Senators could have a high-stakes double header on Jan. 14, with potential back-to-back hearings for Donald Trump’s picks for Defense secretary and attorney general, two of the president-elect’s most critical Cabinet nominees.
The Senate Armed Services Committee previously announced it would host Pete Hegseth that day, Trump’s Pentagon pick whose nomination has been dogged by allegations of misconduct. And incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley confirmed Monday he hopes to schedule attorney general pick Pam Bondi the same day.
That day — next Tuesday — will likely be the first possible day most Senate panel can hold hearings. The Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on a resolution setting up its committees, which typically have a one-week notice requirement for hearings.
Grassley (R-Iowa) said he planned to hold Bondi’s hearing first, followed by that of Trump’s pick for deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, and then Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel. He added that he hoped Bondi would be voted out of committee one week later, on Jan. 21.
Other committees are also planning to size up nominees next week: The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to have a hearing for Agriculture secretary pick Brooke Rollins on Jan. 15, according to two people familiar with the discussions.
And Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who will be chair of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, said her committee would hold a hearing for former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, Trump’s pick to run the Environmental Protection Agency, on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.
