Some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial executive branch nominees are set to appear before Congressional committees next week. Kashyap “Kash” Patel, Trump’s pick to be the FBI’s next director, will face questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee, while Director of National Intelligence (DNI) pick Tulsi Gabbard will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., tapped to become director of the Department of Health and Human Services, will also face questions on Wednesday from the Senate Finance Committee and on Thursday from the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee.
The Senate’s “advice and consent” role allows for the body to review the president’s appointments and provide oversight on key positions. The picks require a majority vote in the Senate, with Republicans holding a 53-47 vote advantage over Democrats. However, all three nominees face tough battles to get over the line.
Patel has been a fierce critic of the FBI’s investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. He has also called for radical changes at the FBI and was a key player in the congressional probe into alleged Trump-Russia collusion.
Gabbard, a former Democratic representative and Army veteran, has faced criticism from some lawmakers who have questioned her stance on issues such as intelligence gathering and her past statements about controversial topics.
Kennedy Jr., a controversial figure, has been accused of making inflammatory statements about vaccines and has a history of supporting measures such as mandatory childhood vaccination. His views on abortion have also been scrutinized, and some lawmakers have expressed concern about his potential impact on the agriculture sector.
Several prominent figures, including retired Gen. Michael Flynn and former acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller, have endorsed Gabbard’s nomination, but opponents have raised concerns about her views on intelligence gathering and her potential sympathies towards U.S. adversaries.
