ELECTION
The confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s cabinet members is underway, starting with Pete Hegseth on Jan. 14, who was nominated to be the secretary of defense during Trump’s presidency.
Hegseth was questioned by the Senate Armed Services Committee. The beginning of the hearing started with the committee’s Chairman Roger Wicker claiming that the Department of Defense is not prepared for a threat, and Hegseth may be the best person for the job.
Hegseth spoke about what Trump wants and why he is a great fit for the job.
“He (Trump), like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, war-fighting, accountability and readiness,' Hegseth said.
Throughout the hearing Hegseth was questioned about his previous sexual assault allegation, his time in the Army, and his views on women in the military. Hegseth refuted the accusations of sexual assault by saying it was simply a smear campaign and that he was cleared.
“Where are his qualifications? This cabinet is all people outside of the area of expertise,” said Christine Johary, a sophomore psychology major. “It is like Trump prioritized a cabinet that would loyally follow him rather than guide and offer real policy advice like they are intended to.” Hegseth served in the Army National Guard during the Iran and Afghanistan wars and his most recent post was a Fox News host.
Pamela Bondi, Marco Rubio, John Ratcliffe, Sean Duffy, Chris Wright and Russell Vought appeared for their hearings on Jan. 15. Ratcliffe was nominated to be the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA director, Duffy was nominated to be the transportation secretary and Wright was Trump’s pick for the energy secretary. Vought was nominated to be Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Bondi appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee as the attorney general nominee.
Bondi was the second choice for attorney general after Senator Matt Gaetz had to withdraw from the nomination following allegations of a sexual encounter with an underage girl. Bondi served as the attorney general for Florida from 2011-19.
Bondi spent her hearing reassuring the committee that the Department of Justice will not be used to target Trump’s enemies and that she will ensure the Department of Justice will not be weaponized.
Rubio appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was nominated as secretary of state. During his hearing, Rubio spoke about China being a threat to America and how the conflict with China could change everything.
On Jan. 16, Doug Burgum, Lee Zeldin, Scott Turner, Scott Bessent, Kristi Noem, Doug Collins and Elise Stefanik were each introduced.
Burgum was nominated for the Secretary of the Interior and is the former governor of North Dakota.
Zeldin was chosen as the Environmental Protection Agency administrator and was a House of Representative member for the New York First Congressional District.
Turner was nominated to be the Housing and Urban Development secretary and during his hearing he addressed how the Department of Housing and Urban Development is failing at lowering homelessness.
A Milledgeville resident only had one thing to say about the cabinet hearings.
“May God bless America,” said Deon Coney, the owner of My Favorite Sweet Tea.
Bessent was chosen to be Trump’s treasury secretary, Noem was chosen to lead the Department of Homeland Security, Collins was chosen to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Stefanik was nominated to be the ambassador for the United Nations.
Robert F. Kennedy is yet to have his hearing time confirmed.
The United States awaits the confirmations for all that have had their hearings.