First Congressional Hearings for Biden Cabinet Picks Begin Today

Five of President-elect Joe Biden’s national security Cabinet nominees will face Senate panels in the first step of the confirmation process today. The nominees for secretary of state, secretary of treasury, director of national intelligence, defense secretary and secretary of homeland security will appear before Senate members to be considered for their roles. Biden will take office tomorrow without a full Cabinet confirmed due to the Senate’s slow moving schedule. Confirming his nominees is expected to be finalized in the upcoming days and could also affect the ongoing impeachment trial of President Trump. This morning at 10 a.m., Secretary of Treasury nominee Janet Yellen appeared before the Finance Committee, Director of National Intelligence nominee Avril Haines appeared before the Intelligence Committee and the nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, Alexandro Mayorkas, appeared before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. At 2 p.m. the nominee for Secretary of State, Anthony Binken, will meet with the Foreign Relations  Committee and at 3 p.m., the nominee for Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, will meet with the Armed Services Committee.