By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for key cabinet positions are back on Capitol Hill, trying to build support from senators.
The Senate is tasked with approving cabinet appointees and will be controlled by Republicans come January. However, a Republican-controlled Senate doesn’t necessarily mean all of Trump’s appointees will make it across the finish line, as was the case for former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R- FL).
Trump’s new Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi, is meeting with several senators this week. Pete Hegseth and Scott Bessent, Trump’s choice for Treasury, will also be making the rounds on the hill.
Of all the cabinet picks, most of the attention this week has been on Hegseth, a veteran, former FOX News host and Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has faced a slew of new allegations, which he denies, surrounding financial mismanagement and inappropriate behavior including sexual misconduct.
Despite these new reports, some Republican senators who met with Hegseth say they’re not concerned.
“He’s going to be a great Secretary of Defense,” said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R- AL). “We need a drill sergeant in the military. We need somebody to straighten the military out.”
Sen. Tuberville said Hegseth will have to answer some tough questions but ultimately believes he has what it takes to lead the Department of Defense and its more than $800 billion budget.
“He’s going to be for the people who actually do the fighting, not for the people that plan the fighting,” said Tuberville. “He’s going to have to answer a lot of questions, not just to y’all, but to people that are going to either possibly give him a confirmation vote or not give him a confirmation vote.”
While many Democrats have been vocal and outspoken against Hegseth and his allegations, others, including Senator John Fetterman (D- PA), are waiting to jump to conclusions.
“I’m open to having this conversation and hear more. As I’ve said before, I’m not going to pre-hate the whole situation. Clearly, he wouldn’t be my first choice, my second choice, third choice or fourth or fifth, but here’s where we are and now they have the majority,” said Sen. Fetterman.
These meetings in Washington come just a few days after President-elect Trump announced he plans on firing FBI director Christopher Wray, who Trump appointed in 2017, and replacing him with longtime ally, Kash Patel.
Patel’s appointment must also be approved by the Senate.
