By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s another week of key meetings for cabinet nominees on Capitol Hill.
President-elect Donald Trump’s choices for top spots in his administration continue to lobby support among Republican senators.
There are dozens of positions that require Senate approval. Secretaries of the various government agencies as well as other top administration officials will all need approval from the soon-to-be Republican Senate early next year.
With a Republican majority, most of Trump’s picks, should be easily approved. For example, Senator Marco Rubio (R- FL), Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, has support from his Republican colleagues and even some Democrats.
However, there are some picks with an uncertain confirmation process. For example, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary, has faced recent sexual misconduct allegations. Hegseth denies the allegations, but he has also faced backlash over comments in the past about women in combat.
Not all Republican senators are fully on board with Hegseth, yet. At least one of those still up in the air, Sen. Joni Ernst (R- IA), appears to be warming up to Hegseth. Ernst, a veteran and survivor of sexual assault, has spearheaded efforts to protect women in the military, especially sexual assault victims.
Many GOP senators are confident in Hegseth’s chances. But across the aisle, many Democrats are not warming up to Hegseth, nor the other cabinet picks.
“It’s shocking to see the level of lack of experience and lack of ethics. In some cases, folks that have committed crimes that have been put forward. I think it’s a disturbing time,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D- MI).
“His nomination as he said and as we’ve said, isn’t decided in the media. It’s decided in those one-on-one meetings that he’s having. You can feel the difference between this week versus next week with Pete,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R- OK). “Pete has done a phenomenal job on earning that vote every time he’s gone into a meeting.”
When asked today how he feels this week compared to last week, Hegseth gave a thumbs up.
Other nominees that need Senate approval were also on Capitol Hill today, including Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Elise Stefanik.
