Trump transition updates: Trump taps America First think tank CEO as agriculture secretary

Brooke Rollins previously served in Trump's first administration.

ByTal Axelrod, Alexandra Hutzler, Meredith Deliso, Ivan Pereira, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: November 24, 2024, 6:02 PM EST

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, said Thursday he is withdrawing his name for the role -- just a day after Gaetz spoke with Republican senators on Capitol Hill about the nomination process.

Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his new pick for the role.

Another controversial Cabinet pick, Pete Hegseth, is on the Hill on Thursday with Vice President-elect JD Vance to make his case for the secretary of the Department of Defense job.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Nov 12, 2024, 3:45 pm

Tracking those Trump has named to serve in his Cabinet, administration

Ahead of his return to power in January, Trump is announcing who he wants to fill Cabinet positions and other key roles inside his administration.

They include some of his staunchest allies on Capitol Hill and key advisers to his 2024 campaign.

Here is a running list of the people Trump has selected, or is expected to select, to serve in his administration.

Nov 20, 2024, 5:48 PM EST

2 House Dems formally move to force chamber vote on releasing Gaetz report

Tennessee Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen appeared on the House floor Wednesday evening to file a privileged resolution to force the House Ethics Committee to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Separately, Democratic Rep. Sean Casten also appeared on the House floor moments ago to release his own version of a privileged resolution calling on the Ethics Committee to release the report.

PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members in Washington, Nov. 20, 2024.
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Nov. 20, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

House leadership will have up to two legislative days to bring up these resolutions for a vote -- either on Thursday or after the Thanksgiving recess.

House Republican leadership is expected to try to table the effort.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan and Lauren Peller

Nov 20, 2024, 4:54 PM EST

Ranking member Wild says there was 'no consensus' on whether to release the Gaetz report

Rep. Susan Wild, the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, disagreed with Chairman Michael Guest's characterization of what occurred in Wednesday's meeting regarding the Matt Gaetz report, telling reporters, "There was no consensus on the issue."

Guest told reporters following the meeting that "there was not an agreement to release" the report but didn't discuss further.

Wild said the chairman has "betrayed the process by disclosing our deliberations within moments after walking out of the committee."

"He has implied that there was an agreement of the committee not to disclose the report," she continued. "To the extent that that suggests that the committee was in agreement or that we had a consensus on that, that is inaccurate."

House Ethics Committee ranking member Representative Susan Wild leaves a meeting about next steps in the committee's investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general pick Matt Gaetz, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 20, 2024.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Wild said "a vote was taken" and suggested it was tied, implying no Republicans crossed party lines.

"I do not want the American public or anyone else to think that Mr. Guest's characterization of what transpired today would be some sort of indication that the committee had unanimity or consensus on this issue not to release the report. That would be an inaccurate portrayal," she added.

Wild said the committee plans to meet on Dec. 5 to "further consider this matter."

-ABC News' Chris Boccia, Will Steakin and Lauren Peller

Nov 20, 2024, 4:03 PM EST

House Ethics Committee voted against releasing Gaetz report: Source

The House Ethics Committee voted against releasing its report on Matt Gaetz after multiple rounds of votes Wednesday, a source familiar with its meeting told ABC News.

The source said Republicans all voted against its release.

The committee voted not to release the draft report on Wednesday but to complete it and meet again in December, sources said.

The sign for the House Committee on Ethics is seen outside of their office in the Longworth House Office Building, Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

-ABC News' Rachel Scott and Will Steakin

Nov 20, 2024, 3:40 PM EST

House Ethics Committee chairman: No agreement to release Gaetz report

House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest told reporters that "there was not an agreement to release" the Gaetz report while leaving the committee meeting room Wednesday.

Guest would not reveal to reporters what occurred during the meeting, including whether there was a vote, but only reiterated, "There was not an agreement by the committee to release the report."

House Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest arrives to a House Ethics committee closed door meeting in the Longworth House Office Building, Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

-ABC News' John Parkinson, Chris Boccia, Jay O'Brien and Lauren Peller

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