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More than a dozen of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees are set to face Senate confirmation hearings next week.
These back-to-back hearings mark the first major test of Trump’s second term, with the Republican Party holding a slim majority in the Senate—53 Republicans to 45 Democrats, plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. The hearings will provide critical insight into how unified Republicans are under Trump’s leadership as they push to confirm his nominees.
The stakes are high, with key positions such as Secretary of Defense in the balance. Failure to secure nominations for critical roles could hinder the president-elect’s ability to implement major changes during the early weeks of his term.
Here is an overview of the 13 Trump nominees facing hearings:
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Hegseth, a former Minnesota Army National Guard officer, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars before transitioning to a career as a television co-host.
Hegseth has faced controversies, including alleged mismanagement of a veteran’s charity, accusations of alcohol abuse, and a settled sexual assault claim. He has vowed to remove officers supporting diversity initiatives and end women’s roles in combat if confirmed.
Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior
Burgum, former governor of North Dakota, will face the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 14. A former tech executive, Burgum led a venture capital firm before entering politics.
Trump has designated Burgum to lead a new National Energy Council, overseeing energy regulation and infrastructure while also sitting on the National Security Council.
Doug Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Collins, a former Georgia congressman and military chaplain, will appear before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on January 14. With experience on the House Judiciary Committee and military deployments to Iraq, Collins aims to bring his legislative and pastoral experience to the department.
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State
Rubio will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 15. Known for his staunch anti-communist stance, the Florida senator has focused on bipartisan efforts to counter Chinese influence and bolster U.S. diplomacy.
Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security
Noem, former governor of South Dakota, will testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on January 15. Known for her tough border policies, she worked alongside Texas’s Operation Lone Star to counter illegal immigration.
Trump has tasked Noem with collaborating with the incoming border czar, Tom Homan, to strengthen immigration enforcement.
Pamela Bondi, Attorney General
Bondi, Florida’s former attorney general, will have two hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 15 and 16. Renowned for her work combating opioid addiction and serving on Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment, Bondi is a vocal critic of the cases against the president-elect.
John Ratcliffe, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
Ratcliffe, a former congressman and Trump’s first-term director of national intelligence, will appear before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on January 15. As an outspoken critic of the 2016 FBI investigation into Trump’s campaign, Ratcliffe will bring his legal and intelligence experience to the role.
Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy
Wright, founder of Liberty Energy and an advocate for fossil fuels, will testify before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on January 15. He has criticized renewable energy investments and is expected to prioritize expanding oil drilling and nuclear security.
Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Vought, who held the role during Trump’s first term, will appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on January 15. Known for developing the controversial Schedule F plan to reclassify government employees, Vought may pursue its implementation.
Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation
Duffy, a former congressman and television host, will testify before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on January 15. He aims to enhance infrastructure modernization efforts.
Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
Bessent, an investment firm founder and economic adviser to Trump’s 2024 campaign, will face the Senate Finance Committee on January 16. He advocates for extending Trump-era tax cuts and carefully phased tariffs to avoid inflation.
Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Zeldin, a former congressman and military attorney, will testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on January 16. Known for his service in the Army and strong stance on regulatory reform, Zeldin intends to streamline EPA processes.
Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Turner, a former NFL player and Texas legislator, will appear before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on January 16. As a previous leader of Trump’s White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, he seeks to foster economic revitalization in underserved communities.
These confirmation hearings will shape the tone and priorities of Trump’s second term, with the spotlight on Senate Republicans’ cohesion and the administration’s long-term vision.
