What to know today
- Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was confirmed as interior secretary in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 79-18. The Senate also teed up final votes for two additional Trump Cabinet picks, Chris Wright to be energy secretary and former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., for veterans affairs secretary.
- Three of President Donald Trump's most vulnerable Cabinet nominees testified before Senate committees earlier today. National intelligence director nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel, Trump's pick to run the FBI, faced senators for the first time in the confirmation process.
- Questioned about his allegiance to Trump, Patel pushed back against assertions that he might go after Trump's political opponents or pursue a so-called enemies list, which he called a "mischaracterization."
- Republicans and Democrats on the Intelligence Committee repeatedly asked Gabbard — in sometimes fiery exchanges — about her past praise for National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and comments that appeared to sympathize with Russia on matters involving Ukraine.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, faced a second day of sharp questions, this time from the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, about his anti-vaccine activism and other controversial views, after he was grilled by the Finance Committee.
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Some Senate Republicans express disappointment with Tulsi Gabbard's responses on Snowden
A few Senate Republicans are expressing their disappointment with Gabbard’s answers today at her confirmation hearing, with many taking particular issue with how she responded to questions about intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, whom she previously praised.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., who had asked Gabbard whether she believed Snowden was a traitor, said that her response was surprising and that he had anticipated "that was going to be an easy softball question, actually.”
Asked whether that response complicated her prospects, Lankford — a member of the Intelligence Committee, which is responsible for advancing her nomination to the full Senate floor — said: “I think there are a lot of questions after. Yeah.”
Another member of the Intelligence Committee, Susan Collins, R-Maine, said that she was “happy with her responses to my questions” and that Gabbard gave a clear "no" when she was asked whether she would recommend a pardon for Snowden.
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, said in a statement that he left the hearing "with more questions than answers."
"Some of her responses, and non-responses, created more confusion than clarity and only deepened my concerns about her judgement and what that will mean in this vital role," said Curtis, who is not a member of the Intelligence Committee.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who supports Gabbard, said in a Fox News interview tonight he's “worried that her nomination may be in jeopardy.”
Sen Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said he heard that Gabbard’s responses in the classified session after the public hearing may have helped any senator who was concerned about her performance during the public hearing near a "yes" vote.
“I think she answered a lot better in the SCIF,” or sensitive compartmented information facility, Mullin said, adding that he had spoken with colleagues who said “it went a little bit better” behind closed doors than it had in public.
Democrats are largely expected to oppose the nomination. Sen. Mark Warner, of Virginia, often viewed as a moderate Democrat, told Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC tonight that he's "happy to tell you and your audience tonight that I will definitely be voting against Ms. Gabbard," citing her views on Snowden, as well as on Russia and China.
If all Democrats on the Intelligence Committee oppose the nomination, only one Republican would need to vote against Gabbard to stop her from being reported out of the committee favorably. On the Senate floor, Gabbard can lose only three Republican votes if all 47 Democrats vote against her.
Marco Rubio warns of Chinese influence over Panama Canal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had “zero doubt” that China has a contingency plan to shut down the Panama Canal in the event of a conflict with the United States.
Rubio said the threat stemmed from two ports on the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the 50-mile canal that are operated by a company based in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, where Beijing has been increasingly asserting its authority.
“If the government in China in a conflict tells them to shut down the Panama Canal, they will have to,” Rubio, who is heading to Panama as part of his first trip as the top U.S. diplomat, told SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly. “And in fact, I have zero doubt that they have contingency planning to do so. That is a direct threat.”
Though Rubio did not repeat Trump's pledges in his inaugural address to “take back” the U.S.-built canal, which was turned over to Panama in 1999, he said that the Trump administration would address its national security concerns and that the situation “can't continue.”
Both Panama and China say there is no interference by Beijing in the canal's operation. Experts say the ports along the canal — which are operated by companies from around the world, including the United States — mainly handle cargo and do not serve as entry and exit points.
Earlier today, Panamanian President Jose Raúl Mulino said he would not be discussing control of the canal during Rubio's trip.
“The canal belongs to Panama,” he told reporters, according to Reuters.
The Republican doctor who could be a hurdle to RFK Jr.’s confirmation
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., cast doubt today over whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is qualified to be the next leader of the government’s largest and most powerful health agency.
Cassidy, a doctor, has emerged as a key swing vote in Kennedy’s bid to be the secretary of health and human services. Cassidy chairs the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and sits on the Finance Committee, the two panels Kennedy testified before this week.
Kash Patel distances himself from Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons at FBI director confirmation hearing
Patel, Trump’s nominee for a 10-year term as director of the FBI, distanced himself from Trump’s sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 rioters, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee he didn't think violent rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers deserved a break.
“I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, and I have included in that group specifically addressed any violence against law enforcement on Jan. 6,” Patel said at his confirmation hearing. “I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.”
Patel’s comments highlighted a fissure within the Republican Party, and even within Trump’s own administration, over Trump’s decision to pardon virtually all Jan. 6 defendants except a handful whose sentences were commuted. Those getting pardons included people who assaulted officers and those who were armed with firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, batons, bear spray and much more.
Senate votes to advance Doug Collins' nomination to a final confirmation vote
The Senate voted tonight to invoke cloture on the nomination of former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., to be veterans affairs secretary, ending debate and advancing him to a final floor vote.
The cloture vote was 83-13.
Transportation Department spending guidance raises concerns among Democrats
The Transportation Department posted several memoranda online today in response to Trump’s orders about DEI and guidance about his economic agenda.
One of the memos has drawn concerns from some Democrats over controversial guidelines related to how birth and marriage rates, vaccination and mask mandates and compliance with immigration policy will play a role in directing spending of the department's grant money.
The memo includes a provision that says the department should “give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average,” including in certain grant programs.
The memo also says the department shall “prohibit recipients of DOT support or assistance from imposing vaccine and mask mandates” and require "compliance or cooperation" with federal immigration enforcement, as well as with Trump and the agency's other goals and objectives.
It was not immediately clear what the memos will mean for spending related to the Biden-era infrastructure bill and Inflation Reduction Act projects.
Senate votes to advance Chris Wright’s nomination to a final confirmation vote
The Senate voted tonight to invoke cloture on Wright's nomination for energy secretary, ending debate and advancing him to a final floor vote.
The cloture vote was 62-35.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill urges DNC chair candidates to commit to spending $10M in New Jersey governor race
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, one of the Democratic candidates for governor in New Jersey, is urging Democratic National Committee chair candidates to commit to spend at least $10 million there this year.
New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with governor's elections this year, with Virginia typically seen as the more competitive off-year election state.
In an open letter, shared first with NBC News, Sherrill said Democrats should not feel a false sense of security in New Jersey.
"To get the future right, Democrats can start by getting New Jersey right," she wrote.
"In the last 32 years, Republicans have won the governorship just as often as Democrats: 16 years of Democratic governors and 16 years of Republican governors. And in 2024, the state of New Jersey shifted 10 points in Trump’s direction — as clear of a warning as the Democratic Party could get," she added.
In 2020, Joe Biden beat Trump in New Jersey by 16 percentage points, while Vice President Kamala Harris beat him there by 6 points in November.
"Let me be really clear," Sherrill added. "The DNC must show up in New Jersey because the next generation of the party cannot take anyone, anywhere — even in 'blue' areas — for granted."
Sherrill wrote that in previous cycles the DNC spent about $200,000 a year in New Jersey, which is "not going to cut it" this year.
But first, there's the Democratic primary in June, when Sherrill will face fellow Rep. Josh Gottheimer, several mayors and other candidates.
Several candidates are running in the Republican primary, as well.
The winner of each primary will face off in November for the chance to succeed Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited.
Sherrill, who made national headlines in July for being among the first handful of congressional Democrats to call on Biden to abandon his re-election bid, has not endorsed any of the DNC chair candidates.
The DNC will vote in National Harbor, Maryland, on a new chair this weekend. Among the major candidates are Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Doug Burgum is confirmed as interior secretary
The Senate voted tonight to confirm Burgum as interior secretary.
The vote was 79-18, with dozens of Democrats joining Republicans to support Burgum.
Several top FBI officials are told to resign or face demotion as Trump continues federal purge
Several top FBI executives promoted by former Director Christopher Wray were told today to resign or retire and that they will be demoted or reassigned if they don’t leave, according to one current and three former bureau officials.
The purge of senior officials includes about a half-dozen “executive assistant directors,” who are some of the bureau’s top managers overseeing criminal, national security and cyber investigations. They are career civil servants, meaning they can’t be fired without cause.