Written by Samyukta Vivek
Awaiting the confirmation of President Trump’s cabinet members is like waiting for baggage at the airport. Some bags have arrived, while others are still in transit and some are going to who knows where! However, his selections alone have caused quite the stir and have made headlines repeatedly. Moving at an extremely rapid pace, President Trump named all 15 members of his secretary cabinet positions in less time than what it took Presidents Obama and George W. Bush to name even one. However, smooth sailing is not the word that describes the ongoing confirmation process.
Only a handful of posts have been confirmed till date, the most controversial including Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, with Vice President Vance casting the tie breaking vote. Allegations against Pete Hegseth such as sexual assault and alcohol abuse was what caused the major split in the senate, mirroring many of the public’s views as well. Others call him a right extremist, noting far right and possibly neo-nazi symbols he has tattooed. On the flip side, many also support him and he is especially popular among conservatives. His patriotism and past military service also make him popular among many.
Pete Hegseth isn’t the only cabinet choice people are split on. The senate seems to be having a hard time casting their votes on a few other candidates as well, including Tulsi Gabbard, Robert Kennedy Jr and Kash Patel.
Tulsi Gabbard, also a former war vet, was nominated by Trump to hold the position of Director of National Intelligence. She first gained prominence in the previous 2020 election, becoming known as an independent thinker, not shying away from expressing her ideals.
Robert Kennedy Jr on the other hand, has always been a well-known figure in American politics, mainly due to his work as an environmental advocate and his strong opinions about vaccines. During the 2024 election, Mr. Kennedy ran as an independent, but later gave his endorsement to Donald Trump. Now, he has been nominated for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services. His past opinions on sensitive, controversial topics has put him under intense scrutiny by the senate, his confirmation still hanging in the balance.
Another heavily contested nominee is Kash Patel, contender for the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His past roles under Trump and close ties with the president has certainly led to public suspicion, the main reason his confirmation is taking the senate a lengthy period of time. However, some think these very ties will ensure he is a loyal member of the cabinet, making him an asset to the country, also due his expertise in national security.
Overall, each senate decision finalizing the members of President Trump’s cabinet can change the course of the country. We’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds!
Works Cited
Alvord, Kyler. “Trump Cabinet Picks Tracker: Senate Votes on Trump's 2025 Nominees.” People.com, 22 January 2025, https://people.com/trump-cabinet-nominees-confirmation-process-tracker-8775134. Accessed 30 January 2025.
Gibson, Brittany, et al. “‘Quack,’ or ‘disruptor’: Trump pick RFK Jr. gets mixed reviews.” Politico, Politico, 2025,
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/14/rfk-jr-trump-mixed-reviews-00189711. Accessed 30 1 2025.
Herman, Alice, and Joan E. Greve. “Trump's controversial Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth confirmed by Senate.” The Guardian, 25 January 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/24/pete-hegseth-confirmed-defense-secretary. Accessed 30 January 2025.
Prater, Nia. “Will Tulsi Gabbard Be Confirmed to Top Intelligence Role?” New York Magazine, 27 January 2025, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/will-tulsi-gabbard-confirmed-director-national-intelligence.html?utm_campaign=feed-part&utm_medium=social_acct. Accessed 30 January 2025.
TUCKER, ERIC, et al. “Kash Patel’s podcasts reveal his support for Trump and critiques on the FBI.” AP News, 28 January 2025, https://apnews.com/article/2db2b3a27adb295df30a9ffa72208688. Accessed 30 January 2025.
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