“Trump Nominees Get Softball Questions from Republicans in Hearings!”
By Patricia Zengerle, Sarah N. Lynch, and Jonathan Landay
WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees assured lawmakers they would remain impartial in their roles while facing contrasting lines of questioning in Senate confirmation hearings on Wednesday.
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority, welcomed the nominees with friendly exchanges, signaling smooth confirmations for many key positions. Democrats, however, grilled nominees like attorney general pick Pam Bondi and CIA director nominee John Ratcliffe, pressing them on their willingness to prioritize loyalty to the Constitution over Trump.
The hearings come ahead of Trump’s return to office on Monday, as the Senate evaluates a wave of appointments. Nominees included Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary, and Russ Vought for White House budget director, with Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent slated for Thursday.
Despite some contentious nominees like Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth—accused of sexual assault and excessive drinking—Republicans largely stood united. Senator Joni Ernst, initially critical of Hegseth, announced her support, clearing the path for his likely confirmation.
Other nominees, such as health secretary candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and national intelligence director pick Tulsi Gabbard, face tougher battles. Hearings for these former Democrats remain unscheduled.
In a notable exchange, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin pressed Bondi on whether she would resist pressure to use the Justice Department to target Trump’s political opponents. Bondi pledged to uphold the department’s independence while vowing to end what she called the “partisan weaponization” of justice, echoing Trump’s claims that legal actions against him are politically motivated.
Senators also heard from Rubio, who received bipartisan praise, with Republican Senator Jim Risch declaring him the right choice to address national threats.
Those appearing Wednesday appeared well-positioned for confirmation, reflecting the chamber’s Republican majority and alignment with Trump’s agenda.
Democrats pressed CIA director nominee John Ratcliffe on whether he would politicize intelligence under Trump’s leadership, while Republicans dismissed those concerns and urged a crackdown on dissenters within the administration.
“Help us restore legitimacy to the Department of Justice,” Republican Senator John Kennedy told attorney general nominee Pam Bondi, calling on her to “find out who the bad guys are” and “get rid of them.”
Unlike his first term (2017-2021), where some aides tempered his most extreme moves, Trump is now assembling a team of loyalists dedicated to advancing his agenda. These picks aim to diminish the influence of nonpartisan civil servants and align the federal bureaucracy with Trump’s vision.
White House budget director nominee Russ Vought, a key figure in this strategy, has supported measures to shrink the government dramatically and empower the president to withhold Congress-approved funds. His confirmation hearing was scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Eastern (1800 GMT).