The confirmation hearings for several of President-elect Donald Trump's key cabinet nominees, including Kristi Noem, Doug Burgum, and Doug Collins, have been postponed.
This comes amidst the commencement of Senate committee hearings for other nominees this week.
According to The Post Millennial, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was initially set to hold a hearing for South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, the nominee for Homeland Security Secretary, on Wednesday morning. However, this has been rescheduled to Friday morning at 9 am. An insider reportedly told Politico, "Gov. Noem has expeditiously completed all her paperwork, but we are waiting for the FBI to complete their portion of the paperwork."
The hearing for former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, nominated for Secretary of Interior in Trump's second administration, has also been delayed. Initially slated for Tuesday at 10 am before the Energy and National Resources Committee, the hearing has been moved due to paperwork delays. Committee Chair Mike Lee stated, "To ensure transparency and uphold the integrity of this process, the committee will postpone Governor Burgums hearing until Thursday."
Lee added that despite Burgum's prompt submission of his paperwork, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) was responsible for the delay in paperwork processing. He expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, "Despite his compliance and the Energy and Natural Resources Committee noticing the hearing in accordance with all rules, OGE has yet to complete its review. This bureaucratic delay is unacceptable."
The hearing for Veteran Affairs Secretary nominee Doug Collins has also been postponed to January 21 due to FBI background checks, as reported by Politico. Senate Veterans Affairs Chair Jerry Moran stated that Collins had submitted his paperwork in a "timely manner" and has been "transparent and forthcoming." Moran emphasized, "In accordance with long-standing practice, the committee should have an opportunity to review Congressman Collins FBI file before the confirmation hearing. I expect the FBI to complete its review quickly so that the committee can move forward with its role of evaluating the Presidents nominee."
The Senate Intelligence Committee has yet to set a hearing for Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democrat US representative for Hawaii, nominated for Director of National Intelligence. As of Monday afternoon, Democrats on the committee reported they still do not have an FBI background check or ethics disclosures from the OGE. Hearings for Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy, Jr and FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, among other nominees, remain unscheduled. These delays highlight the bureaucratic hurdles that can impede the smooth transition of power, even as the nominees strive to fulfill their obligations promptly and transparently.
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