Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel testified before Senate committees on Capitol Hill on Thursday as urgency builds to confirm President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominations.
Kennedy, Trump’s nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), faced his second day of questioning on the Hill before the Senate Committee on Health, Education Labor & Pensions on Thursday. Kennedy clashed with Democratic senators over abortion and vaccines on Wednesday before the Senate Finance Committee, which will vote on his confirmation.
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Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, while Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for national intelligence director, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Tulsi Gabbard arrives to testify during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Also on Thursday, Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, Daniel Driscoll, the relatively unknown soldier and former advisor to Vice President JD Vance, fielded questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Once nominees have testified before relevant Senate committees, that panel votes on whether to recommend the nominee before the full Senate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., can then file a motion to end Senate floor debate on the nominee, triggering a cloture vote to halt deliberations. Once debate closes, senators make final confirmation votes.
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For confirmation, a nominee needs a majority in the Senate, or 51 votes. Vance can settle a tie vote, as was the case with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., nominated to be the U.S. ambassador to the…
