<p>Several of US President-elect Donald Trump’s top nominees are set to face intense scrutiny from senators this week as part of the confirmation process for their proposed roles in the incoming administration. The hearings, which began on Tuesday, provide the first public opportunity for senators to question some of Trump’s more contentious appointees.</p>
<p>After more than four hours, the Senate Armed Services Committee wrapped up its confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for defence secretary. Hegseth’s nomination has been surrounded by controversy since its announcement, following reports of allegations of sexual assault, infidelity in his marriages, and a history of excessive drinking. According to reports, Democrats have pledged to oppose his confirmation, and unease among some Republican senators — despite their party’s majority— was apparent during the hearing. However, as the session concluded, GOP lawmakers on the panel showed no clear signs of opposing Hegseth, particularly after he walked back earlier controversial comments about women serving in combat roles, The Guardian reported.</p>
<p>Each nominee requires Senate approval through a confirmation vote. While Republicans control the upper chamber, just three defections could block a nominee’s appointment. The hearings are a critical opportunity to assess the nominees’ qualifications and address concerns.</p>
<p>Several of Trump’s other cabinet nominees are scheduled to appear before Senate committees in the coming days, as the process unfolds ahead of the president-elect’s inauguration on Monday. Here’s a look at some of the nominees who are facing the confirmation hearing this week.</p>
<h2><strong>Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Secretary</strong></h2>
<p>On Wednesday, Kristi Noem is likely to face questions as the potential head of Homeland Security, a role that includes overseeing Trump’s proposed large-scale deportation programme, billed as the largest in US history. Experts say such a programme could face significant logistical and legal hurdles. Noem is also expected to be questioned about other immigration policies, including Trump’s pledge to end birthright citizenship, according to a BBC report. A staunch Trump supporter, Noem has consistently backed his immigration agenda.</p>
<h2><strong>Marco Rubio, Secretary of State </strong></h2>
<p>Marco Rubio, a former critic of Trump’s foreign policy, is expected to have a smoother confirmation process. The BBC report said senators may press Rubio on the future of US support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, a topic where his hawkish stance may conflict with Trump’s skepticism of US involvement. </p>
<h2><strong>Tulsi Gabbard, National Intelligence Director </strong></h2>
<p>Tulsi Gabbard is likely to face bipartisan scrutiny for her past statements on adversaries such as Russia and Syria. Her skepticism of US intelligence assessments and her meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in 2017 are expected to be key points of contention. However, with Gabbard now supporting a key surveillance programme, Intelligence Committee Republicans seem to be now ready to vote for Gabbard, Politico reported. Gabbard’s hearing has been reportedly delayed as Democrats review her background.</p>
<h2><strong>Kash Patel, FBI Director</strong></h2>
<p>Critics have in the past questioned the qualifications of Kash Patel, nominated to lead the FBI, and his intentions to overhaul the agency, including plans to remove senior staff. BBC reported that Patel’s past rhetoric about the 2020 election and his proposed reforms are expected to draw significant attention from senators. However, according to Politico, Patel won over skeptics in the GOP, if any, by meeting them in private.</p>
<h2><strong>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – Health and Human Services Secretary </strong></h2>
<p>Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an unconventional pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services with no medical qualifications, will likely face tough questions about his lack of experience and controversial views on vaccines. His nomination is facing pushback from both Democrats and Republicans, according to US media reports. While his stances on other issues like food safety have drawn bipartisan interest, his history of promoting debunked vaccine claims could dominate the hearing. Kennedy has denied changes that he spread misinformation, and he calls himself an advocate for “medical freedom”.</p>
<h2><strong>Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary </strong></h2>
<p>Howard Lutnick, the billionaire chairman and CEO of Wall Street financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, is a Trump ally, who has championed the sweeping tariffs than the President-elect Trump has proposed on US imports, despite criticism from economists and his peers in the financial sector. He is likely to face questions about the economic impact of these tariffs as senators are likely to probe how such measures could affect American consumers and industries, reports said. Lutnick’s hearing is, however, yet to be scheduled due to paperwork delays.</p>
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