Trump Capitol split image (Getty Images)
The Senate has already confirmed at least one nominee whom political experts deemed as potentially unconfirmable a few weeks ago: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth skated through to confirmation with three GOP nays. But Vice President JD Vance broke a tie. It was only the second time in U.S. history that the Senate confirmed a Cabinet secretary on a tiebreaking vote by the vice president.
And by the end of the week, the Senate will likely confirm two other controversial nominees who at one point seemed to be a stretch. The Senate votes Monday night to break a filibuster on the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Her confirmation vote likely comes Wednesday. After that, the Senate likely crushes a filibuster on the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Health and Human Services Secretary. The Senate could confirm Kennedy by late Thursday.
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Pete Hegseth is surrounded by his wife Jennifer Rauchet and his 7 children as he is sworn in as the new Secretary of Defense by Vice-President JD Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House in Washington, DC, on Jan. 25, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP)
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., dodged reporters' questions in the hallways for several days about his stance on Gabbard.
"We’re not taking any questions!" an aide hollered brusquely as the senator tried to evade the Capitol Hill press corps in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The same thing happened the next day.
"Sorry, we're not taking questions today. Sorry guys, we're not taking questions today. Thank you though. Appreciate it," said an aide as Young maneuvered through the halls.
Young didn’t tip his hand on Gabbard until the Intelligence Committee prepared to vote on the nomination and send it to the floor. Young released a letter from Gabbard where the nominee apparently allayed the senator’s concerns.
"There was certain language I wanted her to embrace," said Young.
In particular, he wanted Gabbard to state she wouldn’t push for a pardon for spy Edward Snowden.
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Left: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Sen. Bill Cassidy. Right: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. (Left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Right: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
"Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed," said Cassidy. "We will meet or speak multiple times a month. This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective."
Cassidy’s support dislodged RFK Jr.’s nomination from committee and sent it to the floor. That’s why, like Gabbard, he’s on cruise control for a confirmation vote later this week.
What made the difference in salvaging these nominations which once teetered on the edge?
Multiple Senate Republicans point to their former colleague, Vance.
Vance has worked quietly in the shadows, leaning on his relationship with senators, to convince skeptical Republicans into a comfort zone with controversial nominees. The Trump Administration saw how quickly the nomination of Matt Gaetz evaporated last fall. There was worry that robust GOP pushback could jeopardize an entire slate of nominees.
So has Vance deployed soft power with senators? Or has he dispelled concerns through brute force? Judge for yourself.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, then-Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, accompanied by Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa., speaks in Philadelphia, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. (The Associated Press)
But Budget Director Russ Vought and Hegseth failed to win over any Democrats. That’s probably the same case with the upcoming confirmation votes for Gabbard and Kennedy. Not only do Democrats object to these nominees, but their base is compelling major pushback after the administration shuttered USAID and DOGE is mining for cuts – without congressional assistance.
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Some Democrats, like Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., believe that presidents deserve to have a cabinet of people they choose – unless they are egregious nominees or unqualified. But now Democrats are flexing their muscles. That’s why the Senate was in all night leading up to the confirmation vote of Vought. Democrats will likely require the Senate to burn all available time on Gabbard and Kennedy.
But Trump is getting what he wants when it comes to confirmations. Most Senate Republicans are unwilling to push back. And Democrats can make the Senate run the clock and speak out against nominees. But, proper or not, there is now a confirmation juggernaut for the president in the Senate.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/confirmation-juggernaut-how-trump-getting-everything-he-wants-building-his-cabinet