Staff Reports
The gears are in motion for President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, and it’s time for the Senate to roll up its sleeves for an engaging week of Cabinet nominations. After a flurry of personnel announcements, the moment has finally arrived for Trump’s picks to strut their stuff in front of those illustrious Senate committees. This is where the rubber meets the road, as senators prepare to dig into the credentials of Trump’s selections and find out just how ready they are to join the administration.
Kicking things off at 9 a.m. is Doug Collins, the former Georgia congressman, who is seeking to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. As a Baptist minister with a military background as a Navy chaplain and Air Force Reserve colonel, Collins could be just the fresh-faced veterans need to navigate the bureaucracy. One can only hope his experience in the military helps him cut through the usual red tape that seems more challenging to navigate than the Hudson River after a snowstorm.
Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump’s nominees for his Cabinet. Here is the schedule this far.
The committees overseeing the agencies that Trump wants them to run will be holding the hearings this week.
Tuesday
9 a.m.: Doug Collins, Department of… pic.twitter.com/dKx4ItZx1B
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Next up is Pete Hegseth at 9:30 a.m., who is aiming to take command of the Department of Defense. The former “Fox & Friends” weekend host and Army National Guard veteran must face a broad spectrum of questions from senators, as some seem intent on digging into his past like a dog with a bone. Allegations of excessive partying and misconduct swirling around him seem to spice up an otherwise straightforward nomination. Let’s hope he can channel his military training into handling these Washington drama-queens.
At 10 a.m., the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will host Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor who is vying for the Interior Department position, a crucial role overseeing public lands. Burgum is no stranger to the Trump camp, having endorsed the president after his presidential bid flopped. With Trump’s mantra of “energy dominance” echoing in the halls, one can expect Burgum to bring some no-nonsense focus on making America energy independent.
Hot on Burgum’s heels at 9 a.m. will be Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor who is auditioning to run the Department of Homeland Security. Known for her no-nonsense approach to governance, Noem is set to tackle the massive responsibility of securing the border and executing deportation efforts. After all, with immigration debates heating up, the nation needs an iron fist wrapped in a feminine touch to get the job done.
Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, will make her way to the Senate Judiciary Committee at 9:30 a.m. twice, the first on this day and the second on the following. Her nomination comes after a bit of a shake-up when former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew amid scandal. Bondi, a seasoned Trump ally, is expected to face intense scrutiny as Democrats tremble at the thought of an AG willing to be the bulldog in Trump’s legal kennel.
As the day rolls on, the Senate will also receive visits from other nominees, such as Sean Duffy looking to take the helm at the Transportation Department and John Ratcliffe hoping to lead the CIA. The excitement doesn’t stop, with Lee Zeldin slated to keep an eye on the Environmental Protection Agency – probably the most unlikely of positions for someone who respects the Constitution over arbitrary regulations.
In true Washington fashion, the scheduling gods have not yet drawn up the hearings for some contentious nominees, such as Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. This lack of scheduling might just give the Senate a few more sleepless nights filled with anticipatory glee, knowing that controversial figures could very well enthrall them in the days to come. It promises to be a lively week ahead as Trump’s Cabinet picks prepare to take the floor, where toughness is not just encouraged but required.
