The Senate is already conducting confirmation hearings for Trump administration nominees, with some sparking fireworks.
One nominee in particular could be in trouble, according to respondents to our Canvass Inauguration Special survey: Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii). More than two-thirds of senior Capitol Hill staff and K Street leaders we polled said Gabbard will not be confirmed.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence, raising concerns among some former national security officials. Of all the Trump nominees, Gabbard is the only one whom a majority of respondents believe won’t make it across the finish line.
Just 34% said Pete Hegseth wouldn’t be confirmed as Defense secretary and 33% said the same of Kash Patel as FBI director. Similarly, only 25% of respondents said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wouldn’t be confirmed as secretary of Health and Human Services.
Hegseth could be confirmed later this week.
As we’ve reported, the Senate Intelligence Committee hasn’t yet scheduled Gabbard’s confirmation hearing, citing paperwork delays that are plaguing other Trump nominees, too.
Paperwork aside, lawmakers have voiced grave concerns about Gabbard, including her past opposition to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Gabbard released a statement to us backing the program after senators from both parties were questioning her position.
With a tiny Republican majority in the Intelligence Committee, Gabbard cannot afford to lose any GOP support in the panel. It’s very unlikely any Democrats would vote to advance her nomination out of committee.
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