Howard Lutnick
| Howard Lutnick | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Education: | • Haverford College |
| Prior Experience | |
| Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald | |
Howard Lutnick is the secretary of commerce in the second term of the PresidentDonald Trump (R) administration.
Lutnick was co-chair of PresidentDonald Trump's (R) 2024-2025 presidential transition. On November 19, 2024, Trump announced that he had selected Lutnick as his nominee forsecretary of Commerce.[1] The Senate voted 51-45 toconfirm Lutnick on February 18, 2025.[2]
In announcing Lutnick's nomination, Trump said, "He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative."[1] Lutnick has said that "tariffs are an amazing tool for the president to use — we need to protect the American worker."[3] At a Trump rally in 2024, Lutnick said, "When was America great? … 125 years ago. We had no income tax, and all we had was tariffs."[4]Click here to read more about tariffs during the second Trump administration.
Lutnick was born in Jericho, New York, in 1961. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Haverford College in 1983.[5][6] He began working at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm, that year.[7] Lutnick was president and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald from 1991 until 1996, when he became chairman and chief executive officer.[6]
On September 11, 2001, 658 Cantor Fitzgerald employees, including Lutnick's brother, died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Lutnick, who had taken his son to his first day of kindergarten, was at the doors of the North Tower when the South Tower collapsed. He survived by hiding himself under a car.[8][9]
According toThe New York Times, "It was during that era that Mr. Lutnick’s friendship with Mr. Trump, a fellow businessman, was forged ... as they grappled together with the effect of the attacks on their home city."[10]
Biography
Lutnick was born in Jericho, New York, in 1961. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from Haverford College in 1983 and began working at Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm, that year.[11][12] From 1991 to 1996, Lutnick was president and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, and he was chairman and chief executive officer from 1996 to 2025. He was also chairman and chief executive officer of BGC Group and chairman of Newmark Group during that time.[6]
Nomination for U.S. secretary of commerce
- See also:Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025 andConfirmation process for Howard Lutnick for secretary of commerce
| Donald Trump's Cabinet (second term) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate:Howard Lutnick | ||
| Position:Secretary of Commerce | ||
 a | Announced: | November 19, 2024 |
| a | Hearing: | January 29, 2025 |
| a | Committee: | Commerce, Science, and Transportation |
| a | Reported: | Favorable (16-12) |
| a | Confirmed: | February 18, 2025 |
| a | Vote: | 51-45 |
Donald Trump (R) announced on November 19, 2024, that he had selected Lutnick as his nominee forsecretary of Commerce. This appointment requiresSenate confirmation. In a statement, Trump said, "I am thrilled to announce that Howard Lutnick, Chairman & CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, will join my Administration as the United States Secretary of Commerce. He will lead our Tariff and Trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative."[1]
TheSenate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a confirmation hearing for Lutnick on January 29, 2025.[13] The Senate voted 51-45 to confirm Lutnick on February 18, 2025, with 51 Republicans voting in favor. All 43 Democrats and both Independents who caucus with Democrats voted against his nomination.[14]Click here to read more about the confirmation process.
| Summary of Senate vote on Howard Lutnick's nomination for secretary of commerce (February 18, 2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes for | Votes against | Not voting |
 Democrats | 0 | 43 | 2 |
 Republicans | 51 | 0 | 2 |
 Independents | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Totals | 51 | 45 | 4 |
| Senate vote on Howard Lutnick's nomination for secretary of commerce (February 18, 2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Angela Alsobrooks | Democratic | Maryland | Nay |
| Tammy Baldwin | Democratic | Wisconsin | Nay |
| Jim Banks | Republican | Indiana | Yea |
| John Barrasso | Republican | Wyoming | Yea |
| Michael F. Bennet | Democratic | Colorado | Nay |
| Marsha Blackburn | Republican | Tennessee | Yea |
| Richard Blumenthal | Democratic | Connecticut | Nay |
| Lisa Blunt Rochester | Democratic | Delaware | Nay |
| Cory Booker | Democratic | New Jersey | Not Voting |
| John Boozman | Republican | Arkansas | Yea |
| Katie Britt | Republican | Alabama | Yea |
| Ted Budd | Republican | North Carolina | Yea |
| Maria Cantwell | Democratic | Washington | Nay |
| Shelley Moore Capito | Republican | West Virginia | Yea |
| Bill Cassidy | Republican | Louisiana | Yea |
| Susan Collins | Republican | Maine | Yea |
| Chris Coons | Democratic | Delaware | Nay |
| John Cornyn | Republican | Texas | Yea |
| Catherine Cortez Masto | Democratic | Nevada | Nay |
| Tom Cotton | Republican | Arkansas | Yea |
| Kevin Cramer | Republican | North Dakota | Yea |
| Mike Crapo | Republican | Idaho | Yea |
| Ted Cruz | Republican | Texas | Yea |
| John Curtis | Republican | Utah | Yea |
| Steve Daines | Republican | Montana | Yea |
| Tammy Duckworth | Democratic | Illinois | Nay |
| Dick Durbin | Democratic | Illinois | Nay |
| Joni Ernst | Republican | Iowa | Yea |
| John Fetterman | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Nay |
| Deb Fischer | Republican | Nebraska | Yea |
| Ruben Gallego | Democratic | Arizona | Nay |
| Kirsten Gillibrand | Democratic | New York | Nay |
| Lindsey Graham | Republican | South Carolina | Yea |
| Chuck Grassley | Republican | Iowa | Yea |
| Bill Hagerty | Republican | Tennessee | Yea |
| Maggie Hassan | Democratic | New Hampshire | Nay |
| Josh Hawley | Republican | Missouri | Yea |
| Martin Heinrich | Democratic | New Mexico | Nay |
| John Hickenlooper | Democratic | Colorado | Nay |
| Mazie Hirono | Democratic | Hawaii | Nay |
| John Hoeven | Republican | North Dakota | Yea |
| Jon Husted | Republican | Ohio | Yea |
| Cindy Hyde-Smith | Republican | Mississippi | Yea |
| Ron Johnson | Republican | Wisconsin | Yea |
| Jim Justice | Republican | West Virginia | Yea |
| Tim Kaine | Democratic | Virginia | Nay |
| Mark Kelly | Democratic | Arizona | Nay |
| John Kennedy | Republican | Louisiana | Yea |
| Andy Kim | Democratic | New Jersey | Nay |
| Angus King | Independent | Maine | Nay |
| Amy Klobuchar | Democratic | Minnesota | Nay |
| James Lankford | Republican | Oklahoma | Yea |
| Mike Lee | Republican | Utah | Yea |
| Ben Ray Luján | Democratic | New Mexico | Nay |
| Cynthia Lummis | Republican | Wyoming | Yea |
| Ed Markey | Democratic | Massachusetts | Nay |
| Roger Marshall | Republican | Kansas | Yea |
| Mitch McConnell | Republican | Kentucky | Yea |
| David McCormick | Republican | Pennsylvania | Yea |
| Jeff Merkley | Democratic | Oregon | Nay |
| Ashley B. Moody | Republican | Florida | Yea |
| Jerry Moran | Republican | Kansas | Not Voting |
| Bernie Moreno | Republican | Ohio | Yea |
| Markwayne Mullin | Republican | Oklahoma | Yea |
| Lisa Murkowski | Republican | Alaska | Yea |
| Chris Murphy | Democratic | Connecticut | Nay |
| Patty Murray | Democratic | Washington | Nay |
| Jon Ossoff | Democratic | Georgia | Nay |
| Alex Padilla | Democratic | California | Nay |
| Rand Paul | Republican | Kentucky | Yea |
| Gary Peters | Democratic | Michigan | Not Voting |
| Jack Reed | Democratic | Rhode Island | Nay |
| Pete Ricketts | Republican | Nebraska | Yea |
| James E. Risch | Republican | Idaho | Yea |
| Jacky Rosen | Democratic | Nevada | Nay |
| Mike Rounds | Republican | South Dakota | Yea |
| Bernie Sanders | Independent | Vermont | Nay |
| Brian Schatz | Democratic | Hawaii | Nay |
| Adam Schiff | Democratic | California | Nay |
| Eric Schmitt | Republican | Missouri | Yea |
| Chuck Schumer | Democratic | New York | Nay |
| Rick Scott | Republican | Florida | Yea |
| Tim Scott | Republican | South Carolina | Yea |
| Jeanne Shaheen | Democratic | New Hampshire | Nay |
| Tim Sheehy | Republican | Montana | Yea |
| Elissa Slotkin | Democratic | Michigan | Nay |
| Tina Smith | Democratic | Minnesota | Nay |
| Dan Sullivan | Republican | Alaska | Not Voting |
| John Thune | Republican | South Dakota | Yea |
| Thom Tillis | Republican | North Carolina | Yea |
| Tommy Tuberville | Republican | Alabama | Yea |
| Chris Van Hollen | Democratic | Maryland | Nay |
| Mark R. Warner | Democratic | Virginia | Nay |
| Raphael Warnock | Democratic | Georgia | Nay |
| Elizabeth Warren | Democratic | Massachusetts | Nay |
| Peter Welch | Democratic | Vermont | Nay |
| Sheldon Whitehouse | Democratic | Rhode Island | Nay |
| Roger Wicker | Republican | Mississippi | Yea |
| Ron Wyden | Democratic | Oregon | Nay |
| Todd Young | Republican | Indiana | Yea |
Recent news
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See also
- Donald Trump presidential administration, 2025-2026
- Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025
- Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025-2026
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.11.24President, "President Donald J. Trump Announces Howard Lutnick as the United States Secretary of Commerce," November 19, 2024
- ↑NY Times, "Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary," February 18, 2025
- ↑CBS News, "Trump will nominate transition adviser and billionaire Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary," November 19, 2024
- ↑CNN, "Elon Musk wants Trump to disrupt Wall Street with his Treasury pick," November 16, 2024
- ↑The Real Deal, "Howard Lutnick," archived September 1, 2015
- ↑6.06.16.2LinkedIn, "Howard W. Lutnick," accessed January 16, 2025
- ↑Forbes, "Briefing Book: Howard Lutnick," July 13, 2012
- ↑NPR, "CEO Howard Lutnick Remembers Sept. 11: How His Company Survived After Great Personal Loss," September 11, 2016
- ↑The New York Times, "AFTER THE ATTACKS: THE TRADING FIRM; Flinty Bond Trader Leads His Firm Out of the Rubble," September 15, 2001
- ↑The New York Times, "A Banker Is Scouting Trump’s Nominees. Some Will Oversee His Interests," November 9, 2024
- ↑Haverford College, "Family and Friends Weekend Keynote: Howard Lutnick '83," November 2, 2015
- ↑Forbes, "Briefing Book: Howard Lutnick," July 13, 2012
- ↑Senate.gov, "Hearings & Meetings," accessed January 27, 2025
- ↑NY Times, "Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary," February 18, 2025
