Confirmation delays stack up for Trump nominees as paperwork lags in federal offices
A number of President-elect Donald Trump’s choices for his second-term Cabinet have seen their scheduled confirmation hearings postponed, with Senate committees citing outstanding documents. Hearings for Doug Collins, tapped to serve as secretary of Veterans Affairs, and former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was chosen for secretary of the Interior, were set for Tuesday as part of the Trump transition team and Senate Republicans’ ambitious effort to confirm Trump’s Cabinet. However, they were delayed at the last minute. This meant two of the three slated Tuesday hearings were pushed, leaving only one hearing for secretary of Defense pick Pete Hegseth that day. DEM SENATOR WHO BASHED HEGSETH’S QUALIFICATIONS STANDS BY DOD SEC WHO OVERSAW BOTCHED AFGHAN WITHDRAWAL While more confirmation hearings took shape on Wednesday — including those for secretary of Energy pick Chris Wright, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, CIA director selection John Ratcliffe, Transportation Secretary nominee Sean Duffy and Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio — another key hearing for Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., was postponed. According to a source familiar, Noem had completed all necessary paperwork in a timely manner, but the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is still waiting for the FBI’s portion. Despite the hearings being moved, Trump’s transition says there will not be delays in confirming his team. “There are no delays, and paperwork is being submitted quickly to ensure the confirmation process is smooth and President Trump is able to implement his agenda mandated by the American people on day one,” Taylor Rogers, Trump-Vance transition spokesperson, said in a statement. TRUMP ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE PAM BONDI TO TESTIFY BEFORE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Each of the postponed hearings has gotten a new date, with Burgum’s on Thursday and Noem’s on Friday. However, Collins’ hearing will not take place until the day after Trump’s inauguration, next Tuesday. The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs had not received the FBI report on Collins as of Monday afternoon, Fox News was told. All other necessary paperwork had been transmitted to the committee, though. A committee aide told Fox News that the delay was not Collins’ fault, emphasizing that he had submitted it all on time. “Congressman Doug Collins has submitted all his paperwork in a timely manner and has been transparent and forthcoming with the committee,” committee Chairman Jerry Moran, R-Kan., said in a Monday statement. “At this time, the FBI has not completed its customary background check of Congressman Collins. In accordance with long-standing practice, the committee should have an opportunity to review Congressman Collins’ FBI file before the confirmation hearing. I expect the FBI to complete its review quickly so that the committee can move forward with its role of evaluating the President’s nominee.” GOP SEN. JONI ERNST OFFICIALLY BACKS PETE HEGSETH FOR DOD AFTER INITIAL UNCERTAINTY The week’s postponed hearings join others that have yet to be noticed or scheduled by committee chairs, such as those for director of National Intelligence pick Tulsi Gabbard, United Nations Ambassador nominee Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins, among others. Republicans have blamed delays in paperwork processing on bureaucracy, as documents were determined as the reason why confirmation hearings are postponed or unscheduled. One source familiar told Fox News that Senate Republicans and Trump’s transition are doing everything they can, but given the two recent federal government snow days, the document processing has fallen victim to bureaucratic hold up. ‘WASTE LESS, SAVE MORE’: DOGE CAUCUS MEMBER ROLLS OUT EXPANSIVE BILL PACKAGE AHEAD OF TRUMP INAUGURATION According to a Senate Democrat source, Trump will have difficulty trying to get nominees confirmed on the day of his inauguration. “We know he wants to do so, but it will be challenging given the delays,” they told Fox News Digital. Waiting for paperwork was “frustrating,” a GOP source on one committee told Fox News Digital. Committees have also had difficulty trying to connect with the U.S. Office of Government Ethics regarding nominees’ documents. The source added that at times it seemed that the media had more information than the committee itself.
‘Masterclass’: Bondi flips script on Dem senator after suggesting she will weaponize DOJ
Conservatives on social media celebrated President-elect Trump’s attorney general nominee Pam Bondi’s response to a question from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. “It would not be appropriate for a prosecutor to start with a name and look for a crime?” Whitehouse said during his line of questioning. “It’s a prosecutor’s job to start with a crime and look for a name. Correct?” Bondi responded by highlighting the federal government’s investigations into Trump. “Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump,” Bondi said. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM PETE HEGSETH’S SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING “They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him, actually starting back in 2016. They targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him. That will not be the case. If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office,” Bondi said. “I will not target people simply because of their political affiliation. Justice will be administered evenhandedly throughout this country. Senator, we’ve got to bring this country back together. We’ve got to move forward, or we’re going to lose our country.” Conservatives on social media quickly took notice of the exchange. “Pam Bondi totally flips the script on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) who tried to make it seem like she will weaponize the DOJ,” Florida’s Voice News assistant news director Eric Daughtery posted on X. “Masterclass.” “Pam Bondi is making Sheldon Whitehouse look stupid,” Trump ’24 deputy rapid response director Greg Price posted on X. MACHETE SUSPECT NABBED BEFORE TRUMP CAPITOL VISIT ALLEGEDLY RANTED ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT ONLINE “Senator Whitehouse unironically explaining that prosecutors should have a crime and then look for a suspect, not the other way around,” Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich posted on X. “Bondi responds by explaining DOJ did the opposite to Trump for years.” Fox News Digital reached out to Whitehouse’s office but did not immediately receive a response. Bondi is expected to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate and some have speculated that she will earn some votes from Democrats.
DNA TV Show: LoP Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Indian state’ remark triggers controversy, BJP calls it ‘Bharat-todo agenda’
Amid the persistent debate around the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s alleged capture over constitutional institutions, a massive controversy has been triggered after Congress MP and LoP Rahul Gandhi’s remarks involving the “Indian state”.
Former Texas congressman vows to keep politics out of CIA as director
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Republican U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA.
Democrats and Republicans criticize Biden admin’s Cuba detente
The Biden administration is facing pushback from both sides of the political aisle for moving to cross Cuba off of the state sponsors of terrorism list. The U.S. slapped Cuba with the designation in 2021 shortly before then-President Donald Trump left office. In a statement issued on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that the administration is “taking several steps to support the Cuban people as part of an understanding with the Catholic Church under the leadership of Pope Francis and improve the livelihood of Cubans.” “First, today we notified Congress that President Biden determined Cuba should no longer be designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism,” she continued. WHITE HOUSE REMOVES CUBA’S STATE SPONSOR OF TERRORISM DESIGNATION, REVERSING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVE “Secondly, we notified Congress that the President issued a waiver for Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, otherwise known as the Libertad Act, for a period of six months. Finally, President Biden rescinded the 2017 National Security Presidential Memorandum 5 on Cuba policy to eliminate the so-called ‘restricted list’ and by extension the additional regulations on engagement by U.S. persons and entities with Cuban persons and entities, beyond that which is currently prescribed in U.S. legislation,” she noted. “We have also been informed by the Catholic Church that the Cuban government will soon begin releasing a substantial number of political prisoners.” Democrats are divided on the matter. The chair of the Florida Democratic Party urged the administration to “reverse course immediately.” “I am disappointed at the Biden Administration’s plan to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” Nikki Fried said in a statement shared on the Florida Democratic Party’s X feed. “We condemn in the strongest terms Cuba’s removal from this list, as well as any possible lifting of economic sanctions, and call on the Biden Administration to reverse course immediately.” Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., also disagreed with the administration’s decision. “Do the majority of Cuban Americans support the removal of Cuba, an adversary of the US, from the list of state sponsors of terrorism? If the answer is ‘no,’ then why is the Biden Administration unnecessarily alienating Cuban Americans? I agree with the Florida Democratic Party here,” the congressman posted. Rep. Cathy Castor, D-Fla., declared in a statement, “Autocratic Cuba has failed its people, and I disagree with the President that sanctions should be lifted without an end to the Cuban regime’s repression.” CHINA DENIES NEW REPORT LINKING CCP TO FOUR SITES IN CUBA ALLEGEDLY USED TO SPY ON THE US Some Florida Republicans have leveled fierce criticism. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., decried Biden’s decision as “pathetic and cowardly.” Rep. María Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., declared in a post, “Once again, the Democrats have BETRAYED the Cubans! Shame on the entire Biden Administration for taking Cuba off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list. Cuba is a LEADING sponsor of Terrorism, harboring, training & enabling Hamas, Hezbollah & other terrorist enemies of the USA.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also blasted the administration. “The Biden Administration continues on its quest to leave as much wreckage behind on its way out the door as possible. Cuba should not be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism,” he declared in a post on X. CUBAN REGIME’S REPORTED RETURN TO MEDDLING IN US ELECTIONS A ‘BADGE OF HONOR’ FOR TARGETED CRITICS However, some Democrats have applauded the administration. “I welcome the Biden administration’s steps to remove Cuba from the state sponsor of terrorism list – a long overdue action that will help normalize relations with our neighbor,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said in a statement.
Duffy confirmation hearing marked by bipartisanship, pledge to visit Helene-devastated states
Former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., was flanked by both sitting Wisconsin senators in a bipartisan show of support to kick off his Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee. Duffy, who served five terms after flipping a seat held by Democrat David Obey for decades, later moved on to work at Fox News; most recently co-hosting “The Bottom Line” with Dagen McDowell on FOX Business. “I’m humbled by the fact that President Trump has nominated me to this very important position,” Duffy said in his opening statement. He also introduced the eight of his nine children present – as well as his wife, “Fox & Friends Weekend” co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy. TRUMP NOMINEES BONDI, RUBIO, DUFFY AND MORE FACE SENATE GRILLING He noted that his eldest son could not be in Washington on Wednesday, as he and his wife recently had a child and also live in Southern California, which is being ravaged by wildfires. “No federal agency impacts Americans’ daily lives and loved ones like the Department of Transportation,” he said, adding that President-elect Donald Trump “is a builder” and knows the importance of maintaining and building critical infrastructure. He also noted that Campos-Duffy survived a deadly head-on automobile collision, which brought highway safety to the forefront in his family. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., disclosed he too was involved in an accident with a drunk driver 30 years ago and does not like to talk about it. Lujan appeared to get briefly emotional as he addressed Campos-Duffy in connecting over their shared experience – and praised Duffy for his stated goal to be remembered as a secretary who improved transportation safety. Later in the hearing, Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., also stressed the importance of highway safety and disclosed he had been hit by a car at age 5. Duffy also pledged to restore Americans’ trust in the airline industry amid some recent incidents, including problems at Boeing. “We want the best and the brightest air traffic controllers. We must modernize our systems with cutting edge technologies. I’ll work with Congress and the FAA to restore global confidence in Boeing, and to ensure that our skies are safe,” he said. TRUMP NOMINATES SEAN DUFFY FOR USDOT Similarly, Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan noted the Last Frontier was not yet a state when President Dwight Eisenhower launched the federal interstate program – and that 251 communities in his state still are not connected by roads. Duffy pledged support for the federal program that ensures essential air service to far-flung communities in Alaska and other sparsely-populated states. Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., brought up the importance of making sure Hurricane Helene victims are “not forgotten.” Blackburn noted Interstate 40 – a crucial transcontinental artery from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California, remains washed out across the Great Smoky Mountains. During the September hurricane, a stretch of the eastbound lanes in Haywood County, North Carolina, collapsed into the then-raging Pigeon River, stymieing regional commerce and access to mountain communities. Parts of Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee continue to see long-term closures of major arteries and communities trying to rebuild. “We’re continuing to try to work through this process to get that rebuild, but we need to know this will be front and center with you so we can get that interstate rebuilt and reopened,” Duffy told Blackburn. He pledged to make his first official trip as secretary be one to the Helene-affected region of those states. Speaking about support for alternative transportation means, ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., noted at one point that the monthly cost to own a car can be as high as $1,000, while riding public transit averages $100 per month. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said one issue that the Department of Transportation must address is the lack of means for electric vehicle drivers to pay into the highway trust fund. At present, taxes on gasoline are the main component of that revenue source. Duffy responded that there should be a method through which green vehicles help fund the roads they drive on. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In a light moment partway through the hearing, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, made mention of Duffy potentially visiting the Aloha State, to which Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joked that it may be a good junket for the entire panel. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., asked Duffy to bring attention to passenger rail service in the Heartland, remarking that many times the primary focus has been on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional – which runs between Newport News, Virginia, and Boston. He mentioned the Southwest Chief, a key two-day run between Chicago and Los Angeles, and how it is key to his state. Additionally, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim discussed recent mysterious drone sightings across the Garden State, as well as regional transit issues plaguing New York City suburbs.
‘Excuse me’: Bondi shuts down Dem senator’s questioning attacking another Trump nominee
U.S. Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi clashed with a senior Democratic senator during her confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday. Bondi was forced to defend President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, when Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pressed her on his past comments. He referenced Patel’s suggestion of closing down FBI headquarters and threatening an “enemies list,” among other remarks. TRUMP’S AG PICK HAS ‘HISTORY OF CONSENSUS BUILDING’ “Is that a person who, appropriately, should be the FBI director? Aren’t those comments inappropriate? Shouldn’t you disavow them and and ask him to recant them?” Blumenthal hammered. Bondi replied, “Senator, I am not familiar with all those comments. I have not discussed those comments with Mr. Patel.” “What I do know, is Mr. Patel …” she began before Blumenthal attempted to cut her off. Bondi pressed forward, “Excuse me. What I do know is Mr. Patel was a career prosecutor. He was a career public defender, defending people. And he also has great experience within the intelligence community.” ‘UNLIKELY COALITION’: A CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATE SEES OPPORTUNITIES IN A SECOND TRUMP TERM “What I can sit here and tell you is, Mr. Patel, if he works with running the FBI, if he is confirmed, and if I am confirmed, he will follow the law. If I am the attorney general of the United States of America, and I don’t believe he would do anything otherwise,” Bondi said. Blumenthal replied, “Well, let me just submit that the response that I would have hoped to hear from you is that those comments are inappropriate, and that you will ask him to disavow or recant them when he comes before this committee, because they are indeed chilling to fair enforcement and the rule of law.” It comes after Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., similarly pressed Bondi on what Democrats have called Patel’s “enemies list.” They are referring to a list of 60 people in Patel’s book “Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy,” who he branded as part of the “deep state.” Bondi defended Patel during Whitehouse’s questioning as well, while vowing there would never be an “enemies list” at the DOJ.
U.S. Supreme Court will hear Texas anti-pornography law that challengers say violates free-speech rights
Porn sites are not accessible in Texas as companies cite the onerous process and privacy issues associated with setting up age verification.
Texas should close prisons and jails with staffing challenges, state oversight panel says
A report found up to 70% of guard positions were unfilled at some prisons. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a 26% staff turnover rate.
Rubio brushes off demonstrators who erupted in Senate hearing: ‘I get bilingual protesters’
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who was tapped to lead the Department of State under the second Trump administration, was repeatedly interrupted by protesters during his Senate hearing on Wednesday. One female protester was heard shouting at Rubio in Spanish, while at least two men, including one wearing pink, were seen being pulled out of the hearing by Capitol Police after shouting. “I get bilingual protesters,” Rubio quipped after a protester yelled at him in Spanish, earning laughter from the crowd. Ahead of the hearing kicking off on Wednesday morning, Fox News Digital spotted Code Pink protesters wearing bright pink with shirts reading, “hands of Iran,” and “stop killing the children of Gaza.” They also sported anti-Rubio stickers on their headbands and hats. HEGSETH INTERRUPTED BY MULTIPLE PROTESTERS DURING SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING Protesters were warned by the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ahead of the hearing kicking off to not disrupt proceedings, saying they will be removed from the hearing and would not be permitted to a public hearing for at least a year. TOP 5 MOMENTS FROM PETE HEGSETH’S SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING PROTESTS ERUPT IN CHRIS WRIGHT’S CONFIRMATION HEARING “Distractions will include not only noise, not only standing up, not only holding up painted hands, painted signs. None of that will be allowed. If you do that, I’m going to pause the committee. I’m going to ask our friends, first of all, my, my faithful, Sergeant at Arms here — who’s, perhaps, tougher than the Capitol Police. But also the Capitol Police to assist. And, we will pause briefly … If you are removed, you’ll not be permitted back into one of these public hearings for at least 12 months. And, that’s the purpose of this is, as I’ve stated, and it’s important work,” Republican Idaho Sen. James Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in opening remarks. A handful of President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his cabinet are facing Senate hearings this week ahead of his inauguration on Monday. Department of Energy Secretary nominee Chris Wright’s confirmation hearing was also interrupted by protesters on Wednesday, who shouted if his policies would “put out the fires in LA.” Protesters also interrupted Pete Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, when he joined the Senate Armed Services Committee and he was grilled by lawmakers ahead of a committee vote and final confirmation vote on his nomination as secretary of Defense. JD VANCE SPELLS OUT WHAT TRUMP’S PROCESS TO ‘RECTIFY’ ‘UNFAIR’ JAN 6 PROSECUTIONS COULD LOOK LIKE “Veterans are committing suicide and are homeless, but we send money to bomb children in Gaza,” one female protester wearing fatigues shouted as she was escorted from the hearing, Fox News Digital video shows. An elderly man who was handcuffed with zipties was also seen being escorted out of the hearing. Another man, also appearing to wear fatigues, was seen being carried out by Capitol Police. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., asked Hegseth about the protesters during his hearing, including regarding the war in Israel that has been ongoing since 2023. “Another protester, and I think this one was a member of Code Pink, which, by the way, is a Chinese communist front group these days, said that you support Israel’s war in Gaza. I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well,” Cotton said. “I support Israel destroying and killing every last member of Hamas,” Hegseth responded.