After winning the presidency in November, Donald Trump wasted no time announcing his Cabinet picks. Nominees began meeting with Senators in December and incoming Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) promised to confirm them as soon as possible. This week kicked off that promise with the Senate holding hearings for thirteen nominees vying for various leadership positions in the Executive Branch.
One of the first hearings of the week was held in the Senate Armed Services Committee for Pete Hegseth, candidate for Secretary of Defense. On questions regarding military expertise, he excelled. When asked about his stance on putting women in combat roles, he denounced the Pentagon’s actions in lowering standards to accommodate women and focusing instead on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hires. He clarified that “the standards need to be the same, and they need to be high.” He promised to reinstate soldiers who were kicked out due to their opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, he was able to answer all questions specifically targeting his knowledge about military weapons and strategy.
Attempting to make his nomination controversial, some Senators pried into Hegseth’s personal matters such as his past sexual encounters, marriages, children, and drinking habits. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) pointed out the hypocrisy by saying:
How many Senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Have any of you guys asked them to step down or resign from their job? …then how many Senators do you know who have gotten a divorce for cheating on their wives? Did you ask them to step down? No. But it’s for show.
He went on to praise Hegseth’s wife for loving him through his mistakes and pointed out that his own life was changed because of his own wife as well. Hegseth referenced his redemption through Jesus Christ throughout the entire hearing. His opening comments included:
All glory, regardless of the outcome, belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus, Christ. His mercy and grace abound each day. May His will be done.
Leader Thune announced after Hegseth’s hearing that he would bring his vote to the floor quickly saying that he has heard from SASC members that he “acquitted himself well.”
On Wednesday, Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, faced the Senate Judiciary Committee for the first of her two-day hearing. Her extensive background as a defense attorney and Attorney General for Florida was evident as she navigated each question. Even many Democrats prefaced their remarks by praising her qualifications for the job.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) asked Bondi if she would end the weaponization of the federal government. Specifically, she vowed to stop the targeting of parents at school board meetings, Catholic churches, and pregnancy centers. She acknowledged that the Biden administration has chosen to enforce only part of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act which prohibits individuals from obstructing or intimidating another person from entering a facility that provides reproductive healthcare or a place of worship. Several pro-life Americans have been imprisoned in the last four years, but violent abortion and anti-Catholic activists have remained unscathed. Bondi stated, “It will stop.”
Later that day, conservative advocate Russell Vought sat before the Department of Homeland Security to field questions on his qualifications to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This was not his first rodeo because he served in that position in Trump’s first term. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) praised Vought as being a “consistent vote for fiscal sanity.” Vought addressed the weaponization of the federal bureaucracy and promised to be a voice for taxpayers by saying:
We have to use taxpayer dollars wisely because inflation driven by irresponsible federal spending taxes Americans twice. The forgotten men and women of this country, those who work hard every day in cities and towns across this country, deserve a government that empowers them to achieve their dreams.
Confirming Vought to lead OMB is of the utmost importance. Congress will soon work on a “reconciliation bill” that will include many of Trump’s agenda items like border security and tax cuts. In order for those policies to be quickly and appropriately implemented, a true fiscal conservative like Vought must be at the helm.
Eagle Forum has sent a letter to Senate Republicans urging a swift confirmation process for all of President-elect Trump’s nominees. In addition to the nominees already mentioned, we have voiced our support for the following Secretary nominees that are receiving hearings this week: Doug Collins for Veterans Affairs, Doug Burgum for Interior, Kristi Noem for Homeland Security, Marco Rubio for State, Sean Duffy for Transportation, Chris Wright for Energy, Eric Turner for Housing and Urban Development, and Scott Bessent for Treasury. We also support Lee Zeldin for Administrator of the Environment Protection Agency and John Ratcliffe for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. We will have more information on additional nominees in the weeks to come.
Please contact your Senators and ask them to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet without delay!
