Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and Kash Patel testified before Senate committees on Capitol Hill on Thursday as the confirmation process for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominations continues. Kennedy, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, faced his second day of questioning on the Hill, clashing with Democratic senators over abortion and vaccines.
Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee, while Gabbard, Trump’s nominee for national intelligence director, appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Daniel Driscoll, Trump’s nominee for Army secretary, also testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Once nominees have testified, the relevant Senate committee votes on whether to recommend the nominee to the full Senate. If the nominee receives a majority vote, they are confirmed. The Senate has confirmed eight of Trump’s Cabinet nominations so far, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Other nominees, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Small Business administrator Kelly Loeffler, are still awaiting Senate committee votes. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, testified before the Foreign Relations Committee last week and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate.
The confirmation process is expected to continue in the coming days, with several nominees awaiting votes on the Senate floor.