All articles tagged with #confirmation hearing
During the confirmation hearing for surgeon general nominee Dr. Nicole Saphier, lawmakers pressed whether vaccines cause autism. She said she has not seen credible evidence that vaccines cause autism and affirmed that the MMR vaccine is a crucial tool against measles, highlighting ongoing public debate and vaccine hesitancy amid rising measles cases.
During her Senate confirmation hearing, Nicole Saphier, Trump’s surgeon general nominee, stated she does not believe childhood vaccines cause autism and voiced support for universal birth-dose hepatitis B vaccination, signaling a contrast with Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine-skeptic stance. Cassidy pressed her on vaccines and past commitments, while the broader live-updates feed also tracks AI regulation debates, data-center tax breaks, and other Capitol Hill moves.
During his confirmation hearing to be deputy secretary of health and human services, Chris Klomp endorsed the measles vaccine as the single most effective public health tool, called fighting the ongoing measles outbreak an absolute top priority, and sought to distance himself from vaccine controversies surrounding RFK Jr. and Donald Trump. He urged parents to discuss vaccines with their pediatricians, stressed that the Health Department strongly recommends vaccination, and said the department will continue to study vaccine safety and uphold rigorous scientific standards, including publishing results regardless of findings. He also noted Trump’s push to split MMR into separate shots was aimed at addressing safety concerns, and he asserted there is no fetal tissue in vaccines today.
Todd Blanche’s Senate confirmation hearing shows a potential GOP hurdle: Sen. John Cornyn remains undecided, and his vote could determine whether Blanche advances to the floor. With Sen. Thom Tillis wavering but open to persuading colleagues by declaring the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund moot, Democrats ramp up pressure while the White House weighs lobbying. The fund dispute and related settlement questions could ultimately decide Blanche’s fate before an August floor vote.
Sean Kaufman, Trump’s nominee to head the health department’s preparedness office, walked back past vaccine-skeptic remarks at his confirmation hearing, affirming that vaccines are safe and effective, while the live updates also cover other Capitol Hill votes, budget talks and nominations.
During his Senate Intelligence confirmation hearing to become Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton refused to declare the winner of the 2020 election, saying Biden was certified, as Democrats pressed him on past comments about election integrity, his time as U.S. attorney, and his decision to subpoena New York Times journalists over reporting on a Qatar-gifted jet; the hearing also touched on interim leadership, the Section 702 program, and a committee vote is expected next week.
At the Senate confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche to be attorney general, lawmakers pressed him about his past work for Trump, the DOJ’s release of Epstein files (described as a Herculean task with about 1% of redactions corrected), and policy questions from election integrity to a now-voided $1.8bn anti-weaponisation fund. Blanche defended the process, said no one is above the law, and indicated he would connect Epstein survivors with counsel rather than meeting them directly, while stressing Trump-era actions and his independence. The session featured sharp questions from Democrats and Republicans and protests outside the room.
President Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton, is expected to receive a largely friendly confirmation hearing as he would replace acting DNI Bill Pulte; lawmakers on both sides want a steady hand who can handle national security matters and avoid politicizing intelligence, even as Democrats worry about potential use of intelligence agencies in election interference and Republicans press for action on surveillance authorities. Clayton, a former SDNY U.S. attorney with limited intelligence background, has overseen national-security cases and is seen by some lawmakers as a conventional pick, though questions remain about his willingness to provide unvarnished assessments on elections amid Trump’s ongoing rhetoric.
Democrats plan to grill Todd Blanche over the handling of the Epstein file release and the controversial anti-weaponization fund, while Republicans weigh his willingness to enforce the law beyond the president's interests; the hearing includes outside witnesses and could hinge on GOP votes, with potential defections risking confirmation before the August recess.
The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a two-day confirmation hearing for Todd Blanche to be Attorney General on July 15–16, with a potential full-Senate vote before the August recess if he can win Republican support. Democrats are expected to oppose him, and a single Republican vote could block advancement, as Sens. Tillis and Cornyn remain noncommittal. Blanche, currently acting attorney general while serving as deputy, faces scrutiny over his Trump ties and policy moves such as the proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund. The article also covers related Capitol updates on Iran war powers votes, a housing bill deal, and Hal Duncan’s OMB confirmation hearing.)
Kevin Warsh’s Senate confirmation hearing framed a debate over Fed independence: he pledged he would not be a Trump puppet, signaled support for regime-change to rein in inflation, and argued for transparent, deliberative policymaking while pushing back against premature rate guidance and press-conference norms. Democrats pressed on his 2007-08 crisis role, wealth disclosures and potential conflicts, including crypto holdings and Epstein ties, and Republicans highlighted his independence. The path to a final vote remains uncertain, complicated by a DOJ investigation into Powell and a potential hold‑up from Sen. Tillis, with a vote possibly looming in May.
Trump's pick to lead the Fed, Kevin Warsh, faces a tense Senate Banking Committee confirmation as Powell's term ends; Democrats push for a delay amid a DOJ probe into Powell and a Fed governor, while Republicans including Thom Tillis vow to block Warsh until the probe is resolved, signaling a potentially turbulent transition for the central bank that could unsett le markets.
Fed chair nominee Kevin Warsh will tell lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that monetary policy independence must be earned and is essential, resisting political pressure while prioritizing price stability. He says the Fed should listen to diverse views but stay in its lane on policy, committing to accountability and to working with the Administration and Congress on non-monetary matters. He stresses that inflation is a responsibility of the Fed and that keeping it low protects the most vulnerable.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee advanced Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to be the next Homeland Security secretary by an 8-7 vote, in a clash that saw Rand Paul oppose and John Fetterman break with Democrats to back Mullin after tense confirmation hearings.
At his DHS secretary confirmation hearing, Senator Markwayne Mullin pledged bipartisan cooperation, signaled rolling back some Trump-era immigration policies, and said immigration officers would generally need a judge’s warrant before entering private property. He apologized for past remarks about a Minneapolis shooting victim and framed leadership as steady and communicative, while Democrats pressed on temperament and policy amid Noem’s firing and ongoing immigration controversies.