Trump’s Cabinet nominees are moving closer to confirmation despite facing scrutiny and opposition from Democrats

Washington: So, it looks like Trump’s Cabinet is starting to take shape. One by one, his picks are getting closer to confirmation. Just a few weeks ago, Pete Hegseth’s nomination was shaky, but after a heated Senate hearing, he seems to be on track now.
During the hearing, they grilled him about his past, especially his views on women in combat and his management experience. But it seems like the GOP is rallying behind him, pushing through despite some pushback from Democrats.
Senator John Barrasso even called these nominees bold choices. He thinks the Senate will start voting on them right on Inauguration Day, January 20. But some of Trump’s more controversial picks, like Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, still have to face the music in front of the Senate.
There’s some concern from a group led by Mike Pence about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his views on abortion. They want senators to reject him for the Health and Human Services role. But Hegseth’s comeback story is a big win for Trump, showing he can still get things done.
Supporters like Elon Musk are backing Hegseth, which is pushing him forward. Charlie Kirk even warned GOP senators that voting against Hegseth could lead to primary challenges. The Senate Armed Services Committee is set to vote on his nomination soon, which could lead to a full Senate vote later that week.
Interestingly, GOP Senator Joni Ernst, who had her doubts about Hegseth, ended up supporting him. She faced a lot of criticism for her wavering stance, which might signal to others how to proceed.
On the same day, more Trump nominees were in front of Senate committees, with senators rushing around to attend as many hearings as possible. Pam Bondi, the nominee for Attorney General, faced tough questions about the 2020 election and whether she would stand up to Trump on pardons related to January 6.
She insisted she would answer questions honestly, but it seems like the pressure is on. Another nominee, Russ Vought, was asked about funding for Ukraine and promised to uphold the law. Meanwhile, Chris Wright, the Energy nominee, stood by his past comments about wildfires, which didn’t sit well with some senators.
Trump is expected to come to the Capitol on Monday to officially nominate his picks, kicking off the confirmation process. Senate Majority Leader John Thune mentioned they’ll vote on nominees as soon as they’re ready.
Marco Rubio, who was once a rival of Trump, is now in line for Secretary of State. He’s expected to have broad support, and his confirmation vote could happen as soon as Monday evening. However, others like Hegseth might face a tougher road ahead.
With Republicans holding a slim majority in the Senate, Trump’s nominees will need almost all GOP support to get confirmed, especially with Democrats likely to throw some procedural hurdles in the way. It looks like the confirmation process could stretch into the following week.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged that, as the minority, they can’t really stop Trump from getting his team in place. He emphasized the importance of keeping a record of these nominees, even if they end up getting confirmed.