Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:
🗓️ What we’re watching
- Less than 24 hours after President-elect Donald Trump endorsed “one powerful bill” to carry his domestic policy agenda, a dozen senators told POLITICO that the legislative path to its enactment remains an open question.
- Both House and Senate Republicans are looking at Trump to decide how to pass his agenda, since House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are split. And while Trump said he prefers one piece of legislation, he has expressed openness to other options “as long as we get something passed as quickly as possible.”
- Democrats have their doubts about whether Republicans will be able to pass a reconciliation bill, having faced their own reconciliation troubles trying to pass President Joe Biden’s agenda. “Good luck,” Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), told POLITICO Monday.
👀 What’s Trump up to?
- While in town ahead of President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Trump will meet with GOP Senators to discuss reconciliation on Wednesday.
- Trump is urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to block the release of special counsel Jack Smith’s report on his two dismissed criminal cases against the president-elect. POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney notes this morning that Garland has not decided whether or not Smith’s report will be released.
🚨What’s up with the nominees?
- The Senate confirmation hearing schedule is starting to firm up, with two of Trump’s most important Cabinet nominees, attorney general pick Pam Bondi and Defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth, set for a double header on Jan. 14. Agriculture secretary pick Brooke Rollins will have a hearing on Jan. 15. And former Rep. Lee Zeldin, Trump’s choice to run the Environmental Protection Agency, will have his hearing on either the 15th or 16th.
📝ICYMI: Here are Trump’s latest administration picks
- Trump has picked Joseph Nocella Jr. as the next U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.