As President Donald Trump finalizes his cabinet selections ahead of his upcoming inauguration, several Texans are being tapped for prominent roles, reinforcing the state’s influence in his administration.
On Friday, Trump announced former Texas lawmaker Scott Turner as his nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Turner, a former professional football player, served two terms in the Texas House starting in 2013. In 2015, he challenged then-Speaker Joe Straus, securing the votes of 19 colleagues.
Turner previously served in the Trump administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. That initiative, aimed at improving economically distressed communities, drew praise from Trump, who described it as an “unprecedented effort.”
“Those efforts, working together with former HUD Secretary, Ben Carson, were maximized by Scott’s guidance in overseeing 16 Federal Agencies which implemented more than 200 policy actions furthering Economic Development. Under Scott’s leadership, Opportunity Zones received over $50 Billion Dollars in Private Investment!,” said Trump.
Another Texan receiving a key nomination is Brooke Rollins, who has been chosen to serve as secretary of agriculture. Rollins, a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is the former president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and previously led the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term.
Trump praised Rollins’ commitment to America’s farmers and rural communities. “Brooke’s commitment to support the American Farmer, defense of American Food Self-Sufficiency, and the restoration of Agriculture-dependent American Small Towns is second to none,” he said.
Rollins is also the daughter of incoming Texas State Rep. Helen Kerwin, adding another layer to her Texas roots.
These nominations join a growing list of Texans selected for influential roles. Earlier this month, former Dallas-area U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe was named the next director of the CIA. Tulsi Gabbard, the former Hawaii congresswoman who recently moved to Texas, will serve as director of national intelligence.
Additionally, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has shifted many of his operations to Texas, is set to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The department aims to streamline federal spending and eliminate waste, a task Musk has enthusiastically embraced.
