Who has Donald Trump nominated for his Cabinet? The latest on the nominees
WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled Senate plans to work overtime to approve President Donald Trump’s cabinet, including “nights, weekends, recesses,” according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Senate Democrats plan to slow down the process as much as possible – their only choice to disrupt the proceedings because it takes only a majority vote to approve nominees. Republicans control the chamber 53-47.
That means each nominee can only afford to lose three Republicans and still get confirmed.
Only one has been confirmed since Trump was inaugurated on Monday: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received a unanimous vote from his former colleagues in the Senate.
Here’s where things stand on the rest of Trump’s Cabinet picks.
Department of Defense: Pete Hegseth
Former Fox News host Pete Hegseth is the most controversial nominee the Senate will consider for Trump’s Cabinet. He has been dogged by allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 and that he has problems with drinking and domestic abuse.
On Tuesday, Hegseth’s former sister-in-law released an affidavit saying he flew into drunken rages, scared his ex-wife and made sexist and racist comments.
However, that hasn’t changed the minds of most Republicans. “I am still a firm yes,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee that voted him out of committee on Monday along party lines.
Republicans say they like his combat experience – he served in the Army National Guard in Iraq and Afghanistan – and his pledge to shake up the largest federal agency. But at least three Republicans are reportedly on the fence about him: Former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
The Senate is expected to vote on Hegseth’s nomination on Friday, according to a GOP aide.
Homeland Security: Kristi Noem
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has already had her confirmation hearing with the Homeland Security and Government Operations Committee last week, before Trump was inaugurated. During that hearing, she handily fielded questions about her ability to lead the agency central to Trump’s campaign promise to perform mass deportations.
She was voted out of committee on Monday with a 13-2 bipartisan vote.
A full Senate vote on Noem’s nomination is expected on Sunday, according to a GOP aide.
CIA: John Ratcliffe
Trump’s pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency is John Ratcliffe, who formerly served as Director of National Intelligence in Trump’s first term.
His confirmation hearing took place last week, during which he repeatedly said he would not hire or fire employees based on their political views.
He was voted out of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday along bipartisan lines, 14-3. His nomination will be considered before the full Senate on Thursday, according to a GOP aide.
Office of Management and Budget: Russell Vought
Trump’s pick to lead the agency that oversees the federal bureaucracy is Russell Vought, one of the co-authors of Project 2025, a 900-page document of conservative policy recommendations for the president.
He had his first confirmation hearing last week, and he was voted out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee 8-7 on Monday. He also faced the Budget Committee Wednesday morning.
Treasury Department: Scott Bessent
Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee to lead the chief financial agency in the federal government, is the CEO of hedge fund Key Square Group.
The Senate Finance Committee voted him out of committee 16-11 on Tuesday, but the Senate has not yet scheduled a full chamber vote on his nomination.
Department of Transportation: Sean Duffy
Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy was previously a congressman from Wisconsin.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee held a hearing on his nomination last week, during which he told the panel that he would allow the agency's investigation into Tesla – owned by Trump ally Elon Musk – to continue. The committee voted to approve him unanimously on Wednesday.
Awaiting committee votes
Several of Trump’s nominees have already had their confirmation hearings but have not yet been voted out of the committee that oversees their candidacy.
Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi is the former attorney general of Florida. She was previously a defense lawyer for Trump during his first impeachment trial. She had a testy confirmation hearing but appears on track to be confirmed.
Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, once a contender to be Trump’s vice president, is nominated as Interior Secretary. He faced the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week.
Former NFL football player Scott Turner is the nominee to lead the Housing and Urban Development. He had his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs last week.
Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright is Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Energy. He went before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last week.
Trump chose former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to serve as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee interviewed him last week.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who went viral for defending Israel during campus protests last year, was tapped as ambassador to the United Nations. She went before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday.
Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., a Iraq War veteran, was nominated to be the next secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Senate Veterans Affairs committee vetted him Tuesday.
Yet to have a committee hearing
Senate committees still have to hear from several other Cabinet nominees before they can vote them out of the panel and onto the floor.
Among those who haven't yet had confirmation hearings are former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who is nominated for Director of National Intelligence; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for Health and Human Services secretary; businessman Howard Lutnick, nominated for Commerce secretary; former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon, tapped to lead the Education Department; and former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., who has been chosen to lead the Department of Labor.