NEW YORK – President-elect Donald Trump has meetings scheduled on Monday in New York with Former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, and Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome Adams, who was appointed by then-governor Mike Pence. Trump is also talking Monday with Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, who said to be in the running for secretary of the Department of the Interior, and Democratic U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who backed Senator Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary against Hillary Clinton.Gabbard, the first Hindu member of the U.S. Congress, has veered from Democratic Party positions at times, backing policies cracking down on immigration. In November, she was one of a few dozen Democrats who joined Republicans to pass a bill mandating stronger screening process for refugees from Iraq and Syria seeking to enter the United States. In 2014, she called for a rollback of the visa waiver program for Britain, Germany, France and other European countries with what she called “Islamic extremist” populations.The Republican president-elect has hosted a parade of visitors at his offices in Manhattan, and in New Jersey over the weekend, as he works to build a Cabinet and fill other senior administration positions for his term that begins on Jan. 20.In addition to seeing Gabbard, Trump was scheduled to meet on Monday with former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich and Elaine Chao, the U.S. labor secretary under former President George W. Bush, advisers said.Perry is being considered for Cabinet posts including defense, energy and veterans affairs, Trump’s transition team said. Fallin’s name has come up as a possibility for interior secretary, Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Fox News.Conway said the transition team is “way ahead of schedule” on Cabinet decisions as Trump speaks to a variety of current and former leaders and experts from many fields. “Most people who meet with him are not going to be in his Cabinet,” she said.Trump has so far chosen three senior leaders of his national security and law enforcement teams.They are U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general, U.S. Representative Mike Pompeo as CIA director, and retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as national security adviser.Over the weekend, Trump held meetings at his golf resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he conferred with retired Marine Corps General James Mattis, a contender for defense secretary, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a fierce Trump critic during the presidential campaign who is now under consideration for secretary of state.Summing up two days of talks on Sunday evening, Trump said he had made decisions on a couple of appointments. “We really had some great meetings, and you’ll be hearing about them soon,” he said.Monday’s meetings include:SCOTT BROWNFormer Massachusetts senator and lawyer who replaced the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, but lost his seat to Elizabeth WarrenServed 35 years in the Army National Guard as a Judge AdvocateSaid to be in the running for Veterans Affairs secretaryDR. JEROME ADAMS, MDIndiana state health commissionerAppointed by Mike Pence in 2014 when Pence was governor of IndianaAlso serves as assistant professor of clinical anesthesia at Indiana University School of Medicine CHRIS CRANEChief executive of Exelon, an energy provider of electricity and natural gasvice chairman of the Edison Electric Institute and chairman of the Institute of Nuclear Power OperationsImmediate past chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry trade associationELAINE CHAOU.S. labor secretary under President George W. BushDeputy U.S. transportation secretary under President George H.W. BushWife of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMARY FALLINCurrent Oklahoma governor serving second term; first elected in 2010One of 64 agriculture policy advisers to Trump’s presidential campaignNEWT GINGRICHFormer U.S. House of Representatives speaker, 1995-1999; represented Georgia from 1979-1999Has said he hopes to have an advisory position to Trump administration rather than a Cabinet post; had been floated as possible secretary of stateRICK PERRYFormer Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate in 2012 and 2016Under consideration for Cabinet posts including defense, energy and veterans affairsTULSI GABBARDA Democratic U.S. representative from Hawaii, who was an early supporter of Bernie SandersServes on the U.S. House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees
