The administration of President Barack Obama faces numerous challenges and decisions, including fixing a growing financial crisis, fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and deciding whether or not to investigate the Bush Administration for possible wrongdoing.

In February 2009, some of Obama's nominees started to come under crossfire. Timothy Geithner and Tom Daschle both had issues surface that indicated they owed back taxes to the IRS. While Geithner was confirmed, Dashle withdrew his nomination.US News and World Report: Obama less likely to get health reform (February 11, 2009) Another nominee to back out of the administration was Republican Judd Gregg, who was slated for the commerce secretary position. He cited differences of opinion on the 2009 Stimulus Package and the controversy involving the US Census Bureau as his reasons for pulling out.Michelle Malkin: Judd Gregg withdraws nomination (February 12, 2009)

Obama assembled his picks for his cabinet quickly during the transition from President George W. Bush and some of his selections, including Eric Holder for Attorney General and Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State, are already being considered for approval by the Senate.

Just hours after the inauguration the Senate voted unanimously to confirm the nominations of six of Obama's cabinet picks. The vote to confirm Obama's nomination of Hillary Clinton for secretary of state was postponed until Wednesday, January 21, 2009 due to the objection of Republican Sen. John Cornyn. Cornyn is requesting more information into former President Bill Clinton's foreign charitable contributions.Fox News: Senate Confirms 6 Obama Cabinet... (January 20, 2009)

Obama was inaugurated as President of the United States on January 20, 2009. He was sworn in using the Lincoln Bible and is the only President to have used the Lincoln Bible since Lincoln himself. Despite the cold January weather, more than 2 million people gathered to see the historic inauguration.Fox News: An Instant Moment in History (January 20, 2009)

The Obama Administration has already differentiated itself from the Bush Administration in many key ways. Attorney General nominee Eric Holder has unequivocally stated that waterboarding is a form of torture and the administrations plans to announce the closing of Guantanamo Bay as early as January 20, 2009. Although some Democrats have called for a 9-11 commission-style investigation as well as a criminal investigation of the Bush Administration for potential wrongdoing, the Obama Administration has not endorsed such a move.

• Hillary Rodham Clinton: Secretary of State
• Rahm Emanuel: White House Chief of Staff
• Eric Holder: Attorney General
• Janet Napolitano: Secretary of Homeland Security
• Timothy Geithner: Secretary of the Treasury
• Peter Orszag: Director of Office of Management and Budget
• David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett: Senior Advisers
• Robert Gibbs: White House Press Secretary
• Gregory Craig: White House Counsel
• Susan Rice: Ambassador to The United Nations
• Steven Chu: Energy Secretary
• General James Jones: National Security Adviser
• Tom Vilsack: Agriculture Secretary
• Arne Duncan: Education Secretary
• Ken Salazar: Interior Secretary
• Eric K. Shinseki: Veterans Affairs Secretary