Senate approval hearings start this week for Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, helping determine what his agenda will shape into once he takes office on January 20.
According to betting site Polymarket, all of his Cabinet picks stand a high chance of being confirmed, with one cabinet pick gaining popularity as the inauguration grows closer.
Why It Matters
Senate approval is needed for any of Trump's Cabinet members. His first pick for attorney general, former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, removed himself from consideration after meeting with Republican senators in November.
To enact his sweeping agenda, Trump will need a Cabinet of people on board with his policy ideas. As the Republican Party has a Senate majority, these approval hearings will also indicate how united the GOP is over a Trump agenda.
What To Know
Senate hearings begin tomorrow, January 14, with former Representative Doug Collins, Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), attending a hearing with the Senate's Veterans Affairs committee at 9 a.m. According to Polymarket, Collins stands a 96 percent chance of being confirmed.
The Senate's Armed Services Committee will then have a hearing for Fox News presenter and Army National Guard veteran Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense. Polymarket had Hegseth's approval chances at 47 percent on November 23, but they have now risen to 82 percent today.
An unearthed police report from 2017 details sexual assault allegations against Hegseth by a woman who accused Hegseth of spiking her drink, raping her and trapping her in a hotel room. No charges were filed against him.
Hegseth's attorney, Timothy Parlatore, previously told Newsweek: "Although an allegation was made, it was fully investigated, and Pete was cleared. This unfortunate episode should have zero impact on the confirmation process."
The Cabinet pick with the lowest chances of being selected, according to Polymarket betters, is former Hawaii Representative Tulsi Gabbard, who is Trump's pick to be the Director of National Intelligence. Republican Representative Michael McCaul of Texas called the selection "baffling."
Polymarket has Gabbard's chances of being approved at 73 percent.
Gabbard has been accused in the past of being pro-Putin and pro-Assad, as she said that Assad was "not an enemy" of the U.S. in 2017 and has made many sympathetic comments about Putin.
Gabbard and the Trump transition team have denied these accusations.
When contacted for comment, the Trump transition team directed Newsweek toward Trump's announcement of Gabbard as his pick for Director of National Security.
In that announcement, Trump said: "I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our intelligence community, championing our constitutional rights and securing peace through strength."
What People Are Saying
Senator John Thune: "My expectation is, as the leader of the Senate, that we're going to get the President his people as quickly as possible in the key positions where he wants them."
Donald Trump Jr., during a recent media appearance: "You only have control of the Senate because of Donald Trump. Without that, you'd be relegated to insignificance."
What Happens Next
Hearings for this week will occur on January 14, 15 and 16. However, hearings for Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Health and Human Services secretary), Kash Patel (FBI director), and Representative Elise Stefanik (ambassador to the United Nations) have not been scheduled yet.
Senate Majority Leader John Thunne told the Press host Kristen Welker on January 5 that he is not a "yes" on all Trump nominees, but who the Republican Senate majority will and will not vote in remains to be seen.
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