Trump's Cabinet picks are set for Senate hearings. Here's the schedule
After the initial crush of personnel announcements for President-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration, now the nominations process officially begins.
Senate hearings are scheduled this week for several of Trump's picks for the Cabinet. Many nominees have met with senators individually. Now, they will go before the committees overseeing the agencies that Trump wants them to run.
Here's a look at the schedule for Senate hearings set so far, in Eastern time:
10 a.m.: Doug Burgum, Interior Department
The former governor of North Dakota and businessman appears before members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who will consider his nomination as interior secretary, the chief steward of U.S. public lands. Burgum, who endorsed Trump after ending his own 2024 presidential bid and campaigned for Trump, has also been tapped to lead the National Energy Council. Trump has said the council will seek to establish U.S. “energy dominance” around the world.
10 a.m.: Scott Turner, Housing and Urban Development Department
The former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council in Trump's first term appears at a hearing before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Turner is a professional mentor, pastor and former Texas House member. HUD is charged with addressing the nation’s housing needs and fair housing laws, and oversees housing for the poorest Americans.
10 a.m.: Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency
The former New York congressman appears before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The agency is tasked with matters pertaining to environmental protection, conducting assessments, research, education and maintaining and enforcing national standards.
10:15 a.m.: Bondi, Day 2 before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
10:30 a.m.: Scott Bessent, Treasury Department
The billionaire money manager from South Carolina takes questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee. Bessent would be the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in a Republican administration. The treasury chief helps formulate financial, economic, and tax policy, and manage the public debt.
9 a.m.: Kristi Noem, Homeland Security Department
The South Dakota governor will appear before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The rancher and former congresswoman is in line to head one of the government’s biggest agencies, which is integral to Trump’s pledge to secure the border and carry out a massive deportation operation.
9 a.m.: Doug Collins, Department of Veterans Affairs
The former Georgia congressman goes before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Collins is a Baptist minister, former U.S. Navy chaplain and Air Force Reserve colonel. The VA provides health care to former members of the U.S. armed forces.
10 a.m.: Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Department
The former White House aide, who served as Trump's domestic policy chief during his first administration, appears before the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. The agriculture chief oversees a sprawling agency that controls policies, regulations and aid programs related to farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition.
Hearings are not yet scheduled for all of Trump's choices, including some of the most contentious:
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Labor Department
Tulsi Gabbard, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Department
Howard Lutnick, Commerce Department
Linda McMahon, Education Department
Kash Patel, FBI
Elise Stefanik, U.N. ambassador
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Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP.
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