Donald Trump

...

Jordan King

By Jordan King

Reporter

0

Share

Newsweek is a Trust Project member

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

This week will see Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, many of which have faced controversy, go through Senate confirmation hearings. Newsweek has rounded up who is up when and some of the issues they may face.

Newsweek has contacted the Trump-Vance transition team via email for comment.

Senate Hearings Scheduled for Tuesday

Read More on U.S.

What to Know About Pete Hegseth

Hegseth is a particularly controversial nomination after it came out that he was investigated for sexual assault in California seven years ago. No charges were filed and Hegseth has "vigorously denied any and all accusations," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung told Vanity Fair.

It has since been revealed that in 2023, Hegseth entered into a mutual nondisclosure agreement with the accuser, which included him paying her an unknown sum, The Washington Post reported, citing a statement from Hegseth's lawyer Tim Parlatore.

Hegseth has also called for a purge of "woke" military leaders, argued that women should not serve in combat roles and advocated for pardoning service members charged with war crimes.

What to Know About Doug Collins

Doug Collins, a former Republican congressman from Georgia, faced backlash in 2020 for unfounded remarks accusing Democrats of being "in love with terrorists" during a Fox News interview. Collins later apologized, acknowledging his emotional reaction and clarifying that his comments were inappropriate and not reflective of his true beliefs

What to Know About Doug Burgum

Doug Burgum, North Dakota's former governor and Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Interior, has faced criticism for signing restrictive anti-LGBTQ legislation and an abortion ban in 2023, marking a shift from his earlier vetoes of similar bills, a move critics attributed to political positioning for national ambitions.

Senate Hearings Scheduled for Wednesday

What to Know About Kristi Noem

If confirmed, the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security will be South Dakota Governor Noem. She has been outspoken about immigration, said America is facing an invasion, expressed her support for Trump's Muslim ban, explained why her state would not be taking any homeless migrants, and voiced support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, offering to deliver razor wire for the southern border.

Donald Trump

...

Noem was believed to be on Trump's original vice presidential shortlist, but her chances were derailed following the publication of her book, No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.

In the book, she revealed that she killed her 14-month-old wirehair pointer, Cricket, when she did not display the signs of a suitable hunting dog, which attracted huge backlash.

What to Know About Pam Bondi

Pam Bondi faced controversy over accepting a $25,000 donation from Donald Trump's foundation to her political action committee while her office declined to join a lawsuit against Trump University, leading to scrutiny and a subsequent IRS penalty for the foundation

What To Know About Sean Duffy

Sean Duffy has faced controversy for remarks perceived as anti-immigrant during his appearances as a CNN commentator, drawing criticism for statements that some labeled as promoting divisiveness.

What To Know About John Ratcliffe

Trump's choosing of Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican, to replace outgoing intelligence chief Dan Coats was criticized by Democrats as being too partisan to carry out the role effectively.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in a statement carried by The Hill: "It's clear that Rep. Ratcliffe was selected because he exhibited blind loyalty to President Trump with his demagogic questioning of former Special Counsel. If Senate Republicans elevate such a partisan player to a position that requires intelligence expertise and non-partisanship, it would be a big mistake."

What To Know About Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio has faced controversy over his connections to former Congressman David Rivera, who was under investigation for campaign finance violations, and criticism regarding his shifting positions on immigration reform.

What To Know About Chris Wright

Chris Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy and Donald Trump's nominee for energy secretary, has faced criticism for his outspoken denial of the climate crisis and for Liberty Energy's involvement in a racial bias lawsuit, which was settled with federal authorities in 2024.

What To Know About Russell Vought

Russell Vought, a key figure in the MAGA movement and former director of the Office of Management and Budget under Donald Trump, has faced criticism for advocating extreme policies such as defunding the Environmental Protection Agency, leveraging the military against domestic protests, and pursuing actions to demoralize federal civil servants, all detailed in private speeches obtained by ProPublica.

Senate Hearings Scheduled for Thursday

What To Know About Scott Turner

Scott Turner, Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, has faced criticism for opposing housing assistance and tenant protections as a Texas legislator, calling welfare "destructive" and voting against measures to support affordable housing and homelessness prevention.

What To Know About Lee Zeldin

Lee Zeldin, a former Republican congressman and Donald Trump's nominee to lead the EPA, has been scrutinized for allegations of campaign finance violations during his 2022 gubernatorial bid and for opposing climate regulations during his tenure in Congress.

What To Know About Scott Bessent

Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager and Donald Trump's nominee for Treasury Secretary, has faced scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest due to his extensive investments, prompting him to announce plans to divest from his Key Square Group hedge fund and other holdings to comply with ethics requirements

Senate Hearings Not Yet Scheduled

Not all hearings have been scheduled yet, including some major ones. These include:

What To Know About Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has been widely criticized for promoting vaccine misinformation, linking antidepressants to school shootings without evidence, and suggesting COVID-19 may have been a racially targeted bioweapon, sparking backlash from health experts and his own family for spreading harmful conspiracy theories

What To Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican congresswoman and Donald Trump's nominee for Labor Secretary, has faced scrutiny for accusations that she voted against Social Security and Medicare protections, though fact-checks show the claims stem from procedural votes rather than direct opposition to these programs.

What To Know About Tulsi Gabbard

Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump's nominee for Director of National Intelligence, has faced criticism for amplifying Russian propaganda, meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and opposing U.S. intervention in conflicts such as Ukraine and Syria, with her controversial positions drawing skepticism from intelligence experts and lawmakers alike.

What To Know About Howard Lutnick

Howard Lutnick, Donald Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, has been criticized for extensive financial ties to China through his firms, including BGC Group's joint ventures with Chinese state-owned entities, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and undue influence on U.S.-China trade policy.

What To Know About Linda McMahon

Linda McMahon, Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, has faced scrutiny over allegations in a lawsuit claiming she enabled sexual exploitation of minors during her tenure at WWE, accusations she denies while pledging to defend against them vigorously.

What To Know About Kash Patel

Kash Patel, Donald Trump's nominee for FBI Director, has drawn criticism for his lack of traditional intelligence experience and for hosting a show on The Epoch Times where he promoted conspiracy theories about election fraud, the FBI, and other political topics, raising concerns about his impartiality in a highly sensitive role

What To Know About Brooke Rollins

Brooke Rollins, Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Agriculture, has faced criticism from advocacy groups for her close ties to the America First Policy Institute and concerns about her prioritization of industry-friendly policies over environmental and food security issues during her tenure as a domestic policy adviser in Trump's first administration.

What To Know About Elise Stefanik

Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump's nominee for U.N. Ambassador, has drawn criticism for amplifying election denialism and conspiracy theories about the January 6 Capitol attack, leading to concerns from historians and political analysts that her staunch loyalty to Trump undermines democratic norms.

View 0 Comments

Request Reprint & Licensing

Submit Correction

View Editorial & AI Guidelines