Trump’s most vulnerable nominees RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard get back-to-back hearings

President Donald Trump’s administration picks are set to face back-to-back confirmation hearings in the Senate this week, with two of his most vulnerable nominees up for consideration. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, selected for Director of National Intelligence (DNI), will both have committee confirmation hearings on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kennedy will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday for his first hearing, where the committee will eventually vote on advancing his nomination to the full Senate. He will also have a hearing on Thursday with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), although this committee will not have a vote on his nomination. Gabbard’s hearing with the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Both Kennedy and Gabbard have raised concerns among lawmakers due to their controversial past policy positions. Kennedy has been a vocal critic of vaccines and vaccination programs, which has worried some Republicans, particularly those with farming constituents. Gabbard’s previous stances on national security have also raised bipartisan concerns, given the critical role she is nominated for.

In an effort to address these concerns, both nominees have taken steps to moderate their positions during the confirmation process. Kennedy has clarified that he is not “anti-vaccine” and emphasized the importance of informed choice when it comes to vaccines. Gabbard recently reversed her position on a controversial intelligence tool, section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which helped secure the backing of a Republican senator on the intelligence committee.

While both nominees have garnered some Republican support in the relevant committees, not all members have indicated whether they will vote to advance the selections. Even if they are voted out of the committees, they may still face challenges in being confirmed by the full Senate.

The confirmation hearings for Kennedy and Gabbard will be closely watched as they navigate the Senate’s scrutiny and seek to secure their positions in the Trump administration. Stay tuned for updates on their confirmation process.