Senate prepares for tumultuous confirmation hearings for Trump Cabinet nominees

The Republican-led Senate is holding more than a dozen hearings this week for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks in hopes of swift confirmation after his inauguration. Some nominees, like Marco Rubio for secretary of state, are expected to have smooth paths to confirmation, while others like Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, face opposition and need the hearings to garner support. The process has been described as a “train wreck” by Sen. John Cornyn, with hearings scheduled for various nominees over the next few days. Some nominees will likely get Democratic votes, while others face strong opposition. Hegseth, in particular, is battling allegations and skepticism from members of both parties. Senate committees are missing key documentation for some hearings, such as for Burgum and Wright, but hearings are still scheduled. Some nominees, like Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, are facing bipartisan skepticism due to past dealings with foreign adversaries. Overall, Democrats are pressuring Republicans not to rush through confirmations before proper vetting is done. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused his Republican colleagues of rushing the process without ensuring nominees have been properly vetted.

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