Coordinating Minister for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam has been appointed as Senior Minister while continuing in his current role, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced as part of changes to the Cabinet.
“He (Mr Shanmugam) and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong are the two most experienced members of my team. They will continue to provide valuable counsel, and help guide and mentor our younger officeholders,” Prime Minister Wong said in a statement on July 22.
Mr Shanmugam, 67, is the first senior minister to be appointed to the role without having previously been a prime minister or a deputy prime minister.
He entered Parliament as a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1988 at the age of 29, representing Chong Pang ward under Sembawang GRC, which subsequently came under Nee Soon GRC from 2011. The Senior Counsel was appointed to the Cabinet in 2008 as Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs between 2011 and 2015, and stepped down as Law Minister in May 2025.
Several other officeholder appointments were also announced by the Prime Minister. The changes come 14 months after the last round of Cabinet changes, which took place soon after the General Election last year.
“We are continuing our leadership transition with younger and newer members of the team ready to take on larger responsibilities. There are also changes to be made due to recent resignations,” Mr Wong explained.
“This balance matters - because Singapore needs both experienced leaders to steer through immediate challenges, and a new generation ready to take us forward. Leadership renewal is therefore a continuous process,” he added.
Mr Jeffrey Siow, Mr David Neo, and Ms Sim Ann are being promoted to Ministers while Ms Jasmin Lau and Mr Goh Pei Ming are promoted to Senior Ministers of State. NTUC Secretary General Mr Ng Chee Meng, meanwhile, will be appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Dr Tan See Leng will relinquish his current role of Minister for Manpower to take on the role of Minister for Trade and Industry (Energy and Industry). As part of the changes, the Ministry of Trade and Industry will be renamed as the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry from Oct 1. “The new name reflects its growing focus on energy matters, which are vital to Singapore’s economic competitiveness and future,” the Prime Minister explained.
Meanwhile, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, while remaining as Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will, however, relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.
The above officeholder appointments are effective from Monday July 27, 2026.
Earlier, Mr Zaqy Mohamad was appointed Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs on 20 July. He will remain Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence, and relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
In other changes, Mr Foo Cexiang will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Trade and Industry from Sept 1, while Mr Shawn Loh will be appointed Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health from Jan 1, 2027.
