Twenty White House cabinet members have directed at least $30 million to President Donald Trump through political contributions, property visits, stock holdings and donations to White House-related funds since 2023, according to analysis by CREW. Only three out of 23 cabinet members have not in some way helped pad Trump’s political coffers, pet projects or personal bottom line. These financial ties highlight concerns that the wealthy and powerful who can direct money and resources toward the president’s private and political interests have been able to buy influence within the administration and put their interests above those of the American people.

A total of at least 14 cabinet members—Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outgoing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, US Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles—made political contributions, either themselves or through committees they controlled, to Trump-aligned 2024 groups. Among the most significant contributors, McMahon poured at least $20 million to Trump-aligned 2024 super PACs, as well as contributions that helped finance Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally in 2024. The next largest sum was from Lutnick, who contributed over $10 million to super PACs Make America Great Again, Inc. and Turnout for America, the latter of which was formed to canvas and drive turnout for Trump during the 2024 cycle. Loeffler and her husband, Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeffrey Sprecher, contributed over $3 million combined to MAGA Inc.

Two cabinet members—Lutnick and McMahon—contributed to Trump’s presidential transition fund and were reportedly its largest donors. Trump’s second transition raised more than $14 million and spent almost as much, but it did not disclose how much each donor gave. It declined to accept public funds, meaning the transition and its contributors are not subject to federal contribution limits or disclosure requirements. Additionally, McMahon and Bessent donated to Trump’s inauguration fund, which raised $251.4 million—more than double the funding of any other inauguration on record. McMahon gave $1 million and Bessent gave $250,000.

But political and transition donations are only part of the picture. Seventeen cabinet members visited Trump-owned properties between the 2024 election and inauguration, as Trump was announcing cabinet appointments. Vance, Gabbard, McMahon, Rollins, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins were among the cabinet members who attended an America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-A-Lago that November. Rubio, Bessent, Noem and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought also visited Trump properties during this time. Beyond personally spending unknown sums at the properties, cabinet members have helped to establish his properties as centers of power and influence with their frequent visits. 

Additionally, Attorney General Pam Bondi and McMahon have held stock in Trump Media & Technology Group. Bondi, a former consultant for Digital World Acquisition Corp., owned over 106,000 shares as of late 2024 and was required to sell them within 90 days of her confirmation. She sold between $1 million and $5 million worth of Trump Media shares in early April 2025. McMahon, who served on the Trump Media board apparently through at least March 2025, was awarded nearly $195,000 in stock in January 2025 and reportedly planned to forfeit shares upon taking office as secretary of education. These holdings have tied both cabinet officials financially to Trump’s private business interests. 

Lutnick and Loeffler also made donations to Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project. The exact amounts of their contributions are not publicly known, but this seemingly pay-to-play project has raised serious ethics concerns.

Together, these disclosures show a consistent pattern of senior officials financially supporting the president’s political and private interests, raising serious concerns about wealthy individuals buying power and influence at the highest levels of government. 

Read More in Investigations