Two of the president Donald Trump Most of the administration's weak picks will have Senate confirmation hearings this week.
Robert F. kennedy jrwhom Trump nominated to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, his pick to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI), will have committee confirmation hearings on Wednesday and Thursday.
Republicans react to Pete Hegseth's confirmation as Defense Secretary: 'He is an agent of change'
On Wednesday, Kennedy will have his first hearing with the Senate Finance Committee, which will ultimately vote on whether to nominate him to the full Senate. He will have an additional hearing Thursday with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Aid), but that committee will not vote on the nomination.
Two of Trump's most controversial nominees will have back-to-back hearings in the Senate. (Reuters)
Gabbard's hearing with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence will be held Thursday morning.
Trumpan's picks were among the administration's most controversial. Both Kennedy and Gabbard are former Democrats with a history of political positions that clash with what many Republican senators believe.
Among lawmakers on both sides of the aisle is Kennedy's history of significant criticism of vaccines and vaccination programs. For some Republicans whose states have a large agricultural constituency, his positions on increasing regulation of agriculture and food production have been cause for concern.
Tim Scott emphasizes “outcomes” on the reconciliation process because he remains outside the debate
Covid vaccines have faced ongoing criticism since the pandemic. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Gabbard's past policy positions as they relate to national security have given lawmakers of both parties reason to pause, because the role to which he has been nominated is critical to the nation's safety and defense.
Both candidates have taken steps to ease themselves into the midst of the confirmation process. Kennedy pushed back on suggestions that he was “anti-vegetarian” and explained, “If vaccines work for someone, I wouldn't take them out.”
DEM, which called Trump an “existential threat to democracy,” is now blocking its nominees
Kennedy's previous remarks on vaccines have been in the spotlight. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
“People should have a choice, and that choice should be informed by the best information,” he said in an interview with NBC News. “So I will make sure that the scientific safety and effectiveness studies are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether this product will be good for them.”
Gabbard was recently made Noticeable reflection On a controversial intelligence tool used by the government. Her choice to change her position on FISA was able to win her the support of a Republican senator on the Intel committee from which she would need to advance.
Hegseth's lawyer takes issue with his ex-sister's “flawed and questionable relationship.”
Gabbard has been nominated to be Director of National Intelligence. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Asked recently if her change of heart on Section 702 got his vote, Sen. James Lankford, R-OK, said, “Yes, I do, and that was a very important piece to me.”
While both candidates have garnered some needed Republican support in relevant committees, not all have said whether they will vote to advance the picks. And even if they are voted out of committees, they could still face an uphill battle to be confirmed by the full Senate.
