Congress will question several of President Donald Trump's nominees next week before giving the final okay on his picks, Fox News reported. Some of those have faced the most opposition to their appointments, including Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The president's appointments fall under the preview of the Senate's "advice and consent" powers. In order for Trump's nominees to be confirmed, they need a majority in the Senate.
The current balance is 53-47 in favor of Republicans, but Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for defense secretary, faced opposition from three Republicans. Vice President J.D. Vance was forced to come to his rescue last minute, as commentator Benny Johnson shared, which could conceivably spell trouble for the rest of Trump's picks.
🚨BREAKING: Vice President JD Vance casts the decisive vote, confirming Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, 51-50
pic.twitter.com/RGmKfQHVb7— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 25, 2025
Trump hasn't even been in office a week, but he is already making enemies in Washington, D.C. by shaking up the status quo. He has chosen Patel to be the net FBI director, Gabbard for National Intelligence director, and Robert F. Kennedy for Department of Health and Human Services director.
Each faces opposition because they're not the usual choices for such positions. Patel is in the crosshairs because he has promised a shakeup at the FBI and has railed against the phony Russiagate scandal pushed during the first Trump administration.
As part of a congressional probe into the scandal, Patel helped craft the 2018 memo outlining abuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allowed the government to spy on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Patel agrees with Trump about the problem of the "deep state," or unelected government employees who actively worked against Trump.
Gabbard similarly ruffled feathers as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Hawaii as a Democrat. She has since become a Republican and has faced harsh criticism for her reluctance to send Americans to die in more foreign wars.
While opponents insist that Gabbard is a threat to national security, a letter signed by at least 250 veterans heartily endorsed her. The signors included former acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller and retired General Michael Flynn.
Patel and Gabbard will both face questioning on Thursday. Patel will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee for review, while Gabbard will answer to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Kennedy, arguably Trump's most controversial pick, will be questioned Wednesday by the Senate Finance Committee, as it holds jurisdiction over the department. On Thursday, Kennedy will go before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for a less grueling courtesy hearing.
As a pro-abortion form Democrat, Kennedy could face opposition from Republicans. He'll also have difficulty with Democrats by virtue of being associated with Trump, but also because of his unconventional views on health and vaccine safety.
Moreover, Kennedy became a pariah among Democrats last year after he dared to challenge then-President Joe Biden in the 2024 race, The Hill reported. He likely compounded those troubles by defecting as an independent, which Democrats frown upon.
Trump's picks will face several hurdles, but there's a decent chance he'll get all of his picks confirmed. Thankfully, the GOP has a majority, and Trump has a mandate with the American people.
