Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings **live commentary thread**

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Mattis granted waiver by Senate in order to qualify as Defense Secretary

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/12/politics/james-mattis-defense-confirmation/

[Shadows]

Tillerson is a crony but he is a smart guy. Carson is flat out stupid!

"Child Molester" Pathological Super Low Energy Ben Carson in Trump's words!

[Klartext89]

How is it possible that highly incompetent persons like Gilliband and Harris are on such important commitees??? I'm deeply shocked by the scale of silliness in their questions. Pure ideology, not a single piece of understanding for what Mattis/Pompeo have to do. Simply crazy...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I really wouldn't mind if Carson goes down in flames......

[The Other Castro]

Rand Paul says he will vote to confirm Tillerson for State.

Abby D. Phillip ‏@abbydphillip  3h3 hours ago
Sen. Rand Paul says on CNN that he'll vote to confirm Rex Tillerson. "I was very impressed."

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

How is it possible that highly incompetent persons like Gilliband and Harris are on such important commitees??? I'm deeply shocked by the scale of silliness in their questions. Pure ideology, not a single piece of understanding for what Mattis/Pompeo have to do. Simply crazy...

The idea that any Republicans' are qualified to weigh in on the competence of elected officials is laughable.

Their party leader is a reality TV star who lacks even basic understanding on a huge range of issues and struggles with grade-school level English.

[Mr. Morden]

Confirmation hearings this week:

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/16/509878778/cabinet-nominees-will-face-scrutiny-on-climate-and-education-policy-this-week

Tuesday:
10am: Ryan Zinke (Interior)
5pm: Betsy DeVos (Education)

Wednesday:
10am: Nikki Haley (UN Ambassador)
10am: Tom Price (HHS)
10am: Scott Pruitt (EPA)
10am: Wilbur Ross (Commerce)

Thursday:
10am: Steven Mnuchin (Treasury)
10am: Rick Perry (Energy)

[Mr. Morden]

After this week, I think the only Cabinet picks left to have not had confirmation hearings are Labor (Puzder), Veterans Affairs (Shulkin), and Agriculture (weirdly, Trump still hasn’t appointed anyone to this job), though I’m unclear on which “Cabinet-level officials” require confirmation hearings.  Do Trade Rep and OMB director require Senate confirmation?

[justfollowingtheelections]

Is he keeping Vilsack?

[The Other Castro]

Is he keeping Vilsack?

No. Might pick Perdue.

[KingSweden]

Monica Crowley is no longer headed to NSC. Hopefully they pick somebody better this time around.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Monica Crowley is no longer headed to NSC. Hopefully they pick somebody better this time around.

Heh. It's Trump, so I'll be somewhat shocked if it's not someone worse.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Is he keeping Vilsack?

No. Might pick Perdue.

Is there any chance he might be doing away with the agency?

[Blue3]

I think by his choices (like HUD, Education, Energy) he intends to get rid of several.

But he can't unilaterally abolish a department.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

When did they have hearings for Carson? I didn't know about that.

[justfollowingtheelections]

I think by his choices (like HUD, Education, Energy) he intends to get rid of several.

But he can't unilaterally abolish a department.

Does anyone know what the process is?  Also what happens to the people who work for that department?  Are they moved to a different one or are they fired?

[Mr. Morden]

When did they have hearings for Carson? I didn't know about that.

IIRC, it was Thursday of last week.  It was on at the same time as the hearings for Mattis and Pompeo.

[Blue3]

I think by his choices (like HUD, Education, Energy) he intends to get rid of several.

But he can't unilaterally abolish a department.

Does anyone know what the process is?  Also what happens to the people who work for that department?  Are they moved to a different one or are they fired?

A law is passed by Congress. And that law would also determine the process. Most likely most of them would be fired.

[justfollowingtheelections]

I think by his choices (like HUD, Education, Energy) he intends to get rid of several.

But he can't unilaterally abolish a department.

Does anyone know what the process is?  Also what happens to the people who work for that department?  Are they moved to a different one or are they fired?

A law is passed by Congress. And that law would also determine the process. Most likely most of them would be fired.

Well in that case the Democrats should filibuster any such attempts by Republicans.  Most federal agencies have thousands, in some cases tens of thousands of employees if you include regional offices and state government offices that are funded by the federal agency.
I understand that some federal agencies may be obsolete, but having worked at a government agency which does very important work while Republicans often talk of getting rid of it, I am very skeptical of any such efforts. 

[Sir Mohamed]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

[justfollowingtheelections]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

I hope so.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

At a guess, it's to do with the domestic violence allegations.

[KingSweden]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

At a guess, it's to do with the domestic violence allegations.

Almost certainly. I imagine Victoria Lipnic (the early front runner) is the backup

[President Johnson]

News on Puzder: Obviously, his hearing has been delayed until February. Rumors spread that even Puzder himself is considering to drop out of the whole thing (CNN, DailyCaller). Hopefully that is true or he simply doesn’t get confirmed. This dude is a horrible pick.

Please let it be true. He and Price are the worst choices the Donald has made.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Betsy DeVos is being interviewed now.