A frenzied week of confirmation hearings begins on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, as US senators scrutinize the 13 cabinet nominees of President-elect Donald Trump. With hearings scheduled before 11 committees, the nominees’ political careers could hinge on the outcome. While some are expected to glide through confirmation, others are facing severe controversies, ranging from allegations of sexual assault to connections with authoritarian regimes and vaccine skepticism.
The confirmation process has been marked by stringent preparations, with nominees undergoing mock hearings and extensive coaching to handle tough questions. Former White House spokesperson Sean Spicer commented that the nominees are seen as extensions of Trump’s policies, saying, “They’re not there to defend their own views. They’re there to defend Trump’s policies.”
While Senate Republicans are eager to fast-track confirmations of national security picks, Democrats are poised to challenge nominees they view as unqualified. One of the most contentious hearings will be for Pete Hegseth, nominated for Secretary of Defense. The former Army National Guard officer and ex-Fox News host faces accusations of sexual assault, financial misconduct, and excessive drinking. He has also been criticized for his views on women in the military and lacks substantial management experience. Despite the allegations, Hegseth has maintained Trump’s backing, and Republicans are prepared to hear him out.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Armed Services Committee, has strongly opposed Hegseth’s nomination, calling him “a guy with a track record of being so drunk at work events that he needed to be carried out.” Hegseth can afford only three Republican rejections and still be confirmed, should Democrats and independents vote against him.
Other nominees also face scrutiny. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, nominated for a position with controversial foreign policy implications, has raised alarms due to her meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and her earlier pro-Russia stance regarding the Ukraine invasion. However, some pressure on Gabbard may ease as she has since shifted her position to support a contentious intelligence-gathering program she had previously opposed.
A particularly divisive pick is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, known for his vocal anti-vaccine stance. Meanwhile, former Florida senator Marco Rubio, tapped for Secretary of State, is expected to sail through his confirmation, backed by bipartisan support.
Kristi Noem, nominated for Secretary of Homeland Security, and Pam Bondi, Trump’s attorney general nominee, will also face hearings. Bondi was the second choice after Matt Gaetz withdrew amid his own scandal.
Potentially the most heated hearings will involve Kennedy and Kash Patel, nominated to run the FBI. Patel, known for his conspiracy theories and extreme rhetoric, may face a tougher road to confirmation when his hearing is scheduled in February.
Amid these confirmation battles, Trump’s legal woes continue to make headlines. On Tuesday, Trump’s team lost a bid to prevent the release of a report by special counsel Jack Smith. The report detailed alleged criminal efforts by Trump to overturn the 2020 election result, claiming Trump would have been convicted had the case not been dropped after his presidential win last November.
With hearings underway, the fate of Trump’s cabinet picks and their potential confirmation remains uncertain, setting the stage for a crucial week in Washington.
