The Senate is ready to churn via extra of President Trump’s cupboard nominees this week, with a handful of his controversial picks set to subject questions throughout their affirmation hearings.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s decide to be director of nationwide intelligence; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to steer the division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS); and Kash Patel, Trump’s decide to be FBI director, will all seem earlier than related committees this week for hearings that might flip tense as senators ask about their previous feedback, numerous stances and visions for the following 4 years.
On the Home aspect, Republicans are gathering in Florida for his or her annual retreat, the place the group will talk about their plans for advancing the Trump agenda. The president is predicted to make an look on Monday.
Moreover this week, the Senate is ready to contemplate a invoice to sanction people related to the Worldwide Felony Courtroom, after the physique issued arrest warrants for Israeli officers final 12 months.
Senate to contemplate extra Trump cupboard nominees
The Senate is on monitor to substantiate extra of Trump’s cupboard nominees this week, as GOP leaders look to get the president’s administration in place at a fast tempo.
On Monday, the higher chamber is ready to substantiate Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary, after the nominee cleared a key procedural hurdle in a bipartisan 67-23 vote on Saturday. Additionally on Monday, senators will maintain a procedural vote on Sean Duffy’s nomination to be secretary of Transportation.
On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Pam Bondi’s nomination to be lawyer basic, and on Thursday, the Senate International Relations Committee will maintain a vote on advancing Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik is predicted to skate via the affirmation course of with bipartisan help.
Other than votes in committees and on the ground, a slew of key cupboard nominees — together with some controversial ones — are set to hit for affirmation hearings this week as Trump seeks to solidify his ranks.
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s decide to be director of nationwide intelligence, will seem earlier than the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, a affirmation listening to that’s anticipated to attract vital consideration as the previous congresswoman faces scrutiny from lawmakers. Particularly, some people have raised considerations about her 2017 go to with former Syrian chief Bashar al-Assad, and feedback she has made concerning the Russia-Ukraine struggle.
Moreover, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to be HHS secretary, will subject questions from lawmakers this week, showing earlier than the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday and the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions on Thursday. The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Kennedy’s affirmation at a later date.
Kennedy’s historical past of vaccine skepticism is more likely to come up throughout these hearings.
Kash Patel, Trump’s decide to be FBI director, is scheduled to look earlier than the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, marking a listening to for one more controversial cupboard nominee. Patel has come underneath fireplace from lawmakers for feedback he has made concerning the “deep state” and weaponized authorities and for his vow to filter out the FBI headquarters on his first day on the job.
Other than these three nominees, Howard Lutnick, Trump’s decide to be secretary of Commerce, will seem earlier than the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Wednesday; former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Trump’s decide to be administrator of the Small Enterprise Administration, will subject questions from the Senate Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Committee on Wednesday; and Daniel Driscoll, Trump’s decide to be secretary of the Military, can have his listening to with the Senate Armed Companies Committee on Thursday.
Home GOP heads to Florida for retreat
Home Republicans are headed to Florida for his or her annual retreat this week, because the group plots its plan to advance Trump’s sprawling agenda.
The Home GOP convention is scheduled to assemble at Trump Nationwide Doral, which can characteristic appearances from Trump and Vice President Vance. Trump will be a part of the group for dinner on Monday evening.
The assembly comes as Home Republicans are staring down an formidable timeline to attain Trump’s agenda, which incorporates extending the 2017 tax cuts, enacting border reform and passing power coverage. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has mentioned he desires to enact these want checklist gadgets in a single sprawling package deal handed via the finances reconciliation course of, which can permit the GOP to work round Democratic opposition within the Senate.
Johnson has mentioned he desires to go a finances decision, which unlocks the reconciliation course of, the week of Feb. 27, a timeline that can seemingly show tough because the Speaker works via quite a few disagreements inside his convention.
Other than advancing Trump’s agenda, Congress is dealing with a March 14 deadline to fund the federal government and must cope with the debt restrict this summer time, two thorny points which can be more likely to be heavy lifts within the slim Home GOP majority.
Republicans are anticipated to debate all these matters and extra at this week’s retreat.
“We’re looking forward to a great family meeting and a very productive work session to make a lot of the really important final decisions we have,” Johnson informed reporters on Thursday.
Senate to vote on ICC sanctions invoice
The Senate will vote on laws to sanction the ICC officers this week, after the courtroom issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former protection minister for his or her involvement within the Israel-Hamas struggle.
On Tuesday at 2:15 p.m., the chamber will maintain a procedural vote on the measure.
The Home cleared the invoice in a bipartisan 243-140 vote earlier this month, with 198 Republicans and 45 Democrats backing the laws. If it passes the Senate, it is going to head to Trump’s desk.
The invoice — titled the Illegitimate Courtroom Counteraction Act — would challenge sanctions on any ICC officers or entities that help the courtroom for efforts “to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute” U.S. residents or residents of an allied nation that isn’t a signatory to the Rome Statute, which is the treaty organising the courtroom and the nations that it has jurisdiction over. If enacted, it will take impact 60 days after being signed into regulation.
This week’s vote is already on monitor to be bipartisan. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), a staunch Israel ally, wrote on X that he plans to help the laws.
“The ICC’s treatment towards Israel and equivocating to Hamas was unacceptable. We should absolutely sanction the ICC. I plan to vote for the bill and respectfully urge my colleagues to join me,” Fetterman wrote.
The ICC printed warrants for Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, the previous protection minister, and Mohammed Deif, the Hamas commander chargeable for the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. Tel Aviv says it killed Deif, however Hamas has not confirmed his dying. Prosecutors with the ICC have accused each Hamas and Israel of committing struggle crimes.
