Some of Trump’s most controversial executive branch nominees are set to appear before Congressional committees next week. Kashyap "Kash" Patel, left, has been nominated to be the FBI’s next director, while Tulsi Gabbard, right, is Trump's Director of National Intelligence (DNI) pick. (Jack Gruber/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
HEGSETH CLEARS SENATE HURDLE AND ADVANCES TO A FINAL CONFIRMATION VOTE
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tapped to become director of the Department of Health and Human Services, will face questions on Wednesday from members of the Senate Finance Committee, which directly oversees the department. He’ll also appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee on Thursday for a courtesy hearing.
The Senate's "advice and consent" role allows the body to review the president's appointments and provide oversight on key positions. The picks require a majority vote in the Senate with Republicans holding a 53-47 vote advantage over Democrats.
But all face tough battles to get over the line. The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Trump’s defense secretary on Thursday with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, R-Alaska, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, breaking ranks.
Patel has called for radical changes at the FBI and was a fierce and vocal critic of the bureau’s work as it investigated ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.
He held numerous national security roles during the first Trump administration and was the chief investigator in the congressional probe into alleged Trump-Russia collusion, uncovering government surveillance abuse that led to the appointment of two special counsels: one who determined there was no such collusion and another who determined the entire premise of the FBI’s original investigation was bogus.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is also a contentious pick, and he could face opposition. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
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Kennedy Jr. is also a contentious pick, and he could face opposition, even from Republicans. In particular, Kennedy's views and past statements about vaccines have been scrutinized by both GOP and Democratic lawmakers.
Additionally, GOP lawmakers have been concerned about Kennedy's pro-abortion views that he has espoused in the past and his potential impact on the agriculture sector.
In what was a blockbuster move by the former Democrat, Kennedy dropped out of the 2024 presidential race as an Independent and endorsed Trump, vowing to "Make America Healthy Again" should he be part of the new administration.
Fox News’ Emma Colton and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/patel-gabbard-appear-before-senate-committees-next-week