The battle over President-elect Donald J. Trump's Cabinet picks is set to begin this week with Senate confirmation hearings scheduled for more than a dozen nominees, with Republican cooperation expected to oust at least a few. It is likely to intensify as he faces a barrage of questions from the Democratic Party, which is trying to gain more points. controversy.
The most high-profile and contentious hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, when the Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to consider former Fox News personality and veteran Pete Hegseth's nomination for Secretary of Defense. be. The Senate committee also set up a public review of the selection of the attorney general and the people in charge of the departments of State, Treasury, Homeland Security, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, and the CIA, among others.
Despite criticism of the backgrounds and experience of some of his picks, Trump called on Senate Republicans to remain united and quickly implement the team he chose at the beginning of his administration. How Republicans respond will be an early test of the relationship.
Trump and his Senate Republican allies hope to have at least some officials in place within hours of next Monday's swearing-in, but Republican leaders remain committed to moving Trump's selection quickly. It is said that it is, but there is a possibility that it is more than that. Few people are prepared to vote on Inauguration Day.
Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said Sunday that “the president should assemble a team, especially a national security team, as soon as possible.” “If Democrats try to drag out the process, the Republican conference is prepared to work around the clock, including on weekends and nights.”
Mr Hegseth has come under intense scrutiny for accusations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, as well as for admitting at the 2017 Conservative Party conference that he had reached a financial settlement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault. are. Hegseth has also faced criticism for his comments. He will be asked about the restrictions on women's roles in the military, as well as his response to two veterans' advocacy groups that are in financial trouble.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a member of the committee, wrote in a 33-page letter to Hegseth last week that “your past actions and statements demonstrate that you have not effectively led this organization. “This demonstrates an inability to adequately support our service members,” it wrote in a 33-page letter to Hegseth detailing the situation. Hegseth received more than 70 questions.
Senate Republicans initially had some trepidation, but have become more confident about Hegseth's chances of confirmation, including a personal visit to his Senate office to address Republican concerns.
“I think as people listen to him, they'll have even more confidence in his abilities,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota.
But Democrats on the committee have not been able to see the FBI's background check on Mr. Hegseth (so far, that information has been shared only with committee chairs and top Democratic officials). They are already alarmed that they may not have received complete information about Mr Hegseth. past.
Confirmation hearings can sometimes produce drama, but candidates are rarely voted down on the floor. In the past 36 years, there has only been one failure, with former Republican Sen. John Tower of Texas failing to receive a vote for Secretary of Defense in President George H.W. Bush's administration. Senators have traditionally tended to defer to the president in choosing the top government officials, and it is customary for senators faced with problems to withdraw before a vote.
How Democrats will use the hearings to make good on Republicans' campaign promises to support the working class while exposing deep issues with candidates in hopes of chipping away at Republican support. I plan to press candidates on this question.
“We want to show them that they are real people,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and minority leader, said in an interview. “Some people have a lot of baggage.”
Previous presidents have been able to get at least some Cabinet members on board on the first day, but Democratic resistance and complicated Senate rules will make it extremely difficult to win immediate confirmation of Trump's team members. Dew. Changes to the confirmation process and increased partisan tensions over nominations have significantly reduced the chances of day-one approval, even for national security candidates.
For example, President Barack Obama confirmed six Cabinet nominees on January 20, 2009, but Robert M. Gates was succeeded as Secretary of Defense. Several secretaries of state, including Hillary Clinton, were confirmed within days. At the time, there was a theoretical 60-vote threshold for candidates, and Mr. Obama and his predecessors were forced to select candidates who could better clear that hurdle.
In 2013, Democrats changed Senate rules to allow direct majority votes to confirm nominees for administration and judicial seats, without threatening the 60-vote requirement. This allowed the president to nominate candidates who were likely to win on partisan votes, but increased the number of votes cast. Opportunity for partisan division.
In 2021, Trump won two Cabinet confirmations on January 20th, including defense and homeland security, as Democrats helped fill the new administration's key national security slots with experienced military generals. I was able to fill the top post in security.
President Biden was able to secure the confirmation of just one senior official on January 20, 2021, when Avril D. Haines was confirmed as Director of National Intelligence. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was confirmed two days later, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken was confirmed on January 26. Democrats say their Republican colleague Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida is the candidate they want to lead the way this year. , for the Secretary of State.
Part of the problem is that nominations don't become official until the president takes office. That means Trump can only submit official documents after being sworn into office. The Senate is allowed to hold public hearings, but some cooperation from Democrats is needed to clarify who will be running for the chamber.
It would be highly unlikely that Democrats would provide significant support to a candidate like Mr. Hegseth. In that case, Republicans would have to hold committee votes and follow floor procedures, which would also take time. Hearings for other controversial candidates, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Intelligence Secretary Tulsi Gabbard, are pending.
In the lead-up to the hearing, Democrats and some Republicans have opposed proceeding, citing the lack of all traditional ethics and financial documents. They also asked for access to FBI background reports. Republicans said they expected most of the requirements to be met before a vote and would fulfill their obligation to provide advice and consent.
“I think there's a strong desire to move these forward as quickly as possible,” Lowndes said. “But we're also going to do our job.”
