Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees kicked off their Senate hearings this week, and their incompetence, corruption, and unfitness to lead were on full display. From dodging straightforward questions about sexual assault allegations to doubling down on Trump’s tax handouts for the ultra-wealthy and playing politics with disaster relief, it is clear these nominees will prioritize Trump and his dangerous agenda over the American people. 

Secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth couldn’t answer basic questions about his qualifications and positions, including whether or not he would follow orders to shoot peaceful protesters, his longtime opposition to women serving in combat, and why he attacked veterans for receiving earned benefits. 

Sen. Tim Kaine: “You would agree with me that if someone had committed physical violence against a spouse that would be disqualifying to serve as Secretary of Defense, correct?”

Hegseth: *doesn’t answer*

Sen. Kaine: “You would agree that that would be a disqualifying offense, would you not?”

Hegseth: “Senator, you’re talking about a hypothetical.”

…

Sen. Kaine: “So you can’t tell me whether someone who has committed a sexual assault is disqualified from being Secretary of Defense?”

Sen. Mazie Hirono: “In June of 2020, then-President Trump directed former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to shoot protesters in the legs in downtown DC, an order Secretary Esper refused to comply with. Would you carry out such an order from President Trump?”

Hesgeth: *Refuses to answer question*

Sen. Hirono: “Would you carry out an order to shoot protestors in the legs?”

Hegseth: *Avoids question again*

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: “Give me one example, please give me an example [of changing standards for women in combat]. I get you’re making these generalized statements.”

Hegseth: “Commanders meet quotas to have a certain number of female infantry officers or infantry enlisted, and that disparages those women–”

Sen. Gillibrand: “Commanders do not have to meet quotas for the infantry. Commanders do not have to have a quota for women in the infantry. That does not exist. It does not exist.”

Sen. Jacky Rosen: “Do you believe veterans should be ashamed for having sought and obtained the benefits that they have earned? Do you think veterans should be ashamed to seek out benefits?”

Hegseth: *Dodges*

…

Sen. Rosen: “You said veterans are dependent on the government.”

Trump’s pick for energy secretary, Chris Wright, doubled down on his baseless comments about climate change, calling wildfires “hype.” 

Sen. Alex Padilla: “You’ve written that the ‘the hype over wildfires is just hype.’ … Given the devastation we’re currently experiencing in Los Angeles, do you still believe that wildfires are just ‘hype?’ …”

Chris Wright: “I stand by my past comments.” 

Washington Post: “Trump’s pick for energy secretary rejects linking climate change and wildfires”

“Wright, who has declared there is no ‘climate crisis,’ has also argued that climate change has not fueled more frequent and severe wildfires — a claim at odds with the scientific consensus. … 

“In a 2021 appearance on the PetroNerds podcast, Wright criticized mainstream media outlets for drawing a connection between wildfires and warming. Wildfires are ‘a major thing in the news now,’ he said. ‘It’s climate change. It’s climate change.’ … The short answer: It is not.’ …

“In the summer of 2023, as smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed the East Coast, Wright wrote on LinkedIn that ‘the hype over wildfires is just hype to justify’ harmful climate policies. He linked to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece by Bjorn Lomborg, a Danish political scientist and author who contends that experts have overstated the negative impacts of climate change.”

Project 2025 chief architect Russ Vought wouldn’t answer for his plans to use government shutdowns as a bargaining chip, or his support for playing politics with disaster relief.

Sen. Maggie Hassan: “Government shutdowns put public safety and our national security at risk. But you have repeatedly, Mr. Vought, called for brinksmanship around government shutdowns and opposed bipartisan deals to keep the government open. Why have you repeatedly advocated the use of the threat of a government shutdown is a political bargaining chip? If confirmed, would you continue to favor a partisan agenda over keeping the government open?” 

Vought: *Dodges*

Sen. Hassan: “There seems to be kind of a confirmation conversion because your words in articles and in talks reflect a different view about the use of government shutdowns. … The impact of government shutdowns … impacts the American people in significant ways.”

Sen. Maggie Hassan: “If confirmed, do you commit to ensuring that agencies do not review a grant application submitted by a state based on that state’s political makeup? Whether it is red, blue, or purple?”

Vought: “Again, senator, the extent to which we make decisions will be based on the policy grounds, the agenda of the president of the United States, we will continue to do that.” 

Sen. Hassan: “If the president says to you, I don’t care what the law says, I don’t like California and I’m not going to give them the disaster aid they need, you are going to stand up to the president and say sir, that is not appropriate?” 

Vought: “Senator, I don’t engage in hypotheticals.” 

Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent won’t commit to advising Trump against raising prices, admitting he won’t fight to lower prices for the American people – and wouldn’t stand in the way of cutting Medicaid. 

Sen. Maggie Hassan: “If the president-elect were to propose a policy that you believe will increase prices, would you advise against it?”

Bessent: “I would … speak to President Trump about it. It is his decision. …” 

Sen. Hassan: “If you believe that a policy that is proposed by President Trump would increase prices, would you advise him against doing it? Yes or no?” 

Bessent: “I can’t answer that question because it’s a hypothetical.” 

Sen. Ben Ray Luján: “Yes or no, will you recommend cutting Medicaid?”

Bessent: “Uh… I… It’s the business of Congress to do the budget and I am in favor of empowering states and I believe that for some states that will be an increase, for some states that will be a decrease.”

Sen. Luján: “Will you recommend cutting Medicaid to President Trump?”

Bessent: “Uh, I will get back to you on this.”

DHS pick Kristi Noem repeatedly refused to rule out playing politics with disaster relief – just like Trump. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal: “I assume you will agree with me that withholding disaster relief by President Trump … is a violation of his duty and of law?”

Kristi Noem: *Dodges*

Sen. Blumenthal: “I want to ask you yes or no, with all due respect.”

Noem: *Continues to avoid question*

Sen. Blumenthal: “So, if President Trump were to say to you, we’re going to withhold money from Connecticut, or Michigan … because we don’t like the governor or we don’t like the politics of the state, you would stand up to him and say, Mr. President, we need to allocate that money?”

Noem: “… I don’t speak to hypotheticals.”

Blumenthal: “It’s more than a hypothetical, with all due respect. … It’s based on experience with President Trump withholding money from Washington State and elsewhere. … Will you say no to the president if he withholds that money?”

Noem: “I don’t know about the scenarios that you’re referencing.”