Washington — President-elect Donald Trump’s Top Post Candidates His administration is preparing for the Senate’s confirmation process to begin this week, with more than a dozen confirmation hearings scheduled to be held in the coming days.
Republican senators are working to assemble the president-elect’s team as quickly as possible, with Trump’s inauguration scheduled for Jan. 20 and Republican majorities in the House and Senate eager to work on his policy agenda.
Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, and nominations require a simple majority. That means most of Trump’s nominations should be comfortably confirmed. If only a few Republican senators oppose their nominations, others could face an uphill battle.
This week’s hearing schedule is as follows, in order:
Doug Collins
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Former Congressman Doug Collins, President Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Veterans Affairs, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14.
The 58-year-old Georgia Republican served in Congress from 2013 to 2021 and was the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, where he defended Trump during his first impeachment hearings. Collins, an Air Force Reserve chaplain and Iraq War veteran, launched an unsuccessful bid to represent Georgia in the Senate in 2020.
Pete Hegseth
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Pete HegsethPresident Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense is scheduled to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14, in what will be the most contentious hearing on the schedule.
The 44-year-old former Fox News host and Army combat veteran has come under intense scrutiny over sexual assault allegations, which he denies, and controversial comments he has made about women in combat roles. He is also expected to face questions about his qualifications to lead the nation’s largest workforce at the Defense Department.
Doug Burgum
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Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14.
Burgum, a successful businessman who founded a software and venture capital firm before entering public office, raised most of his own money as he competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination. work out. The 68-year-old was on Trump’s short list of potential running mates before being appointed as Secretary of the Interior, which oversees federal lands and natural resources.
Kristy Noem
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, President Trump’s nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15.
The 53-year-old was elected governor in 2018 after representing the state in the House of Representatives for eight years. Noem was considered a contender for Trump’s running mate early in the campaign.
Pam Bondi
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Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, is scheduled to appear twice before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The first is at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, and at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday.
Bondi, 59, served as Florida’s attorney general and worked at the right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute. Bondi was appointed to the role after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President Trump’s first pick for attorney general, resigned amid heavy criticism.
Marco Rubio
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Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15.
The 53-year-old has represented Florida in the Senate since 2011 and ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. In 2024, Rubio was nominated as Trump’s running mate. The Florida Republican, a China hawk with extensive foreign policy experience, is expected to have the smoothest path to Senate confirmation.
John Ratcliffe
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Former Congressman John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee for CIA director, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15.
Ratsiliff, 59, represented Texas in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020 and served as Director of National Intelligence during Trump’s first term.
Sean Duffy
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Former Representative Sean Duffy, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday, January 15 at 10 a.m.
The 53-year-old represented Wisconsin in the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. After leaving Congress, he joined Fox News as a contributor and currently co-hosts a show on Fox Business.
Chris Wright
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Chris Wright, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Energy, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15.
The 59-year-old Liberty Energy CEO has been an active advocate for oil and gas development, including hydraulic fracturing, and has expressed opposition to climate-focused clean energy policies.
Russell Vought
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Russell Vought, Trump’s nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, January 15 at 1 p.m.
Vought, 48, took on this role during the second half of Trump’s first administration. He helped write the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and served as policy director for the 2024 Republican National Committee Platform Committee.
Lee Zeldin
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Former Representative Lee Zeldin, Trump’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 16.
Zeldin, 44, represented New York in the House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2022.
scott turner
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Scott Turner, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 16.
The 52-year-old former NFL player served as executive director of the White House Opportunity Activation Council in the Trump administration.
Scott Besant
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Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Treasury, is scheduled to appear before the Senate Finance Committee at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 16.
Bessent, 62, is the founder of the Connecticut-based hedge fund Key Square Group. Bessent would be the first openly gay cabinet member in a Republican administration to be recognized by the Senate.
Other Trump Recommendations
Trump’s choices for other top executive branch positions, including: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health and Human Services Secretary Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, FBI Director Kash Patel, and UN Ambassador Elise Stefanik are expected to appear before the Senate committee at a later date, but hearings have not yet been held. is scheduled or announced publicly.
