Cabinet of Barack Obama

Barack Obama assumed office as the 44th president of the United States on January 20, 2009, and his term ended on January 20, 2017. The president has the authority to nominate members of his Cabinet to the United States Senate for confirmation under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.

Before confirmation and during congressional hearings a high-level career member of an executive department heads this pre-confirmed cabinet on an acting basis. The Cabinet's creation was part of the transition of power following the 2008 presidential election.

This article documents the nomination and confirmation process for any successful or unsuccessful Cabinet nominees of the Obama administration. They are listed in order of creation of the Cabinet position (also used as the basis for the United States presidential line of succession).

Cabinet Cabinet officials on January 20, 2017

All permanent members of the Cabinet of the United States as heads of executive departments require the advice and consent of the United States Senate following appointment by the president before taking office. The vice presidency is exceptional in that the position requires election to office pursuant to the United States Constitution. Although some are afforded cabinet-level rank, non-cabinet members within the Executive Office of the President, such as White House chief of staff, National Security Advisor, and White House press secretary, do not hold constitutionally created positions and most do not require Senate confirmation for appointment.

The following were the final members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet on January 20, 2017.

Cabinet of President Barack ObamaSource:OfficeDesigneeOfficeDesigneeVice PresidentJoe BidenSecretary of StateJohn KerrySecretary of the TreasuryJack LewSecretary of DefenseAsh CarterAttorney GeneralLoretta LynchSecretary of the InteriorSally JewellSecretary of AgricultureMichael ScuseSecretary of CommercePenny PritzkerSecretary of LaborTom PerezSecretary of Health and Human ServicesSylvia Mathews BurwellSecretary of Housing and Urban DevelopmentJulian CastroSecretary of TransportationAnthony FoxxSecretary of EnergyErnest MonizSecretary of EducationJohn King Jr.Secretary of Veterans AffairsBob McDonaldSecretary of Homeland SecurityJeh Johnson Cabinet-level officials OfficeDesigneeOfficeDesigneeWhite House Chief of StaffDenis McDonoughAdministrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyGina McCarthyDirector of the Office of Management and BudgetShaun DonovanUnited States Trade RepresentativeMichael FromanUnited States Ambassador to the United NationsSamantha PowerChair of the Council of Economic AdvisorsJason FurmanAdministrator of the Small Business AdministrationMaria Contreras-Sweet

Confirmation process

Confirmation votes

For comparison,

¶ Confirmations before June 2009 The below is a list of confirmations that were approved through the Senate from January to May 2009, by a recorded roll-call vote, rather than by a voice vote. StateSenatorPartyJan. 21HillaryClintonState94–2Jan. 26TimothyGeithnerTreasury60–34Feb. 2EricHolderAtt'y-Gen.75–21Feb. 24HildaSolisLabor80–17March 18RonKirkTrade92–5April 28KathleenSebeliusHealth65–31 May 7GilKerlikowskeDrug Policy91-1Hawaii DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaTennessee RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaWyoming RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaMontana DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaIndiana DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAlaska DYeaYeaNot votingYeaYeaYeaYeaColorado DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaUtah RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaNew Mexico DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMissouri RYeaNot votingYeaNayNayYeaNot votingCalifornia DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaOhio DYeaNot votingYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaKansas RYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaKentucky RYeaNayNayNayNayNayYeaNorth Carolina RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaIllinois DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaWest Virginia DYeaNayYeaYeaNayYeaYeaWashington DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMaryland DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaDelaware DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaPennsylvania DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaGeorgia RNot votingNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaOklahoma RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayNayMississippi RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaMaine RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNorth Dakota DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaTennessee RYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaTexas RYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaIdaho RYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaSouth Carolina RNayNayNayNayYeaNayYeaConnecticut DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNorth Dakota DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaIllinois DYeaYeaYeaYeaNot votingYeaYeaNevada RYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaWyoming RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaWisconsin DYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaCalifornia DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMinnesota D———————New York D——YeaYeaYeaYeaYeaSouth CarolinaRYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaIowa RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaNew Hampshire RYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNorth Carolina DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaIowa DYeaNayYeaNot votingYeaYeaYeaUtah RYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaTexas RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaOklahoma RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaHawaii DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaGeorgia RYeaNayYeaYeaNayNayYeaNebraska RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaSouth Dakota DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNot votingDelaware DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMassachusetts DNot votingNot votingNot votingNot votingNot votingNot votingNot votingMassachusetts DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMinnesotaDYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaWisconsin DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaArizona RYeaNayYeaNayYeaNayYeaLouisiana DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNew Jersey DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNot votingVermont DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMichiganDYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaConnecticutInd. DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaArkansas DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaIndiana RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaFlorida RYeaNayNot votingYeaYeaNayYeaArizona RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaMissouri DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaKentucky RYeaNayNayYeaYeaNayYeaNew JerseyDYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNot votingOregon DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMaryland DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAlaska RYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaWashington DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaFlorida DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNebraska DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaArkansas DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaRhode Island DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNevada DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaIdaho RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaKansas RYeaNayNayNayYeaYeaYeaWest Virginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNot votingNot votingVermontInd.YeaNayYeaYeaNayYeaYeaNew York DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAlabama RYeaNayYeaNayYeaNot votingYeaNew Hampshire DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaAlabama RYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaMaine RYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaPennsylvania R→DYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMichigan DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMontana DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaSouth Dakota RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaColorado DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNew Mexico DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaLouisiana RNayNayNayNayYeaNayNot votingOhio RYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaVirginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaVirginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaRhode IslandDYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaMississippi RYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaOregon DYeaNot votingYeaYeaYeaYeaYea vote by partyDRInd.—54–038–22–0Clinton49–310–301–1Geithner54–019–212–0Holder54–024–172–0Solis53–138–31–1Kirk54–09–312–0Sebelius52–037–12–0KerlikowskeNotes and Key : All dates are in 2009. For later votes, see the table below. * Att'y-Gen. = Attorney-General of the United States;* Trade = U.S. Trade Representative;* Health = Secretary of Health and Human Services;* Drug Policy = Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy — before confirmation, this post was removed from Cabinet-level status; D = Democratic; R = Republican; Ind. = independent; Ind. D = independent Democratic; R→D = moved from Republican to Democratic caucus on April 29–30, 2009; — = seat vacant at the time of this vote.Sources: United States Senate; The Washington Post

¶ Confirmations after June 2009 (August 6, 2009 – December 8, 2011) StateSenatorPartyJan. 28,2010Ben S.BernankeChairmanof Fed70–30 June 30, 2011DavidPetraeusCIA(6 NV)94–0 Oct. 20, 2011John E.BrysonSec. of Commerce74–26 Dec. 8, 2011RichardCordrayCFPB(failed)53–45Hawaii DYeaYeaYeaYeaTennessee RYeaYeaYeaNayNew Hampshire R—YeaYeaNayWyoming RYeaYeaNayNayMontana DYeaYeaYeaYeaIndiana DYea———Alaska DNayYeaYeaYeaColorado DYeaYeaYeaYeaUtah RYea———New Mexico DYeaYeaYeaYeaConnecticut D—YeaYeaYeaMissouri R—YeaNayNayMissouri RYea———Arkansas R—YeaNayNayCalifornia DNayNot VotingYeaYeaMassachusetts R—YeaYeaYeaOhio DYeaYeaYeaYeaKansas RNay———Kentucky RNay———North Carolina RYeaNot VotingNayNayIllinois DYea———West Virginia DYea———Washington DNayYeaYeaYeaMaryland DYeaYeaYeaYeaDelaware DYeaYeaYeaYeaPennsylvania DYeaYeaYeaYeaGeorgia RYeaYeaYeaNayIndiana R—YeaYeaNayOklahoma RYeaYeaNayNayMississippi RYeaYeaYeaNayMaine RYeaYeaYeaNayNorth Dakota DYeaYeaYeaYeaDelaware D—YeaYeaYeaTennessee RYeaYeaYeaNayTexas RNayYeaNayNayIdaho RNayYeaNayNaySouth Carolina RNayYeaNayNayConnecticut DYea———North Dakota DNay———Illinois DYeaYeaYeaYeaNevada RNay———Wyoming RYeaYeaNayNayWisconsin DNay———California DYeaYeaYeaYeaMinnesota DNayYeaYeaYeaNew York DYeaYeaYeaYeaWest Virginia D————South CarolinaRYeaYeaYeaNayIowa RNayYeaNayNayNew Hampshire RYea———North Carolina DYeaYeaYeaYeaIowa DNayYeaYeaYeaUtah RYeaYeaNayNayNevadaR—YeaNayNayNorth DakotaR—YeaNayNayTexas RNayYeaYeaNayOklahoma RNayNot VotingNayNayHawaii DYeaYeaYeaYeaGeorgia RYeaYeaYeaNayNebraska RYeaYeaYeaNaySouth Dakota DYeaYeaYeaYeaWisconsinR—YeaNayNayDelaware DNay———Massachusetts D————Massachusetts DYeaYeaYeaNot VotingMassachusetts DYea———IllinoisR—YeaYeaNayMinnesotaDYeaYeaYeaYeaWisconsin DYeaYeaYeaYeaArizona RYeaYeaNayNayLouisiana DYeaYeaYeaYeaNew Jersey DYeaYeaYeaYeaVermont DYeaNot VotingYeaYeaUtahR—YeaNayNayFlorida RNay———MichiganDYeaYeaYeaYeaConnecticutInd. DYeaYeaYeaYeaArkansas DYea———Indiana RYeaYeaYeaNayFlorida R————Arizona RNayYeaYeaNayMissouri DYeaYeaYeaYeaKentucky RYeaYeaNayNayNew JerseyDYeaYeaYeaYeaOregon DNayYeaYeaYeaMaryland DYeaYeaYeaYeaKansasR—Not VotingYeaNayAlaska RYeaYeaYeaNayWashington DYeaYeaYeaYeaFlorida DYeaYeaYeaYeaNebraska DYeaYeaYeaYeaKentuckyR—YeaNayNayOhioR—YeaYeaNayArkansas DYeaYeaYeaYeaRhode Island DYeaYeaYeaYeaNevada DYeaYeaYeaYeaIdaho RNayYeaNayNayKansas RNayYeaNayNayWest Virginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaFlorida R—YeaNayNayVermontInd.NayYeaYeaYeaNew York DYeaYeaYeaYeaAlabama RNayYeaNayNayNew Hampshire DYeaYeaYeaYeaAlabama RNayYeaNayNayMaine RYeaYeaYeaPresentPennsylvania DNay———Michigan DYeaYeaYeaYeaMontana DYeaYeaYeaYeaSouth Dakota RNayYeaYeaNayPennsylvania R—YeaYeaNayColorado DYeaYeaYeaYeaNew Mexico DYeaNot VotingYeaYeaLouisiana RNayYeaNayNayOhio RYea———Virginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaVirginia DYeaYeaYeaYeaRhode IslandDNayYeaYeaYeaMississippi RNayYeaNayNayOregon DYeaYeaYeaYea session &roll call 111th (2nd)16112th (1st)104112th (1st)176112th (1st)223 vote by partyDRInd.  47–1122–181–1Bernanke 48–0 (3 NV)44–0 (3 NV)2–0Petraeus51–0 21–262–0Bryson50–0 (1 NV)1–45 (1 Pres)2–0CordrayNotes:(failed) = Roll call was for cloture of debate on Cordray's nomination (ending filibusters), requiring a three-fifths vote; Chairman of Fed = Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of GovernorsCIA = Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; CFPB = Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau D = Democratic; R = Republican; Ind. = independent; Ind. D = independent Democratic; — = not a Senator during this vote; NV = Not Voting; Pres = Present Sources: United States Senate: 2009; 2010; 2011; The Washington Post: 2009; 2010; 2011

Elected officials President Barack Obama defeated United States senator and Republican nominee, John McCain (R-AZ), in the 2008 presidential election, receiving 365 electoral votes compared to McCain's 173 electoral votes in the election. The formal certification of the results took place on January 8, 2009. He assumed office on January 20, 2009.

He was the first African American president of the United States as well as the first multiracial and non-white to hold the highest office.

President of the United StatesPortraitNameDate of birthStateBackgroundReference Barack ObamaU.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–2008) Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district Democratic presidential candidate (2008)

Vice President