US Senate to Grill Trump’s Cabinet Picks

In a high-stakes week starting Tuesday, Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees are set to undergo intense scrutiny in confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. Thirteen of his nominees will face questioning from 11 committees.

While some are expected to pass with little difficulty, others are bracing for contentious questioning on issues such as alleged sexual assault, substance abuse, connections to authoritarian leaders, and views on vaccinations.

The nominees have been rigorously prepared, with mock hearings and coaching sessions aimed at helping them navigate the tough questions while staying loyal to the president-elect.

“This time, people view the nominees as an extension of Donald Trump and his agenda,” Sean Spicer, Trump’s first White House spokesman, told CNN.

“They’re not there to defend their views. They’re there to defend Trump’s policies.”

Senate Republicans are eager to expedite the confirmation of Donald Trump’s national security nominees, with some Democrats likely to support the fast-tracking of certain candidates.

However, Democrats are also prepared to block those they deem unqualified. One of the first and most contentious nominees is Pete Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and ex-Fox News host, who has been nominated for the position of Secretary of Defense.

Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, scheduled for Tuesday morning, is expected to be highly contentious due to several serious allegations against him. These include accusations of sexual assault, financial misconduct, excessive drinking, and concerns about his views on women serving in the military.

Additionally, Hegseth’s lack of relevant management experience has raised questions about his suitability for the role of Secretary of Defense. These issues are likely to dominate the hearing and could influence his confirmation process.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a member of the Armed Services Committee, described Hegseth as “a guy with a track record of being so drunk at work events that he needed to be carried out on multiple occasions.”

“Can we count on calling Hegseth at 2AM to make life and death national security decisions? Nope,” she said on X.

Hegseth can still be confirmed if he receives no more than three rejections from Republicans, assuming every Democrat and independent votes against him.

Despite the growing criticism and negative headlines, Hegseth has continued to maintain Trump’s support, and Senate Republicans seem willing to listen to him.

Another nominee under scrutiny is former Democratic congresswoman turned Trump ally, Tulsi Gabbard. Her lack of qualifications and experience has raised concerns, along with her controversial views on U.S. adversaries.

In 2017, Gabbard met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and referred to him as “not the enemy.” She has also expressed sympathy for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Opposition to some of Trump’s nominees seems to be easing, particularly after Tulsi Gabbard reversed her stance and began supporting a controversial government intelligence-gathering program she had previously sought to repeal in 2020.

However, some pressure on the nominees is expected from both sides, notably Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has been criticized for his anti-vaccine conspiracy theories.

Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, is widely considered a safe bet and is expected to receive bipartisan support, likely being confirmed before Trump takes office on January 20.

Rubio will face his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, alongside Homeland Security Secretary nominee Kristi Noem, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, and CIA pick John Ratcliffe, who has previously been confirmed as Director of National Intelligence.

Bondi, originally Trump’s second choice after former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew over allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, is also expected to face questions.

Some of the most contentious hearings are yet to come, including for Kennedy and Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee to run the FBI. Patel, known for his conspiracy theories and inflammatory rhetoric, including a podcast where he vowed that Trump would “come after” journalists, lawyers, and judges who opposed him, is not expected to have his hearing until February.