By Carl Hulse and Karoun Demirjian
An intense yet quiet partisan struggle is taking shape on Capitol Hill concerning President-elect Donald Trump’s selections for major Cabinet positions, with Republicans facing considerable pressure to accelerate confirmations and Democrats claiming that they are skimming on vetting procedures for vital administration roles.
The tension is escalating as senators prepare for a busy schedule of confirmation hearings this week, with over a dozen planned and potentially more prior to Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Republican senators who participated in a private strategy session with Trump at the Capitol last week reported that he encouraged them to present a united front behind his nominations, especially as some Republicans have voiced their concerns regarding specific candidates. Several have aligned with Democrats, insisting that senators must have the opportunity to review FBI background checks and other relevant documents about the nominees before rendering a decision.
Participants in the Republican meeting revealed that Trump made a particular plea for Pete Hegseth, his nominee for defense secretary, who is set to testify before the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. He reportedly highlighted Hegseth, a former Fox News figure and military veteran, by name, emphasizing the significance he places on the confirmation process.
However, Democrats on the committee have started expressing concerns regarding a potential lack of access to background information — including an FBI report concerning Hegseth, who settled a civil lawsuit with a woman alleging sexual assault, and has encountered accusations of sexual harassment, drinking in the workplace, and financial mismanagement. Democrats contend that the FBI report on Hegseth may be restricted only to the leading Republican and Democratic members of the committee, deviating from standard procedures where committee members usually have access to such reports.
Others have also requested to review financial and other records for veterans advocacy organizations that Hegseth managed during their financial difficulties, raising doubts about his management capabilities when he is poised to lead a department with an $849 billion budget and nearly 3 million employees.
“They are obstructing us,” stated Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., regarding Republican resistance to providing the documents sought by Democrats about Hegseth. “To be blunt, they believe they can simply disregard our requests.”
Democrats had largely refrained from criticizing many of Trump’s nominees and the confirmation process for a period, opting instead to let Republicans dispute among themselves concerning the qualifications and backgrounds of some of the president-elect’s selections. But as the hearings approached, they have become increasingly vocal and critical of how Republicans are managing the process.
Simultaneously, influential Trump supporters, including Elon Musk, have intensified a pressure campaign aimed at Republicans. They seek to prompt lawmakers to swiftly confirm his selected nominees without yielding to Democratic demands to delay discussions over requests for documentation or findings from the FBI, an agency that many conservatives distrust.
“Unacceptable,” Musk posted on his social media platform in response to a conservative comment that denounced Republicans for “playing games” with Trump’s Cabinet nominees by adhering to established Senate committee regulations regarding vetting.
Hegseth met on Wednesday with Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, who stated that their discussion “did not alleviate my concerns regarding Mr. Hegseth’s qualifications and raised more questions than it answered.”
The Armed Services Committee is not the sole panel experiencing turmoil. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., the ranking member on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has accused Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, the new chair, of repeatedly breaching guidelines and precedent by independently scheduling hearings for next week regarding the nominations of Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota, Trump’s selection for Interior secretary, and Chris Wright, his nominee to lead the Energy Department.
Heinrich claimed that Lee acted without obtaining the customary consent of the Democratic minority and without necessary documents being provided to Democrats.
“To clarify: The documents that the Energy and Natural Resources Democrats are lacking are more than mere paperwork,” Heinrich stated. “These include documents, disclosures, and ethics agreements mandated by our committee regulations and the law.”
In a statement, Lee accused Democrats of “wasting time” and asserted he had “made every attempt to collaborate with our Democratic colleagues, but we won’t succumb to delays that undermine the mandate of the American people.”
Other Republican lawmakers have indicated that the snowstorm that closed the capital this week, together with a federal day of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, has delayed paperwork such as financial disclosures, and that the required documents should soon be available.
Democrats seized on the disputes as a chance to question the Republican approach.
“Republicans’ tendency to rush nominees is rapidly becoming a pattern,” stated Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader, on the Senate floor Thursday. “It’s difficult not to wonder what Republicans are trying to conceal about these nominees from the American people.”
Democrats are limited in their capacity to obstruct any contentious nominations, which necessitate only a majority vote for confirmation, though they can create procedural hurdles and slow the process.
In recent gatherings, Schumer has encouraged Democrats on the committees with the most contentious nominees to adopt a dual strategy: Use the sessions to highlight contrasts in the policy objectives of the parties while exposing the candidates’ backgrounds in hopes of persuading at least four Republican senators to join them in defeating or compelling withdrawals of the nominations.
Republicans have anticipated vigorous opposition from Democrats regarding some nominees, although several are expected to advance with minimal trouble.
“I predict they will strenuously question and likely oppose the president’s nominees,” remarked Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “That’s certainly their right.”
However, Cornyn expressed a desire for the necessary vetting materials, stating, “I think it’s crucial to have a confirmation process with proper background checks to prevent any surprises.”
