Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Rushed Process For Trump’s Cabinet Hearings And The Importance Of Vetting And Carefully Evaluating Cabinet Nominees

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to emphasize the need for the Senate to maintain standard practices such as minority consent in the nominations process to allow transparency with the American people. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Every time a new Administration begins, one of the most important things the Senate does is carefully evaluate, consider, and vote on the President's Cabinet nominees.

Strong nominees only come from a strong vetting process here in the Senate. I've been very clear where Democrats stand: we need thorough background investigations, we need hearings where both sides can prepare to ask strong questions, and we need a vote here on the floor. In other words, we expect regular order.

It is deeply troubling, then, to see our Republican colleagues already beginning to shun regular order.

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources noticed a hearing for Governor Doug Burgum to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior, without minority consent, as has long been standard practice.

Senate Democrats on the Committee expressed reasonable objections to proceeding to this hearing, because the Committee has not yet received basic information on Governor Burgum's background.

What are Republicans trying to hide by rushing this and other nominees through Committee? It is very reasonable to wait a little, get additional background information, so both sides can be ready for the hearing. Why the rush?

Are Republicans trying to hide the fact that, maybe, some of Donald Trump's nominees are not qualified for the positions they seek?

Are Republicans trying to cover for nominees who will turn their backs on working Americans and use agencies like the Department of the Interior to help giant polluters and big business?

The American people should know if Cabinet nominees will push policies that kill good paying clean energy jobs created under President Biden. These are good-paying jobs that support communities in red states and blue states. Repealing these jobs would be profoundly anti-worker, and might cause many to lose their jobs.

Americans deserve to know what kind of people are going to serve on President Trump's Cabinet. They need assurances, that these nominees will fight for them, will cut costs, hold big corporations accountable.

When Republicans try to rush nominees through the process, the American people have to wonder: what are Republicans trying to hide?

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