President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks have drawn outcry from within the Senate GOP, serving to highlight the lawmakers who stand in the way of his agenda when he enters the White House. Trump famously struggled to win over the Senate Republicans in his first term, with many voting to impeach him after Jan. 6. The late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., with whom Trump regularly clashed, torpedoed the party’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Now, with a popular vote mandate and majorities in both chambers, Trump aims to follow through on his campaign promises to overhaul and restructure the government, with the first step being the confirmation of his cabinet picks to manage the task. At least three of his major picks, however, have drawn considerable backlash from within the Republican conference and prompted discussion of recess appointments to install them in light of prospective failures on the Senate floor.
Among Trump’s three most contentious picks are Attorney General-designate Matt Gaetz, Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Secretary of Defense-designate Pete Hegseth. The trio of unconventional nominees have called for comprehensive reforms to their respective departments, roiling career officials and prompting threats of mass resignations should they be confirmed.
Though such an action would likely be pleasing to Trump and would advance his agenda considerably, the prospect of sweeping changes to executive agencies does not appear to sit well with some establishment Republicans. Thus far, a handful of Republicans have publicly confirmed their opposition to one or more of Trump’s nominees, making it unclear whether they could secure a confirmation by floor vote. The president-elect has floated the possibility of using recess appointments to install his cabinet, though the new Republican leader, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has been hesitant to commit to doing so.
Without confirming his preferred nominees, Trump is likely to struggle to implement his agenda. Blocking those appointments would send a strong signal about a lawmaker’s inclinations toward his efforts. Here’s a look at lawmakers who seem hesitant to back his nominees. […]
— Read More: justthenews.com
