MAGA Agenda on the Line as Cabinet Picks Move to the Senate Floor 

Some of President Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks are facing crucial votes this week after a string of hearings that saw senators on both sides of the aisle grill nominees on key issues, including abortion, vaccines, and immigration. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination passing out of committee by a 14-13 margin Tuesday morning and Chris Wright confirmed as energy secretary in a 59-38 floor vote Monday night, decisions on at least four more Cabinet picks are expected this week. 

Here is a look at who’s on the docket: 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Secretary of Health and Human Services  

Kennedy cleared a huge hurdle Tuesday when the Senate Finance Committee voted by a slim margin to recommend Kennedy for HHS secretary. He still faces resistance in the Senate with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raising questions regarding his financial interest in vaccine litigation and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., questioning his character and competence.

With a 14-13 Republican majority on the committee, Kennedy needed full GOP support to clear the committee. Key Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., was the vote that put Kennedy over the top after he indicated during the hearing Thursday that he was struggling with Kennedy’s confirmation. The senator and licensed physician grilled the nominee on his vaccine skepticism while Democrat senators seemed united against him. 

The former independent presidential candidate turned MAGA ally faced a coordinated effort to oppose his nomination, according to The Associated Press, including an ad campaign highlighting his vaccine skepticism and a push by former Vice President Mike Pence against Kennedy’s views supporting abortion. 

Now that Kennedy has made it out of committee, a full Senate vote could follow soon or be bumped to next week. 

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard—Director of National Intelligence  

Gabbard faces a critical Senate Intelligence Committee closed-door vote Tuesday.

After Rep. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced on Monday she will back the nominee, the only swing vote on the committee was Rep. Todd Young, R-Ind., who Indicated Tuesday afternoon he would support Gabbard’s nomination being sent to the full Senate.

Gabbard faced difficult questions from both sides of the aisle in her confirmation hearing Thursday, with Collins pressing her on whether she would support clemency for Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency intelligence contractor who was indicted for espionage for leaking classified documents revealing the existence of global government surveillance programs.

The former Democratic candidate for president has faced recent criticism for voicing so-called pro-Russia views and for visiting with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during her time in Congress, according to Newsweek.

After losing the nomination for president, Gabbard left the Democratic Party, saying the party professed a harmful ideology—especially transgender ideology, The Daily Signal previously reported. She later joined the Republican Party and endorsed Trump in the 2024 election before being tapped for a Cabinet position last fall. 

Russell Vought—Director of Office of Management and Budget

After Democrats boycotted the Senate Budget Committee meeting to consider Vought’s nomination, the committee moved the nomination to the floor Thursday in an 11-0 vote, according to Politico. 

The full Senate voted 51-46 Monday night to proceed to executive session to consider his nomination.

The former Office of Management and Budget director during Trump’s first term now faces few obstacles in his path to confirmation. The Senate could vote Friday on confirmation. 

Pam Bondi—Attorney General

Bondi’s full Senate confirmation vote could come as early as Wednesday. 

After two confirmation hearings, Bondi cleared the Judiciary Committee with full Republican support. The former Florida state attorney general has vowed to end the weaponization of the Justice Department if confirmed.  

During her first hearing, Senate Democrats asked her questions that suggested she would be more loyal to Trump than to the Constitution. Bondi, however, held her ground and impressed Senate Republicans. 

Doug Collins—Confirmed, Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

The Senate voted 77-23 to confirm former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., early Tuesday afternoon.  

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