List of Department of Commerce appointments by Donald Trump explained

Color key

Denotes appointees serving in offices that did not require Senate confirmation.

Denotes appointees confirmed by the Senate.

Denotes appointees serving in an acting capacity.

Denotes appointees who have left office or offices which have been disbanded.

Denotes nominees who were withdrawn prior to being confirmed or assuming office.

Previous officeholders

data-sort-type="text"	Office	data-sort-type="text"	Name	data-sort-type="date"	Took office	data-sort-type="date"	Left office	Notes
Director of Policy and Strategic Planning	Earl Comstock	January 30, 2017	March 2, 2020	^[15]
Under Secretary of Commerce (Economic Affairs)	Karen Dunn Kelley	September 22, 2017	November 28, 2018
Under Secretary of Commerce (Export Administration)	Mira Ricardel	September 11, 2017	May 14, 2018	Left to become the deputy national security advisor under John R. Bolton.
Under Secretary of Commerce (International Trade)	Kenneth E. Hyatt	2016	January 2018
	Gilbert Kaplan	March 20, 2018	September 19, 2019
Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Communications and Information)	David Redl	November 21, 2017	May 9, 2019	^[16]
Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs)	Michael Platt Jr.	October 18, 2017	May 9, 2019
Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Global Markets)	Elizabeth Erin Walsh	August 17, 2017	May 3, 2018	Walsh was terminated on May 3, 2018 and escorted out of the Department of Commerce headquarters for unknown reasons. An internal investigation was initiated.^[17]
Director General of the United States Commercial Service
Assistant Secretary of Commerce (Export Administration)	Richard Ashooh	September 11, 2017	July 16, 2020	^[18]
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Security	John Costello		January 6, 2021	Resigned following the 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.^[19] ^[20]
Director of the Minority Business Development Agency	Chris Garcia	May 22, 2017	February 27, 2018	The Washington Post reported that Garcia was one of four Department of Commerce appointees who departed over issues with their security clearance. However, Garcia stated in a brief interview that he had planned to leave the agency for several weeks.^[21]
Deputy Director of the Minority Business Development Agency		May 22, 2017	February 27, 2018
Director of the United States Census Bureau	John H. Thompson	August 8, 2013	June 30, 2017
	Ron S. Jarmin	June 30, 2017	January 7, 2019

Notes and References

1. News: Rappeport. Alan. Wilbur Ross, a Billionaire Investor, Is Confirmed as Commerce Secretary. The New York Times. February 27, 2017.
2. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Wilbur L. Ross, Jr., of Florida, to be Secretary of Commerce) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
3. Under Secretary Kelley to Perform Nonexclusive Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Commerce . November 29, 2017 . January 30, 2018 . January 31, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180131200718/https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2017/11/under-secretary-kelley-perform-nonexclusive-duties-deputy-secretary . dead .
4. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Karen Dunn Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
5. Web site: Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts. whitehouse.gov. National Archives. July 27, 2018.
6. Web site: Trump White House picks John Fleming, former Louisiana congressman, for Commerce post. 21 June 2018 . July 10, 2018.
7. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation John Fleming, of Louisiana, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
8. Web site: PN389 – Nomination of Ian Paul Steff for Department of Commerce, 116th Congress (2019–2020). February 12, 2019 . www.congress.gov . February 13, 2019.
9. Web site: PN1202 – Nomination of Jeffrey Kessler for Department of Commerce, 115th Congress (2017–2018). November 2, 2017. www.congress.gov . January 13, 2018.
10. Web site: President Trump to nominate NH businessman Rich Ashooh for Commerce position. NH1 News. April 3, 2018.
11. News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts. September 2, 2017 . . . September 2, 2017.
12. Web site: PN927 – Nomination of Andrei Iancu for Department of Commerce, 115th Congress (2017–2018). December 14, 2017 . www.congress.gov . January 13, 2018.
13. Web site: On the Nomination (Confirmation Andrei Iancu, of California, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) . United States Senate . 30 May 2022.
14. Web site: PN2331 – Nomination of Steven Dillingham for Department of Commerce, 115th Congress (2017–2018). July 23, 2018 . www.congress.gov . July 24, 2018.
15. Web site: Commerce Department official at center of 5G battles resigns. March 5, 2020.
16. Web site: Commerce official resigns amid 5G tensions. March 5, 2020.
17. Web site: A High-Ranking Commerce Department Official Was Removed By Security Last Week. The Department Won't Say Why. . 7 May 2018 . May 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051242/https://www.buzzfeed.com/jasonleopold/commerce-department-official-escorted-out. May 10, 2018. live.
18. Web site: U.S. Commerce Official Resigns, Viewed as Moderating Voice on China Export Issues. . July 1, 2020.
19. News: 2021-01-07. Trump Administration Officials Who Resigned Over Capitol Violence. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-01-07. 0362-4331.
20. Web site: Kevin Liptak, Kaitlan Collins and Jeremy Diamond. Some Trump administration officials resign while others stay to prevent chaos. 2021-01-07. CNN. 7 January 2021 .
21. News: Carol D. . Leonnig . Carol D. Leonnig . Four Commerce Department appointees lose their posts after problems in background checks . The Washington Post . Washington, DC . February 28, 2018 . May 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180516104727/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/four-commerce-department-appointees-lose-their-posts-after-problems-in-background-checks/2018/02/27/f96b2666-1bdb-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html . May 16, 2018 . live.