Personnel IS Policy

As our nation turns its attention to Donald Trump’s inauguration, pro-life Americans are wondering what to expect from the man who was once hailed as the most pro-life president in American history.

In the political realm, there’s a saying that “Personnel is Policy,” and it’s true. That’s why I’m optimistic about how the nation’s unborn children and their parents will fare under the next president.

We’ve analyzed where Donald Trump’s cabinet and other key personnel stand on abortion. My estimation is that approximately 70% are pro-life 23% are unknown and 7% are pro-abortion.

“Personnel IS Policy.” 

I hope this comprehensive list is helpful to you. 

Sincerely for LIFE, 

Bradley Mattes, President

Susie Wiles is Trump’s pick as White House Chief of Staff. Little is known about her political positions. Her past almost exclusively involves campaigns and political lobbying. According to Politico “She’s a soft-spoken Episcopalian. She’s a self-described moderate.” 

Secretary of state pick is Florida US Senator Marco Rubio. He has been a strong defender of the unborn

and co-sponsored major pro-life legislation. 

Pam Bondi was selected for Attorney General. As Florida’s Attorney General she defended state pro-life laws. A 2013 post on her X account said, “Life is precious. On the 40th anniversary of Roe v Wade, let’s reflect on the sanctity of human life and pray for protection on unborn children.” 

Todd Blanche who got the nod for Deputy Attorney General is a former federal prosecutor. There are no clear statements indicating his position on abortion. 

Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth who is an outspoken opponent of abortion.  During comments on the Dobbs decision, Hegseth called Roe v Wade “A generational genocide of America’s unborn.”  

John Ratcliffe was tapped to be Director of the CIA. He is strongly pro-life with a solid record in Congress.   

Kash Patel is Trump’s choice for Director of the FBI. We have no direct information on his pro-life stand though he has provided support for other pro-life politicians and groups like CatholicVote.  

Marty Makary for Commissioner of FDA is a pro-life surgical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University. He discussed abortion on Tucker Carlson highlighting that babies can feel pain as early as 15 weeks.  

Trump’s choice for Director for CDC is David Weldon. He is probably the most pro-life selection of them all. He has a strong pro-life record as a member of Congress. He introduced key pro-life legislation, including the Weldon Amendment, which protects pro-life organizations and healthcare providers from discrimination.  

Trump’s choice for Secretary of Homeland Security is Kristi Noem who has a strong and very public record supporting life as Governor of South Dakota. She proclaimed 2024 as “Freedom for Life Year” in South Dakota to emphasize the importance of protecting life from conception through adulthood. Noem also signed laws that protect women from abortion coercion and provide them with more resources.  

Karoline Leavitt, will be White House press secretary. She strongly believes in the sanctity of life and has publicly stated that abortion is the taking of an innocent life. Additionally, she supports efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.  

Secretary of Health and Human Services is an important position regarding the protection of unborn life. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran for president as pro-abortion but dropped his support for late-term abortion when presented with the facts. He has committed to GOP senators that he will carry out Trump’s pro-life policies.  

Trump’s pick for Director of Office of Management and Budget is Russ Vought who is strongly pro-life. Writing for the Daily Wire he made a case for the moral urgency of ending abortion and praised pro-life legislative efforts and judicial appointments that advance this cause.  

Elise Stefanik, chosen for US Ambassador to the United Nations, is strongly pro-life, has an A+ rating in Congress, and is an outspoken and adamant defender of life.  

Tom Homan is laser focused on securing America’s borders as Trump’s pick for “Border Czar.” He is a self-labeled devout Catholic; however, we could find no public statements indicating that he is pro-life. However, his life has been dedicated to border security which will limit human trafficking and hopefully limit the number of sex trafficking abortions.  

Doug Collins was selected to serve as Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He is strongly pro-life, having co-sponsored legislation that declared human life begins at conception and supported many other pro-life bills in Congress.  

Michael Waltz is Trump’s pick for National Security Adviser. He believes life begins at conception and sponsored a bill in the Florida House to protect infant survivors of abortion.  

Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior is Doug Burgum who was strongly pro-life as Governor of North Dakota. However, while running for president in 2024 Burgum said he would not support federal protection for the unborn.   

 Chris Wright, selected as Secretary of Energy, is the founder of Liberty Energy but has not contributed to the abortion conversation. 

Sean Duffy was nominated for Secretary of Transportation. This father of nine is solidly pro-life with a stellar record in Congress.    

Secretary of Commerce pick, Howard Lutnick, offers no information on his pro-life stance, but has a history of strongly supporting conservatives. 

Linda McMahon is the president’s pick for Secretary of Education. She is pro-abortion, but somewhat reasonable on the issue. McMahon is against federal funding and supports parental notification requirements.  

Scott Bessent, the first openly gay person selected for Secretary of the Treasury, offers no information on his position on abortion. 

Trump’s pick for Secretary of Labor is Lori Chavez-DeRemer. She is moderately pro-life who ran as a pro-lifer but once in Congress disappointed pro-life advocates on the hill.   

William McGinley, chosen for White House Counsel, is Catholic but has no public stand on abortion.  

The role of US Ambassador to NATO goes to Matthew Whitaker who is a strong pro-life advocate and believes that life begins at conception.  

Scott Turner, chosen for Secretary of HUD, is a former Texas state representative with a very good pro-life voting record and was endorsed by Texas Right to Life.  

Trump’s pick for Director of National Intelligence is Tulsi Gabbard who considers herself pro-abortion, but supports legislation limiting third trimester abortion and protecting babies who survive late-term abortion.  

Lee Zeldin, nominee for Administrator of the EPA wants to protect the unborn under the 14th amendment, opposes federal funding for abortion, and supports protections for babies at 20 weeks.  

Dean John Sauer as Solicitor General has a history of defending Missouri’s strong pro-life legislation while serving as the state’s solicitor general.  

Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins is pro-life. During her leadership of the America First Policy Institute she championed the HOPE Agenda, which includes comprehensive pro-life measures such as enhancing adoption, providing financial support for families, and opposing late-term abortion.  

Brendan Carr was nominated to serve as Chairman of the FCC. He has made no public comment on abortion. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz, chosen for Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, identifies himself as “100% pro-life” on his senate campaign website and has expressed that life begins at conception.  

Trump’s pick for Surgeon general is Dr. Janette Nesheiwat who is a Christian but has not spoken on the issue. 

US Ambassador to Israel is Mike Huckabee who has long been an outspoken defender of life.

Steven Cheung was chosen as White House Communications Director. He previously led communications for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and has publicly endorsed pro-life politicians.   

Trump’s pick for Director of the Domestic Policy Council is pro-lifer Vince Haley who during his campaign for chair of the Virginia Republican Party emphasized his firm stand on protecting life. “I am proudly 100% pro-life.”  

John Phelan as Secretary of the Navy is a major Trump/political donor with no experience holding office and no direct record on abortion. 

Jay Bhattacharya who was nominated for Director of the National Institutes of Health has not discussed pro-life topics directly.  

Director of White House National Economic Council is Kevin Hassett who served as Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the first Trump administration and has no record on life. 

Administrator of the Small Business Administration is Kelly Loeffler. As a US Senator from Georgia, she advocated for measures like the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  

Rodney Scott received the nod for Commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection. He is a former US Border Patrol Chief but made no clear statements on abortion. 

Caleb Vitello was selected for Acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He worked in ICE but has no clear record on abortion. 

Trump chose Brian Burch as the new Ambassador to the Vatican. Brian is the President and co-founder of CatholicVote a well-respected pro-life organization.