Rubio likely to be confirmed on Inauguration Day when Senate begins voting on Trump picks

In the next week, Senators will vote on Donald Trump’s most important nominees. Republicans hope that Democrats will work together to confirm one of them on Inauguration day.

There have been no votes yet, because Mr. Trump can’t formally present the nominations to Senate until Monday when he takes office.

The outgoing Florida senior senator Marco Rubio is likely to be confirmed as Secretary of State on Inauguration day because he enjoys bipartisan support from his Senate colleagues.

The Washington Times quoted Idaho Republican James E. Risch as saying, “I think he will receive significant Democratic support.” He’s respected in Washington because of his service on committees and his relationship with senators.

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The 100 senators will need to agree to a schedule agreement in order to vote on any of Mr. Trump’s picks. This means that some of the more partisan choices are unlikely to be confirmed quickly.

Republicans are eager to confirm the national security leadership of Mr. Trump, but Democrats will resist any attempt to expedite the confirmation process for Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. Democrats have raised questions about his qualifications, and expressed concern over allegations of misconduct which Mr. Hegseth denied.

“I’d be happy if they wouldn’t insist that we use all of the time for debate,” said Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

On Monday, after the swearing-in of Mr. Trump, committee votes will be held to report out Mr. Rubio and Mr. Hegseth’s nominations as well as Kristi Noem’s nomination for Homeland Security Secretary.

John Ratcliffe, the nominee for Director of Central Intelligence Agency is also expected to be voted on by a committee as early as Monday. All four nominees in national security are those that Republicans hope will be confirmed quickly.

The confirmation of Ms. Noem is a priority, in part, because Mr. Trump plans to use his executive power on the first day to direct her department’s actions to secure border.

Immigration enforcement measures, the first piece of legislation that Congress will send to Mr. Trump this week, will require Ms. Noem to implement them in her Homeland Security Department.

The Senate will vote on Monday night on the final passage of Laken Riley Act. This act is named after Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal Venezuelan immigrant, who crossed the border without permission but had been released on parole.

As was the case in Ms. Laken’s murder, the bill would mandate detention of illegal immigrants arrested for burglary or theft. The bill would allow states to sue federal authorities for failing to enforce immigration and border laws.

The Senate’s version of the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of illegal aliens who assault officers of law enforcement, will be voted on again.

Senate also takes action to advance candidates for critical roles in domestic policy.

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in addition to voting on Ms. Noem’s nomination, will also vote on Russell Vought’s nomination as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.

When he takes office, he will have a lot to do with the lawmakers. The March 14 deadline for government funding is fast approaching and Republicans are looking forward to taking quick action via budget reconciliation on border funding and defense funding as well as other spending reductions.

Vought will also need to get approval from the Senate Budget Committee. The committee has scheduled a hearing for Mr. Vought’s nomination on Wednesday. He was the OMB director in Mr. Trump’s initial term. It is expected that he will be confirmed again to this post, but he is likely to face the same unanimous Democratic opposition as if a year ago.

On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee votes on Sean Duffy’s nomination as Transportation Secretary.

The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote on Doug Collins’ nomination as Veterans Affairs Secretary.

Both Mr. Duffy, and Mr. Collins are former members of the House.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on Scott Bessent’s nomination as Treasury Secretary.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee votes on Thursday to confirm Lee Zeldin as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Other nominees will also be confirmed at the hearings.

On Tuesday, Elise Stefanik (Rep.), nominated as ambassador to the United Nations, will appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

On Thursday, Agriculture secretary nominee Brooke Rollins and Army secretary nominee Daniel P. Driscoll both testify in front of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.