Federal Retirement Programs, Healthcare Targeted for Cuts by Congressional Republicans
The U.S. Senate is at work vetting President Trump’s cabinet nominees.
Incoming Secretary of State Marco Rubio became the first Trump nominee confirmed just hours after the president’s inauguration, with the former Florida Senator sailing to confirmation on a 99-0 vote.
“It’s an important job in an important time, and I’m honored by it,” said incoming Secretary Rubio, after his confirmation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) sees a path to confirmation for the president’s nominees, including the more controversial ones like Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kash Patel as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
“I think they all have a path to get there,” said Senator Thune, who added that some like Kennedy, Patel, and Gabbard are still awaiting confirmation hearings. “I always reserve judgment until they come out of the committee because that’s where they get the hard questions.”
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Democrats will “neither rubber-stamp nominees we feel are grossly unqualified, nor oppose nominees that deserve serious consideration.”
Nominations Advance
Hegseth’s nomination meanwhile cleared a key hurdle when it was advanced out of the Armed Services Committee along party lines. Despite allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement, the former Fox News anchor is positioned to be confirmed to lead the Pentagon.
Other nominees such as Homeland Security Secretary nominee Kirsti Noem, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary nominee Doug Burgum, Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, and Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright have had their hearings.
Bessent’s nomination was advanced to the full senate for consideration as was Noem’s.
The Homeland Security Committee also advanced the nomination of Russell Vought to lead the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). However, Vought’s nomination is also subject to a second hearing by the Senate Budget Committee.