Several of President Donald Trump’s toughest confirmation fights are playing out in the Senate today. Here’s a rundown of what we’re watching.
Tulsi Gabbard: Trump’s pick to serve as director of national intelligence will appear before Senate Intel at 10 a.m. At least three Republicans on the panel are undecided: Sens. Susan Collins, Jerry Moran and Todd Young. Sen. Mitch McConnell is also being closely watched after voting “no” on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Republicans have been discussing unconventional tactics to advance Gabbard. Rachael Bade scooped this week that some want to take the unusual step of making the Intelligence Committee’s vote public to pressure members.
Another option would be to send her to the Senate floor without a favorable recommendation. Senate Majority Leader John Thune isn’t sounding convinced it’s a viable alternative, saying in a brief interview: “It’s been done before, but rarely.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: The HHS nominee appears before Senate HELP at 10 a.m. Kennedy seemed to pass his first test on Wednesday at Senate Finance, despite flubbing questions on Medicare and Medicaid. He’ll face tough scrutiny from senators today about his past anti-vaccine rhetoric.
Kash Patel: Democrats are preparing to hammer the FBI director nominee at a 10 a.m. Senate Judiciary hearing over social media posts making light of violence against lawmakers and his past statements suggesting he would go after the president’s political adversaries.
Russ Vought: Senate Budget is expected to approve Vought’s OMB nomination along party lines at noon. Republican lawmakers are declining to press Vought on the uproar around the Trump administration’s federal spending freeze. Democrats were already inclined to oppose him, and they unsuccessfully pushed for his committee vote to be delayed amid this week’s chaos.
What else we’re watching:
- Plane crash: Lawmakers are seeking answers from authorities after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night while attempting to land at Reagan National Airport. Lawmakers’ interest in aviation safety is high — and especially so for operations at Reagan, a facility most members use on a routine basis. The involvement of a military helicopter adds to the oversight implications.
- More noms: It’s not just those four on Thursday — Senate Armed Services will have a nomination hearing for Daniel Driscoll to be secretary of the Army and Senate Foreign Relations will vote on Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.N. ambassador. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will get a confirmation vote on the floor around 11 p.m., unless Democrats agree to speed up the process.
- Budget resolutions: News leaked out Wednesday about House Republicans’ budget reconciliation targets, expect more potential news on that Thursday. Meanwhile, Thune said the Senate’s reconciliation blueprint for their two bills is ready to go.