The Senate confirmation process is in high gear for Trump’s cabinet

After President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office and Congress wraps up the inaugural party and inauguration luncheon on Monday, the Senate will resume work.

The first item on the Senate’s Trump nomination agenda appears to be the confirmation of one of their own. Late. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., had a relatively easy confirmation hearing in the Foreign Affairs Committee last week and is expected to be confirmed as secretary of state Monday night.

Other key Trump nominees will have to wait — even if the Republican majority prioritizes national security posts.

The Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on the Rubio nomination Monday afternoon before it goes to the floor. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said last week that he plans to hold a Monday night vote on Trump’s nomination of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense.

The Senate Intelligence Committee also meets Monday to vote on the nomination of John L. Ratcliffe to become CIA director, according to a source familiar with the schedule, and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is scheduled to vote on the nominations of South Dakota Gov . Kristi Noem will be Secretary of Homeland Security and Russell Vought as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Vought still has a confirmation hearing before the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday, but Ratcliffe and Noem, along with Hegseth, could be prioritized for floor votes this week.

Trump talked a lot about the way the confirmation process went during an event with donors Sunday night in Washington.

“They feel really good about the process. And the senators – the Republican senators – have been very understanding and very professional. We appreciate that, Trump said. “So far. Now, if it changes, I’ll let you know. I’ll let you all know.”

There is also a new Republican senator about to be sworn in. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the formal paperwork on Sunday to appoint fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to fill the seat vacated by Vice President-elect JD Vance.

More nominations are now on deck this week, including for a trio of former Republican House members: Sean Duffy of Wisconsin to be secretary of transportation, Doug Collins of Georgia to be secretary of Veterans Affairs and Lee Zeldin of New York to be administrator of the EPA .

That could put any of the nominees in line for confirmation on the Senate floor as early as the end of this week, especially if the Senate reconvenes Friday as scheduled. The Senate still needs to finish work on the immigration bill that would impose stricter measures against undocumented migrants who commit crimes in the United States.

Ten Democrats joined in getting the measure past filibuster threats in a 61-36 cloture vote Friday. The final passage, scheduled for Monday at 17.30, only requires a simple majority.

House could also act this week

Senators amended the measure and are using a different legislative vehicle than the one that passed the House — so the House will have to act again on the more expansive bill to send it to Trump’s desk. The Senate bill is on the House agenda for this week, according to the schedule from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.

The House is expected back in session for a vote on Tuesday, when the Rules Committee meets for the first time under new Chair Virginia Foxx, RN.C.

The panel is scheduled to set the terms for land considerations in forestry management laws, an issue that has taken center stage with the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County.

“The destruction and devastation in LA is a reminder of the incalculable human toll of these fires. While we can’t stop every fire, smart policy changes will help prevent fires, limit their spread and make them less destructive,” said Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., in a statement reintroducing the bill. “Our bill will help us protect where nature meets homes, preposition fire trucks and other resources in high-risk areas and houses that are more resistant to fire.”

Peters, who represents a San Diego-based district, is the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, which was introduced by Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.

The other priority legislation before the House this week is a bill related to medical standards of care for infants born alive, including during abortion procedures.

This measure comes up for a vote this week around the same time as the anti-abortion March for Life demonstration in Washington. Both House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D., are scheduled to speak Thursday there, according to event organizers.

Mark Satter and Victor Feldman contributed to this report.