President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees begin their confirmation hearings before the Senate on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Thirteen nominees will appear before 11 committees as the chamber fulfills its advice and consent role.
Here is a look at the most closely watched.
Tuesday
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He will have to answer for allegations against him, including sexual and financial misconduct and alcohol abuse. Punchbowl News reports that the top Republican and Democrat on the committee reviewed his FBI file, which was described by those briefed on the matter as unremarkable.
Wednesday
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is scheduled to appear before the foreign relations committee. His confirmation as Secretary of State will likely be the fastest and smoothest of all. He could be on the job starting Inauguration Day.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, R, is vying to become the next secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Noem will be busy in her new role.
First, she will oversee both the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement as President Trump seeks to carry out the biggest border enforcement and deportation operation in American history.
She could also be charged with downsizing her department which consists of 22 agencies. Some say it’s bloated and that agencies like FEMA and the Secret Service should be independent.
Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi will sit before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bondi was Florida’s Attorney General from 2011 to 2019 and has since worked in private practice. Democrats will want her to pledge her independence. Over the years, they have accused President Trump of treating the Justice Department like his personal law firm.
John Ratcliffe will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee as he seeks to be the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Ratcliffe was the director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term and served in Congress for five years before that.
Thursday
Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent will wrap up the busy week. Bessent will have to hit the ground running.
The Treasury Department is currently working to prevent the United States from defaulting on its debt. The country hit the debt ceiling on Jan. 1 and Congress has not yet given authorization to borrow more money.
Bessent would also be in charge of overseeing the implementation of any tariffs or sanctions the president-elect imposes on foreign adversaries.
