Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:
🗓️ What we’re watching
Six of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees will face Senate panels today on their path to potential confirmation. Attorney General-designate Pam Bondi is up first, and her confirmation is looking likely, as many Democrats have softened their opinion of her since she served as Trump’s personal attorney in 2020.
At 10 a.m., Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Transportation secretary pick Sean Duffy, CIA director choice John Ratcliffe and Energy secretary pick Chris Wright will appear before Senate committees. At 1 p.m., Russell Vought, Trump’s pick for OMB director, will have his hearing.
Defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth faced a grueling confirmation hearing Tuesday, which might be good news for another one of Trump’s controversial picks, Tulsi Gabbard, Jonathan Martin writes this morning.
U.S. national security agencies are warning that Trump’s inauguration will be “an attractive potential target” for violent extremists.
👀 What’s Trump up to?
On Tuesday, and following similar comments from Steve Bannon at a POLITICO event, Trump said he will create a new agency called the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs and other forms of revenue that come from foreign sources.
🚨What’s up with the nominees?
Hegseth got the nod of support from key GOP Sen. Joni Ernst.
Secretary of Commerce-designate Howard Lutnick’s confirmation hearing is being delayed by paperwork.
📝ICYMI: Here are Trump’s latest administration picks
Trump announced Keith Sonderling as his pick to be deputy Labor secretary.
Ross Worthington is expected to be Trump’s head speechwriter in the White House, Sophia Cai and Dasha Burns reported Tuesday.
