helps provide insurance to low-income citizens). Its other agencies include:
- FDA: The Food and Drug Administration
- NIH: National Institutes of Health.
- CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- AFDC: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (the welfare program).
- Kathleen Sebelius served as Secretary of H.H.S. in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2014)
- Tom Daschle nominated as Secretary of H.H.S. by Pres. Obama; withdrew (2009)
- Mike Leavitt served as Secretary of H.H.S. in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
- Tommy Thompson served as Secretary of H.H.S. in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2005); Author: Power to the People
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Julian Castro
(Secretary of Housing and Urban Development)
2013 Budget $46.3 billion; 2006 Budget $28.5 billion; 2001 Budget: $28.5 billion
HUD tries to make sure there are enough homes for people who don’t have a lot of money. It also helps enforce equal-opportunity housing laws, so that people won’t be discriminated against when they try to move into a new neighborhood.
- Shaun Donovan served as Secretary of H.U.D. in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2014)
- Alphonso Jackson served as Secretary of H.U.D. in Pres. Bush's second term (2004-2008)
- Mel Martinez served as Secretary of H.U.D. in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004)
- Andrew Cuomo served as Bill Clinton's HUD Secretary from 1997-2000.
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Arne Duncan
(Secretary of Education )
2013 Budget: $71.9 billion; 2006 Budget: Discretionary $56.0 billion plus Mandatory $13.4 billion; 2001 Budget: $39.9 billion
Distributes federal money for college loans and scholarships, and funds programs to improve the education of grade school and high school kids, especially those from low-income families.
- Margaret Spellings served as Secretary of Education in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
- Rod Paige served as Secretary of Education in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004)
- Lamar Alexander served as George Bush Sr.'s Education Secretary from 1991-1993.
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Anthony Foxx
(Transportation Secretary)
2013 Budget: $24 billion plus $75 billion in mandated spending; 2008 Budget: $58 billion; 2001 Budget: $18.4 billion
DOT keeps an eye on the airlines, patrols the waterways, helps build and maintain highways, and regulates motor vehicles and promotes traffic safety.
- FAA: Oversees the Federal Avaiation Administration, resposible for air traffic.
- The Interstate Highway System is built and maintained by DOT.
- Ray LaHood Interior Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Mary Peters served as George W. Bush's Transportation Secretary from 2006-2009.
- Norman Mineta served as George W. Bush's Transportation Secretary from 2001-2006.
- Norman Mineta also served as Bill Clinton's Transportation Secretary from 2000-2001.
- Liddy Dole served as Ronald Reagan's Labor Secretary from 1983-1987.
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Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson
(Secretary of Veterans Affairs)
2013 Budget: $60 billion plus $89 billion in mandated spending; 2006 Budget: $73.2 billion; 2001 Budget: $22.3 billion
The VA manages hospitals for veterans and gives support to America’s 25 million veterans and their families.
- Gen. Eric Shinseki served as Secretary of the V.A. in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2014)
- James Peake served as Secretary of the V.A. in Pres. Bush's second term (2007-2009)
- Jim Nicholson served as Secretary of the V.A. in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2007)
- Anthony Principi served as Secretary of the V.A. in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2005)
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Chuck Hagel
(Secretary of Defense)
2013 Budget: $673 billion; 2007 budget: $439 billion for operations, plus $192 billion supplemental spending for Iraq War; 2001 Budget: $296 billion
Defends the nation and, sometimes, defends the administration's political goals in other countries.
The Defense Department is headquartered in the Pentagon and is in charge of the U.S. Armed Forces.
The DoD's budget dwarfs all other departments' budgets -- 26% of all budgetary spending.
Hence DoD should be at the top of the list in all discussions of "shrinking government."
- JCS: Joint Chiefs of Staff from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
- DARPA: The agency that initiated the Internet.
- Leon Panetta: Secretary of Defense in Pres. Obama's first term (2011-2013)
- Robert Gates served as George W. Bush's Defense Secretary from 2006-2009, and then as Barack Obama's Defense Secretary until 2011.
- Donald Rumsfeld served as George W. Bush's Defense Secretary from 2001-2006.
Secretary Rumsfeld authored Known and Unknown in 2011.
- Dick Cheney served as George Bush Sr.'s Defense Secretary from 1989-1993.
Cheney authored In My Time in 2011.
- Sen. William Cohen (R, ME) served as Bill Clinton's Defense Secretary from 1997-2001.
- Donald Rumsfeld also served as Gerald Ford's Defense Secretary from 1975-1977.
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Seth Harris
(Labor Secretary)
2013 Budget: $13.2 billion for operations plus $71 billion in mandatory outlays; 2009 budget: $10.5 billion for operations plus $42 billion in Unemployment & Job Training; 2001 Budget: $11.9 billion
Responsible for ensuring fair wages, a safe workplace and equal opportunity.
- BLS: The Bureau of Labor Statistics keeps track of the state of the American workforce, including the unemployment rate.
- OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
- Hilda Solis Labor Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Elaine Chao served as Pres. Bush's Labor Secretary from 2001-2009.
- Robert Reich served as Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary from 1993-1997.
- Elizabeth Dole served as George Bush's Labor Secretary from 1989-1990.
Secy. Reich authored the book Aftershock
and, earlier, Locked In the Cabinet.
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Eric Holder
(Attorney General )
2013 Budget: $36.5 billion; 2007 budget: $43.5 billion; 2001 Budget: $20.9 billion
The Justice Department is in charge of investigating crimes and enforcing federal law, including civil rights laws that guarantee Americans equal opportunity regardless of race. Its agencies include:
- DEA: The Drug Enforcement Agency
- FBI: The Federal Bureau of Investigation
- INS: The Immigration and Naturalization Service
- Michael Mukasey served as Attorney General in Pres. Bush's second term (2007-2009)
- Alberto Gonzales served as Attorney General in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2007)
- John Ashcroft served as Attorney General in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004)
- Janet Reno served as Bill Clinton's Attorney General from 1993-2000.
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 | The Department of Agriculture, or USDA, monitors the safety and quality of meat, eggs and poultry.
- USFS: The U.S. Forest Service is run by USDA, because forests were then considered primarily an agricutltural resource.
- NRCS: Natural Resource Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service).
- USDA also runs the food stamp program and the national school lunch program.
- Gov. Mike Johanns served as Secretary of Agriculture in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2007)
- Ann Veneman served as Secretary of Agriculture in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004)
- Rep. Dan Glickman served as Secretary of Agriculture in Pres. Clinton's second term (1995-2001)
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Sally Jewell
(Secretary of Interior)
2013 Budget: $13.5 billion; 2009 Budget: $10.5 billion for operations plus $22.9 billion in disaster aid; 2004 Budget: $10.7 billion; 2001 Budget: $10.2 billion
Responsible for protecting the nation’s natural landscape, and making sure people and companies have the proper access to it. It also handles:
- NPS: The National Park Services, which operates parks, rivers, & monuments.
- BLM: The Bureau of Land Management, which overseas federally-owned land.
- USGS: The U.S. Geological Survey, which is a science agency for mapping and data collection.
- BIA: The Bureau of Indian Affairs, which deals with all Native American issues.
- Ken Salazar Interior Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Dirk Kempthorne served as Interior Secretary in Pres. Bush's second term (2006-2009).
- Gale Norton served as Interior Secretary in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2006).
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Jeh Johnson
(Department of Homeland Security)
2013 Budget: $55 billion; 2009 budget: $52 billion; 2001 Budget: $40 billion
The "Terrorism Czar" was first a Cabinet-level position, and then made a Cabinet department.
- Coordinates a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism, and responds to any attacks that may come.
- The office was created on Sept. 20 2001 by Pres. Bush in response to the World Trade Center attack.
- The Terrorism Czar Richard Clarke was not Ridge's predecessor -- Clarke's title was National Coordinator for Security and Counter-Terrorism and he served under Condoleezza Rice on the National Security Council. Clarke authored the 2004 book Against All Enemies.
- Janet Napolitano served as Secretary of the Office Homeland Security in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2013)
- Michael Chertoff served as Secretary of the Office Homeland Security in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
- Tom Ridge served as Secretary of the Office Homeland Security in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2004).
Gov. Ridge authored the book Test of our Times.
- Rep. Paul McHale served as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security under Pres. Bush (2003-2009)
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John Kerry
(Secretary of State )
2013 Budget: $59.5 billion; 2007 Budget: $35.1 billion; 2001 Budget: $21.9 billion
Handles foreign policy and sends out foreign service officers.
- Runs U.S. embassies, to assist U.S. travelers abroad.
- Also runs USIA, the US Information Agency, to disseminate information abroad.
- Hillary Clinton Secretary of State in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2013)
- Condoleezza Rice served as Secretary of State in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
Secretary Rice authored No Higher Honor
- Colin Powell served as Secretary of State in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2005)
General Powell authored My American Journey
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Jack Lew
(Treasury Secretary)
2013 Budget: $14 billion for administration plus $96 billion supplemental; 2008 Budget: $11.3 billion for administration plus $700 billion supplemental "Financial Bailout"; 2001 Budget: $14.0 billion
The Treasury Department prints U.S. currency and collects it at tax time. Some Treasury agencies:
- IRS: The Internal Revenue Service.
- Customs Service: controlling incoming people and goods.
- The Mint: where currency, coins, and stamps are produced.
- The Secret Service which protects the President and other officials.
- ATF: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
- Timothy Geithner: Treasury Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Hank Paulson served as Secretary of the Treasury in Pres. Bush's second term (2006-2009)
- John Snow served as Secretary of the Treasury in Pres. Bush's second term (2003-2006)
- Paul O'Neill served as Secretary of the Treasury in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2003)
Secretary O`Neill authored The Price of Loyalty in 2004.
- Donald Regan served as Secretary of the Treasury in Pres. Reagan's first term (1981-1985)
Secretary Regan authored For the Record in 1988.
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Gina McCarthy
(Director of the Environmental Protection Agency)
2013 Budget: $9.2 billion; 2007 Budget: $7.3 billion; 2001 Budget: $7.8 billion
The EPA is technically not in the Cabinet, but is a "Cabinet-level agency." EPA is responsible for promulgating and enforcing environmental regulations.
- Lisa Jackson EPA DIrector in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Stephen Johnson served as Director of EPA in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009); he is now Secretary of H.H.S.
- Mike Leavitt served as Director of EPA in Pres. Bush's first term (2003-2005); he is now Secretary of H.H.S.
- Christie Whitman served as Director of EPA in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2003)
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Ernest J. Moniz
(Secretary of Energy)
2013 Budget: $35.6 billion; 2006 budget: $23.4 billion; 2001 Budget: $19.7 billion
In charge of making sure the country has enough energy, from gas for our cars to oil for heating our homes. Some of its agencies:
- FERC: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
- DOE also manages nuclear testing facilities.
- Steven Chu Energy Secretary in Pres. Obama's first term (2009-2012)
- Samuel Bodman Energy Secretary in Pres. Bush's second term (2005-2009)
- Spencer Abraham served as Energy Secretary in Pres. Bush's first term (2001-2005)
- Bill Richardson served as Bill Clinton's Energy Secretary from 1998-2000.
Richardson authored Leading by Example in 2007.
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Sutton, Betty
Appointed by Obama to head St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Independent AgenciesNumerous federal agencies are not directly supervised by any Cabinet department. These include:
- ACE: Army Corps of Engineers (2006 budget: $4.3 billion plus $1.6 billion for construction; 2001 budget: $4.5 billion)
- CIA: Central Intelligence Agency (2008 budget and earlier budgets are classified (secret); 1998 budget: $26.7 billion)
Porter Goss resigned as CIA chief in May 2006.
- CBO: Congressional Budget Office
- CBO: Consumer Product Safety Commission
Inez Tenenbaum, Chair, 2009-2013
Ann Marie Buerkle, Commissioner, 2013-date
- EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
- FCC: Federal Communications Commission
- FDIC: Federal Deposit Insurance Commission
- FEC: Federal Election Commission
- FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency (2008 budget: $8.0 billion; 2001 budget: $2.4 billion)
- Federal Reserve: The agency headed by Alan Greenspan which sets interest rates.
- FDA: Food and Drug Administration
- FHFA: Federal Housing Finance Agency
Mel Watt, Director, 2013-date
- GAO: Government Accountability Office
David Walker, Comptroller-General of the United States, 1998-2008
- LSC: Legal Services Corporation (2008 budget: $0.4 billion; 2001 budget: $0.3 billion)
- NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2008 budget: $17.3 billion; 2001 budget: $14.3 billion)
- NEA: National Endowment for the Arts (2004 budget: $0.1 billion; 2001 budget: $0.1 billion)
- NEH: National Endowment for the Humanities (2001 budget: $0.1 billion)
- NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- NSF: National Science Foundation (2001 budget: $4.4 billion)
- Peace Corps: overseas volunteer service
- Public Health Service: Uniformed service of the Department of H.H.S.
Richard Carmona, Surgeon-General of the United States, 2002-2006
- SEC: Securities and Exchange Commission
- SBA: Small Business Administration (2006 budget: $0.4 billion; 2001 budget: $0.3 billion)
- Smithsonian: National Museum (2008 budget: $0.7 billion; 2001 budget: $0.5 billion)
- SSA: Social Security Administration (2009 budget: $9.7 billion for operations, plus $610 billion for Social Security payments; 2001 budget: $6.0 billion)
- USAID: U.S. Agency for International Development
- USITC: U.S. International Trade Commission
Rep. Connie Morella, Ambassador to OECD, 2003-2005
- USPS: U.S. Postal Service
- (2001 discretionary budget for all other agencies not detailed above totals $11.7 billion. Note that mandatory spending is not included in budget figures unless specified.
Total of all discretionary spending for FY 2008 is $348 billion, plus $788 billion on DoD, DVA, and War on Terror discretionary spending.
Total of all discretionary spending for FY 2001 was $661.6 billion.)
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Executive AgenciesSome additional federal agencies are overseen directly by the Executive branch:
- White House: The Chief of Staff oversees the functioning of the White House.
- NSA: National Security Agency
- NSC: National Security Council
- OMB: Office of Management and Budget, the President's counterpart to Congress' CBO.
Sen. Rob Portman, Director of the OMB, 2006-2007
- ONDCP: Office of National Drug Control Policy
- USTR: Office of U.S. Trade Representative
Mayor Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative, 2009-date
Rep. Rob Portman, U.S. Trade Representative, 2006
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Source for budget figures: US Budget FY 2002 Presidential Request, Table S-6, Discretionary Budget Authority by Agency. Note that mandatory spending is not included in budget figures.
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