The political arena often equates people with policy, and this week, President-elect Trump's prospective policies, embodied by his Cabinet nominees, made their presence felt on Capitol Hill. This marks the beginning of the customary pre-inauguration ritual of Cabinet hopefuls navigating the Senate, engaging with senators, fielding inquiries, and gaining insight into the confirmation process and its potential challenges.
This process began before Thanksgiving with brief meetings involving former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz. Following Gaetz's withdrawal, the focus shifted to Trump's second choice for the position, Pam Bondi, who commenced her Senate visits this week.
Bondi's initial meeting with incoming Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley experienced a minor delay due to travel complications, but eventually took place. Grassley expressed his anticipation of guiding her nomination through the Senate, while Bondi pledged to serve the American people diligently if confirmed.
President-elect Trump at UFC 309. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Following her meeting with Grassley, Bondi met with Sen. Lindsey Graham, the current top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, who expressed strong support for her nomination.
Meanwhile, Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host, also embarked on a series of meetings with various senators. Hegseth's nomination has drawn scrutiny regarding his qualifications to lead the military, and he has faced numerous allegations. He dismissed a question about his past conduct while traveling on the job.
Hegseth met with several conservative senators, including Ted Cruz, Cynthia Lummis, Rick Scott, and Mike Lee, seemingly garnering support from this contingent. Sen. Tommy Tuberville advocated for a strong leader to address what he perceived as "woke" influences within the military.
Hegseth continued his meetings throughout the week, engaging with a range of senators. He also addressed concerns about his stance on women in combat, stating that women already serve in combat roles.
Pete Hegseth at the Capitol. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Amidst the attention on Bondi and Hegseth, other nominees, including Elise Stefanik for United Nations ambassador, Scott Bessent for Treasury secretary, and Linda McMahon for Education secretary, also held meetings with senators. The upcoming appearances of Kash Patel (FBI) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services) are expected to generate significant interest.
Adding another layer of intrigue, President-elect Trump's selections to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, are scheduled to meet with House and Senate Republicans to discuss their plans for government streamlining. Sen. Joni Ernst, head of the Senate's DOGE Caucus, emphasized the potential for significant cost savings through this initiative. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat, joined the House DOGE Caucus, highlighting the bipartisan potential of government efficiency efforts.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy (Getty Images)
Democrats have underscored the importance of thorough vetting of nominees, including background checks, and urged against the use of recess appointments. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin cautioned against hasty confirmations, emphasizing the need for comprehensive FBI investigations. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed these sentiments, urging adherence to established Senate procedures for confirmations.
The coming weeks promise a flurry of activity surrounding the staffing of the new administration, with numerous meetings, hearings, and votes on the horizon.
