Bessent hearing concludes
Bessent has finished his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee and the hearing has now wrapped after about 3½ hours of questioning.
Bessent says he would work with Trump on the potential for eliminating the debt ceiling
During an exchange with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Bessent wouldn't commit to eliminating the debt ceiling but said he would work with Trump on that idea if he's confirmed as treasury secretary.
Warren said she supports, as Trump himself has previously, getting rid of the debt limit.
In December, Trump had expressed that Congress should get rid of the debt ceiling, saying during a negotiation over government spending that that could be part of the process.
“The Democrats have said they want to get rid of it. If they want to get rid of it, I would lead the charge,” Trump told NBC News at the time.
Democrats have advocated for eliminating it, arguing that it gambles with the nation's economy and is often taken advantage of for other policy reasons.
Democrats open to Bessent but alarmed by Bondi's statements on 2020

+2
Katherine Doyle, Garrett Haake and Kate Santaliz
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., expressed openness to confirming Bessent, saying he was impressed specifically by his call for heavier sanctions on Russia. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., told NBC News that he thinks Bessent is the right person for the job and expects his colleagues across the aisle to support Trump’s Treasury pick, as well.
Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, acknowledged that while he believes Bondi is qualified for the job, he finds her statements on the 2020 election to be alarming.
“I’ve reflected on her testimony over and over again, and some of the things about her are truly outstanding and impressive,” Durbin said. “She is quite an attorney. Ten years as attorney general in Florida, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire her to represent a client on my own.”
Durbin continued: “Having said that, her answers to some of the questions appear to have a blind spot when it comes to some fundamental issues — who won the election in 2020?”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said he doesn't think he could support Bondi's confirmation at this point because "the attorney general has to have the grit and gumption to say no to Donald Trump, and Pam Bondi has yet to convince me that she has those qualities to stand up to Donald Trump."
"I see no way that I can responsibly vote for a nominee for attorney general who lacks the ability to say no to Donald Trump when he asked her to do something that’s illegal or immoral," he said. "It’s not a question of whether or if, Donald Trump will ask the attorney general to do something illegal or immoral. It’s when."
Bondi fielded questions on Trump during a confirmation hearing that began yesterday, including over whether she accepted that Trump had lost the 2020 election. Bondi responded that she “accept[ed] the results”and "of course, that Joe Biden is president of the United States" but also repeated Trump's false claim that widespread election fraud occurred in 2020.
Burgum's confirmation hearing is over
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
The Senate panel has adjourned Burgum's confirmation hearing. Topics ranged from allocation of the Colorado River water to the three lower basin states in the West to conditions for federal relief for disasters like the Los Angeles wildfires.
Burgum praised Trump's energy policies and made it clear he aligns with the president-elect on key topics such as drilling for oil and sourcing other natural resources on protected lands tribal lands. Burgum argued domestically sourcing energy would create a greater return for Americans than relying on foreign entities to do so.
Several Democratic senators pressed Burgum on climate change. Burgum argued the U.S. has tools sophisticated enough to mitigate the impact burning fossil fuels has on the climate, naming carbon capture as one of them.
The Senate panel went through two rounds of questioning before adjourning just before 1:20 p.m. ET.
Warnock spars with Bessent over Trump tax cuts
During his line of questioning, Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., asked Bessent about Trump's 2017 tax cuts legislation, much of which is set to expire this year.
Warnock asserted that the law would give the wealthiest 1% of Americans a tax cut, to which Bessent responded that "most of the benefits [of the law] accrued for the working and middle people."
Warnock asked for clarification, saying, "So, you believe that the tax cut that provided more of the benefits of the law to the top 1% and top 5% ... actually benefited those at the bottom more than it did those at the top?"
Bessent defended his original answer, saying that "the households in the bottom 50% of income earners, the wealth increase for those households was three times higher, three times higher than the wealth increase for the top 10% of Americans."
A report published by the Treasury Department last week found that, if the provisions are extended, "the largest tax cuts would go to the highest-income families."
Bessent says that this is his third try at public service
Bessent said that being nominated to be treasury secretary is particularly meaningful because it's his "third try at public service."
"In 1979 when I was 17 years old, I wanted to fight for my country. My father had just experienced financial difficulties. I wanted to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. I was offered by our congressman in the 6th District of South Carolina an appointment, but was unable to take that appointment because of my sexual preference," Bessent said.
If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first openly gay treasury secretary.
Bessent said that when he was a student at Yale, he wanted to join the Foreign Service, and he said, "I was told, also, not welcome."
"I sit here knowing that President Trump chose me because he believes I’m the best candidate, not because of my sexual preference, not because treasury secretaries with green eyes do better," Bessent said. "I think it is a tribute to President Trump that he looks at people as people."
Top Judiciary Democrat requests agency records for Trump's FBI pick


Katherine Doyle and Frank Thorp V
Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has requested information from the Pentagon, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and Justice Department related to Kash Patel ahead of his confirmation hearing to be FBI director. That hearing has yet to be scheduled.
The letters to the three agencies are related to alleged misconduct by Patel during his tenure with those agencies, Durbin’s office said. The letter to DOJ further requests any records related to any other misconduct allegations from Patel’s time in government.
“The director must be able to execute the FBI’s mission in a nonpartisan, impartial manner that is above reproach,” Durbin wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, adding that “the Committee is unable to properly consider his nomination without more information on his underlying conduct.”
In response to NBC News' request for comment, Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer said, "Kash is proud of his service at the DOJ, DOD, and DNI, and looks forward to answering any of Senator Durbin’s questions at his confirmation hearing."
Burgum confirmation hearing to go for second round of questions
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is starting a second round of questioning in Burgum's confirmation hearing.
Sanders asks Bessent if he agrees with Biden's warning about an oligarchy
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., asked Bessent if he agrees with Biden's remarks from his farewell address last night that an oligarchy is taking shape in America "of extreme wealth, power and influence that threatens our entire democracy, our rights and freedoms."
At first, Bessent dodged the question and then said that the three billionaires that Sanders listed in his question: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Rupert Murdoch "all made the money themselves.”
"Mr. Musk came to the country as an immigrant," Bessent added.
Murdoch is also an immigrant. Born in Australia, he inherited a local tabloid from his father in the 1950s and went on to build a multi-national media empire that includes Fox News, The New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.
Bessent said that he would note that Biden gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to two people who would qualify as oligarchs, though he didn't say who he was referring to.
Sanders asked if it's an oligarchic form of society when so few people have so much wealth and power. Bessent said, "Senator, I think it depends on the ability to move up and down."
Bessent said that the federal minimum wage shouldn't be increased
During an exchange with Sanders, Bessent said that the issue of the minimum wage is "more of a statewide and regional issue." Sanders then asked if the federal minimum wage should be increased from $7.25 and Bessent said it shouldn't be.
The last time the federal minimum wage increased was in 2009, after a 2007 measure phased in minimum wage increases over the next two years. According to the Department of Labor, that's the longest stretch in U.S. history that the federal minimum wage has remained stagnant since the the Federal Labor Standards Act established the minimum wage in 1938.
In 2023, Sanders partnered with other Democratic senators to introduce a bill that would have raised the minimum age to $17 an hour over the next five years, but the bill didn't advance from Congress.
Bessent says he'll enforce purchase agreements with China


Katherine Doyle and Alexandra Marquez
During Republican Sen. Todd Young's line of questioning, Bessent acknowledged that the Biden administration enforced tariffs on China, but blasted the administration for not enforcing purchase provisions with China that were laid out in Trump's first term.
In a 2020 trade deal with the Asian nation, China agreed to increase its purchases of American manufacturing, promising to buy a minimum of $200 billion from the U.S. over two years.
"What they [Biden administration officials] did not do in the agreement with China was enforce the purchase provisions," Bessent said. "So if confirmed, next week, if confirmed, I would begin pushing for the purchase guarantees that were in the China agreement to be enforced."
Sen. Padilla presses Burgum on federal disaster relief 'without conditions'
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., pressed Burgum on the greater Los Angeles area wildfires and his position on requesting disaster relief from the federal government.
Padilla pointed out that as North Dakota governor, Burgum had to request a sweeping disaster declaration to assist with recovery from wildfires that ravaged the northwest part of the state. President Joe Biden approved the declaration quickly and without conditions, he said.
"So do you believe federal disaster aid should come with or without conditions?" Padilla asked.
Burgum said conditions should "vary" with each situation and expressed his condolences for the Los Angeles fire victims. Trump has been criticized for spreading misinformation about federal disaster relief for California after the wildfires, falsely claiming Newsom blocked a measure that would have allowed water to flow from Northern California to Southern California.
Notably, Trump has made efforts in the past to withhold federal disaster aidfrom states with leaders he was feuding with, including Newsom.
“He’s done it in Utah. He’s done it in Michigan, did it in Puerto Rico. He did it to California back before I was even governor, in 2018,” Newsom said, adding it has caused delays for states in need of federal disaster aid.
Padilla asked if Burgum would commit "to responding to every disaster with as much support and resources possible, regardless of which state or jurisdiction the disaster is in?"
"Well, absolutely," Burgum replied, but noted federal aid would depend on the scale of the disaster.
Day 2 of Bondi's confirmation hearing is over
The second day of Pam Bondi's confirmation hearing has concluded.
Five witnesses testified on Bondi's track record as an attorney, speaking to her personal interactions with them and what they expect of her as attorney general.
The testimony was largely in Bondi's favor, with former colleagues speaking highly of her past work ethic and her "commitment to justice."
Democratic senators did question some of Bondi's comments yesterday, including her refusal to acknowledge Trump's loss in the 2020 election, or to commit to preserving evidence from Jan. 6, or not pursuing politically motivated cases against Trump enemies like Liz Cheney and Jack Smith.
Bessent says the Federal Reserve should be independent
Bessent said during an exchange with Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., that the Federal Reserve should be independent.
"Of course, and I actually believe that the notion that President Trump believes he should have influence there was, I believe, a highly inaccurate Wall Street Journal article saying that he believed something to the effect of he should be in the room," Bessent said.
Asked again, he said, "I think on monetary policy decisions, the FOMC should be independent," referring to the Federal Open Market Committee.
Witness says Bondi has no immunity if she carries out illegal activity under Trump
Witness Mary B. McCord, a former DOJ attorney, testified that if Bondi were to carry out illegal acts as attorney general under Trump, she would not have any kind of immunity.
"There's no immunity for Attorney General Bondi if she were to engage in illegal activity or unconstitutional activity and carrying out a directive of Donald Trump," McCord, the executive director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center, said.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., also asked McCord about Bondi's comments yesterday, saying she would not commit to preserving evidence from Jan. 6.
McCord explained that destroying evidence would be an illegal move.
"There certainly are Federal Records Act obligations that require the records being made, and so I think that she would be well advised to consult with attorneys, career attorneys, who specialize in that in the Department of Justice, and be guided by their counsel," McCord said.
Bessent refuses to say whether he'd advise Trump against a policy that would raise prices
Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asked Bessent about inflation and prices and whether he believes prices will go down under Trump.
"I believe that inflation will be much closer to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%," Bessent said. "I believe that they will increase real wages and lower inflation closer to the Federal Reserve 2% target, as it did during President Trump’s first administration."
Asked if he would advise Trump against a policy he proposes if Bessent believed it would increase prices, Bessent said, "I would speak to President Trump about it. It is his decision."
Hassan asked again and Bessent said he couldn't answer the question because it's hypothetical.
Asked if Trump would be directly responsible if prices increase over the next four years as Bessent has directly blamed Biden for the last four, Bessent, "I think there could be a variety of reasons. I think that it could be ... we will see, the policies of the Federal Reserve, the spending policies. Congress sets the spending policies."
"What you're articulating is a double standard, and it's disappointing to me," Hassan said.
Bessent says the Biden administration's sanctions on Russia have been insufficient
In an exchange with Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., Bessent said that the sanctions regime that the U.S. has instituted against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine has been insufficient.
"I believe that the sanctions were not fulsome enough," Bessent said. "I believe that the previous administration was worried about raising U.S. energy prices during an election season, and I am perplexed to see that national security adviser Sullivan, on his way out the door, is raising the sanctions level on Russian oil companies, and indeed, the oil prices in the U.S. are up about 9% this month. So what was good for that administration is being foisted on us?"
Most recently, the Biden administration earlier this month instituted sweeping sanctions against the Russian oil industry, targeting more than 180 tankers, and more than a dozen Russian energy officials and executives.
Bessent said that if anyone in Russia was watching his hearing: "They should know that if I’m confirmed, and if President Trump requests and as part of his strategy to end the Ukraine war that I will be 100% on board for taking sanctions up, especially on the Russian oil majors, two levels that would bring Russian Federation to the table."
Burgum says sourcing natural resources on America's public lands would improve 'balance sheet'
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
Burgum voiced his support for allowing multiple use on public lands, saying maximizing their value for everything from grazing to mining for oil and gas would improve “America’s balance sheet.”
“I think every American during a presidential campaign finds out and gets pounded into their head that we’ve got $36 trillion in debt. We got all this debt. We all lose that,” Burgum said. “We never talk about the assets.”
The assets, he said, are America’s public lands and the natural resources they hold. Burgum added that the Department of the Interior has close to 500 million acres of surface, 700 million acres of subsurface and 2 billion acres of untouched, offshore lands that amount to the “balance sheet of America.”
“If we were a company, they would look at us and say, ‘Wow, you are really restricting your balance sheet,’ and 'Do you know what those assets are worth?'” Burgum said.
Burgum argued that sourcing critical natural resources even on tribal lands would bring the greatest returns for Americans.
"We’ve got to get going. We got to cut red tape. We got to realize that if you shut down U.S. energy production here, it doesn’t help the global environment. That’s a false trade-off," Burgum said.
Wyden asks Bessent who will pay for Trump's tariffs
Wyden asked Bessent who will pay for Trump's planned tariffs, arguing that they will be "paid for by our workers and small businesses."
"All through the campaign, we heard they weren’t — that foreign countries were going to pay it. I think that’s baloney. It’s going to be paid for by workers and small businesses," Wyden said.
Bessent said that "the history of tariffs and tariff theory, optimal tariff theory, does not support what you’re saying."
According to independent estimates, though, consumers could be directly and indirectly affected by the U.S. imposing tariffs on other countries. Some countries have already threatened to impose retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. in response to Trump's tariff plans.
And, if those retaliatory tariffs are attached to goods like oil, the increase in energy prices could raise prices on goods and services throughout the economy.
Economists also say that even without retaliatory tariffs, the U.S. imposing the restrictions could lead sellers to raise prices for consumers to offset their new expenses.
"If we were to say, use a number that has been thrown around in the press of 10%, then traditionally the currency appreciates by 4% so the 10% is not passed through," Bessent said. "Foreign manufacturers, especially China, especially China, which is trying to export their way out of their current economic delays, they will continue cutting prices to maintain market share."
Wyden responded, "What I know is the history of this is, it clobbers people of modest means. They’re the people who are going to get hit. And all through the campaign, there was a big show that was going to be paid for by foreigners."
Bondi witnesses praise her 'commitment' to justice
Witnesses have begun testifying on their experiences with Bondi, speaking to her personality, her track record, and their personal interactions with her.
An overarching theme from the comments of three of the witnesses — Dave Aronberg, a former state attorney in Palm Beach County; Nicholas B. Cox, a statewide attorney for the Florida attorney general's office; and Emery Gainey, a former Alachua County sheriff — is that Bondi would not sacrifice her work for political gain.
"I think some of the criticism comes in that she is loyal to President Trump. She is, but I never believed that if asked to do something illegal, that she would normally do that, and she would never step across the line," Aronberg said.
"I don't know specifically what she will do, but I know that that's basically what she will not shy away from, standing up to people in her own party," he continued.
Gainey added that when working with Bondi in Florida, she always "demonstrated her commitment to fairness and justice."
Cox also spoke to Bondi "shielding" him from politics, telling the committee "she understands, I think, the boundaries of the ethics that she mentioned several times yesterday. She understands all of that, and she's a true prosecutor."
Burgum and Sen. Hirono spar over fossil fuels, Constitutional obligations
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, pressed Burgum on climate change in her line of questioning, asking Burgum if he was aware that several past secretaries of defense, including Trump-appointee James Mattis, have raised concerns over climate change acting as a “critical national security threat” and a “threat multiplier” in geopolitical conflict zones where U.S. troops operate.
“Now these are two secretaries of defense. They know something about war. Were you aware that they testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on a number of times that burning more fossil fuel is actually going to not result in the end of wars, but the very well exacerbating cause wars?” Hirono asked.
Burgum said he was not aware of the specific testimony, but argued carbon capture tools are enough to mitigate the negative climate impacts of burning fossil fuels.
“I do know that within fossil fuels, that the concern has been about emissions, and within emissions, we have the technology to do things like carbon capture to eliminate harmful emissions,” Burgum said.
Hirono then asked Burgum if he would “act in a manner that is counter to the department’s mission or to the Constitution,” if ordered to by Trump, using drilling for oil near the Bears Ears National Monument as an example.
“Senator, of course, as part of my sworn duty, I’ll follow the law and follow the Constitution, and so you can count on that. And I have not heard of any well, anything about President Trump wanting to do anything other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the American people,” Burgum said.
Bessent says Congress needs to make the Trump tax cuts permanent
Bessent said in his opening statement that the Trump administration needs to make the initial Trump tax cuts permanent, warning that if Congress fails to act, “Americans will face the largest tax increase in history, a crushing $4 trillion tax hike."
He said that the Trump administration should also cut discretionary spending, but didn't identify where those cuts should be made.
Some lawmakers have expressed concern that extending the Trump tax cuts, some of which expire at the end of the year, could further balloon the budget deficit. A report released by the Treasury Department last week found that, if extended, "the largest tax cuts would go to the highest-income families."
In response to Sen. Mike Crapo’s, R-Idaho, question, Bessent says: “If we do not the fix these tax cuts, if we do not renew and extend, then we will be facing an economic calamity, and as always, with financial instability that falls on the middle and working-class people. We will see a gigantic middle-class tax increase.”
Zeldin suggests 'difference of opinion' shapes Trump's thinking on climate
Zeldin tells senators that he believes climate change is “real” and that Trump’s comments on climate should be taken in the context of the policy landscape. Trump maintains that he is “an environmentalist” who wants “clean air and water,” even as he has dismissed climate change as “a hoax.”
“I think that he’s concerned about the economic costs of some policies where there’s a debate and a difference of opinion,” Zeldin said of the president-elect.
Wyden accuses Bessent of using a loophole to opt out of paying into Medicare
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., accused treasury nominee Scott Bessent in his opening statement of using a loophole to opt out of paying into Medicare.
Wyden, the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, said that "taxes that fund Medicare are automatic for the vast majority of Americans."
"They come straight out every paycheck. It’s a civic duty that pays off as earned benefits down the road. But like a number of Wall Street fund managers,Mr. Bessent makes use of a tricky legal maneuver to opt out of paying into Medicare. It’s a tax loophole that hurts Medicare, but benefits him to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year," Wyden said.
Wyden said that the Treasury Department has gone to court to argue that taxpayers taking this position are violating tax law.
"It’s an awfully big conflict of interest if Mr. Bessent is confirmed," Wyden said. "Either he and his lawyers take the position that treasury policy doesn’t apply to the treasury secretary, or he blesses a loophole that lets Wall Street titans blow off their fair share of Medicare taxes."
Burgum touts Trump's 'energy dominance' plan in opening statement
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
Burgum began his opening remarks by touting his record working with the Department of the Interior as governor of North Dakota, noting the vast amount of land the state shares with sovereign tribal nations, saying “tribal relationships in North Dakota have sometimes been challenged,” but “the current partnership is historically strong.”
Burgum wasted little time before voicing his support for Trump’s energy policies and his expansive plans for achieving “energy dominance.” He noted that restricting energy production does not reduce demand but “shifts productions to countries like Russia and Iran, whose autocratic leaders not only don’t care at all about the environment, but they use their revenues from energy sales to fund wars against us and our allies.”
“The American people have clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance, and by energy dominance, that’s the foundation of American prosperity, affordability for American families, and unrivaled national security,” Burgum said.
Burgum has now begun taking questions from senators.
Durbin condemns Bondi for refusing to admit Trump lost the 2020 election
During his opening remarks, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., addressed Bondi's refusal yesterday to acknowledge that President-elect Donald Trump lost the 2020 election.
"That is what a democracy is all about. One person concedes, the other person wins. We moved to the next president and ultimately the next election. But that's not the case in the year 2020," Durbin said.
The senator also referenced Bondi's characterization of Jan. 6.
"She also said, quote, 'there was a peaceful transition of power.' Let me repeat that, 'a peaceful transition of power'," Durbin said, adding that Bondi wouldn't comment on whether she would pardon those who participated in the Jan. 6 attacks.
"Anyone who is guilty of violence, certainly guilty of violence should not be pardoned on day that you're sworn in as president. So I was at least disappointed by her answer," Durbin said.
Grassley says Bondi will 'restore morale' to the Justice Department
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in his opening remarks at today's hearing that yesterday's testimony proved Bondi to be "certainly experienced and capable to serve as our nation's chief law enforcement officer at this very critical time."
Grassley said Bondi is "well qualified," having served as a prosecutor for 18 years and attorney general in Florida for another eight.
"She will enact desperately needed changes at a department that has been politicized and weaponized for partisan ends with almost 30 years of experience behind her," Grassley alleged, repeating a common allegations from President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill. President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and other administration officials have repeatedly denied such claims.
Grassley added that Bondi will "restore both morale and law and order to the department that's badly needed."
"Her commitment to the rule of law emerged as a central theme of our discussion yesterday, and as I made clear in my opening statement yesterday, that is what I believe the department in this country desperately needs today," he said.
In opening remarks, Zeldin highlighted his record of environmental work in Congress
In his opening remarks before the committee, Zeldin spoke about his record of working on environmental issues while in Congress and said he hoped to work with members of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee on both sides of the aisle.
“I’m grateful that the president-elect is giving me the opportunity to lead the EPA at this critical time,” Zeldin told the committee, adding, “We must do everything in our power to harness the greatness of American innovation with the greatness of American conservation and environmental stewardship.”
The former congressman added that, "It’s been so motivating to see the tremendous talent stepping up to serve in the EPA, I couldn’t be more excited to partner with the EPA team nationwide.”
He also cited his bipartisan work while in Congress to "protect the Long Island Sound and Plum Island," each of which were part of his former congressional district.
Doug Burgum confirmation hearing has begun
Sydney CarruthSydney Carruth is a digital assistant for NBC News.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has gaveled in Burgum's hearing. Lee in his opening remarks slammed the Biden administration for its efforts to expand national monuments, which he said lacked “meaningful input from local communities” and “harmed the locals.”
Lee also brought up Biden’s oil and gas policies, saying the issuance of a moratorium on oil and gas resulted in “severely damaging our energy security” and locked away “resources we needed to power our homes and our economy.”
Ranking member Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., began his remarks by acknowledging the Los Angeles wildfires, saying he expected Burgum would get questions about the fires and how the department can best support firefighters on the front lines.
Heinrich also brought up the Colorado River, noting Burgum if confirmed will play a big role in helping the Western states that rely on its water to transition to a “new water reality.”
Before Burgum was sworn in, Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., gave him a glowing introduction, noting their long history of serving the state of North Dakota together.
Some of Trump's picks could be confirmed Monday

+2
Frank Thorp V, Kate Santaliz and Megan Lebowitz
Several of Trump's picks could be confirmed on Inauguration Day, though timing is still fluid.
Senate Republicans hope to confirm Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as secretary of state Monday afternoon, shortly after Trump is inaugurated. However, to hold a full Senate vote as early as Monday, all 100 senators must agree.
The Senate Intelligence Committee will also hold a business meeting Monday to consider John Ratcliffe’s nomination to be CIA director, according to two sources. As with Rubio, all 100 senators must agree if the chamber wants to vote as early as Monday.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told NBC News yesterday that his committee will hold a vote on Pete Hegseth’s nomination to be defense secretary Monday Jan. 20. If Hegseth's nomination passes the committee, the full Senate would still need to vote on his confirmation.
Day two of Pam Bondi's confirmation hearing has begun
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has kicked off the second day of Pam Bondi's confirmation hearing which will focus on witness testimony.
Bondi herself is not present at today's hearing.
Grassley begins today's proceedings delivering an opening statement.
Top Democrat questions whether Zeldin would 'be a rubber stamp for looters and polluters' as EPA chief
The top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., blasted Zeldin during his opening remarks, questioning whether the former New York congressman “will be merely a rubber stamp for looters and polluters who are setting the Trump agenda.”
Whitehouse said that Zeldin’s work for right-leaning lobbying groups does “not give me confidence that he will be an honest broker if confirmed to lead the EPA.”
The remarks came shortly after he presented the new committee chair, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., with a gavel crafted from West Virginian wood.
"Madam chair, may you bang it in good health," Whitehouse joked, before adding that he and the chair have "indeed worked well together" and called for future "big bipartisan opportunities for more work together."
Lee Zeldin confirmation hearing begins with Capito's praise
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin's confirmation hearing to be the next Environmental Protection Agency administrator is underway.
In her opening remarks, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., praised Zeldin, saying that he "served the state of New York for 10 years. Throughout his tenure in the House of Representatives, Congressman Zeldin championed critical environmental policies that helped his Long Island district."
Moore also spoke about her meeting with Zeldin ahead of the hearing, where she said he spoke about "his experience and his vision" for the EPA.
The West Virginia senator added that she believes "the EPA must return to its core missions."
"The EPA should also better manage taxpayer dollars," she added. "When the EPA focuses on what it does best, it doesn’t just benefit the environment, it benefits our economic growth."
Scott Bessent to outline economic agenda in hearing with Senate finance panel

Kate Santaliz and Zoë Richards
Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary, will sit for a confirmation hearing at 10:30 a.m. ET with the Senate Finance Committee.
The hearing is expected to run up to three hours, a GOP committee aide said.
Bessent is expected to outline the incoming Trump administration’s economic agenda and give Wall Street its first detailed look at his policy ideas.
"We must secure supply chains that are vulnerable to strategic competitors, and we must carefully deploy sanctions as part of a whole-of-government approach to address our national security requirements," Bessent said in prepared remarks. "And critically, we must ensure that the U.S. dollar remains the world’s reserve currency."
The Senate is likely to confirm Bessent, a newcomer to Washington politics and longtime hedge fund manager, given his strong support among Republicans.
Some Democrats have been outspoken about their opposition to him, with Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the committee's ranking Democrat, expressing concerns about plans for tax cuts and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.,releasing a 31-page letteraddressed to Bessent that included 180 questions for him about topics ranging from taxes to banking oversight and enforcing international sanctions.
Tax policy is likely to be a large focal point of today's hearing, as the Finance Committee will be tasked with writing a sweeping tax bill this year. Questions about the independence of the Federal Reserve, Trump’s tariffs plans and the administration’s approach to the debt ceiling are all also likely to come up.
The Finance Committee will have to vote out his nomination to the full Senate to advance his candidacy.
Confirmation hearings begin for HUD, EPA and Interior nominees
The confirmation hearings have begun for HUD nominee Scott Turner, EPA nominee Lee Zeldin and Interior nominee Doug Burgum.
Housing secretary nominee Eric Scott Turner will face questions from Senate Banking Committee

Kate Santaliz and Zoë Richards
Eric Scott Turner, Trump's pick for housing and urban development secretary, will face questions today from the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee at a confirmation hearing.
The hearing, scheduled for 10 a.m. ET, is expected to run for about two hours, a GOP committee aide said.
Turner, a former NFL player, worked in Trump’s first administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. The main focus of the hearing is likely to be housing policy.
Turner is expected to face questions about his plans to expand affordable housing, efforts to make housing accessible for the homeless and programs for economically distressed communities, known as "opportunity zones."
Turner oversaw Trump’s opportunity zones initiatives as part of the 2017 tax package.
A spokesperson for Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who chairs the committee, said Scott "looks forward to hearing Scott Turner’s vision for reforming our failed federal housing policies to increase access to affordable housing, remove burdensome red tape, and put more Americans on the path towards homeownership.”
The Banking Committee will have to vote out his nomination to the full Senate after today’s hearing to advance his candidacy.
Treasury pick Scott Bessent and Trump transition team deny allegations that he avoided taxes
In a new memo obtained by NBC News, Senate Finance Democratic tax staff found that Scott Bessent avoided over $950,000 of self-employment taxes.
In a review of the Treasury Secretary nominee’s tax returns from 2021, 2022, and 2023 and his financial disclosure form, the committee found that Bessent avoided paying $950,182 of SECA taxes (a tax on net earnings from self-employment as part of financing the social security and medicare trust funds) and SALT taxes (state and local).
Despite IRS and Tax Court rulings that would require Bessent to pay SECA taxes, Bessent told the committee he maintains his position, which is that he was not liable for SECA taxes on income earned through his hedge fund, Key Square Group LP, since he was a “state law limited partner.” The committee argued Bessent was “actively involved” in his partnership at the hedge fund, and therefore, violated the Department of Treasury’s own policies.
Spokespeople for the Trump transition team and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, argued that the allegations that Bessent avoided paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in self-employment taxes while at Key Square Group, and that he used improper deductions are “meritless” and not an accurate interpretation of the tax code.
“Scott Bessent has paid his taxes. After providing thousands of pages of records through an exhaustive process, neither Senator [Ron] Wyden nor his staff are able to provide any evidence that Scott violated the Internal Revenue Code,” a transition spokesperson said in a statement to NBC News.
“Mr. Bessent has followed the law and provided thousands of pages of documentation as part of the committee’s rigorous vetting process," a spokesperson for Crapo told NBC News.
Bessent’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee will begin today at 10:30am.
The allegations in the memo will likely be a line of attack from Democrats at the hearing, where they will argue his positions on his personal tax filings conflict with the very policies of the department he has been selected to lead.
7 takeaways from a jam-packed day of confirmation hearings for Trump’s nominees
Six of President-elect Donald Trump’s big-office nominees facedSenate confirmation hearingsyesterday, previewing a parade of policy and political fights that will define his second term.
The picks —Pam Bondi for attorney general, Marco Rubio for secretary of state, Sean Duffy for transportation secretary, John Ratcliffe for CIA director, Chris Wright for energy secretary and Russell Vought for director of the White House Office of Management and Budget — largely avoided the kind of fireworks that can sink confirmation chances.
Here's what else you missed.
Doug Burgum, once Trump's 2024 rival, likely to have a smooth path to confirmation
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. next Wednesday for Doug Burgum to be interior secretary.
Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota and presidential candidate, has received a warm response from Senate Republicans, especially over his push to increase U.S. energy production.
While his energy positions may clash with stances expressed by Democrats, he’s largely viewed as an uncontroversial choice and may pick up some Democratic support; the top Democrat on the committee, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, put outa positive statement after a meeting with Burgum that highlighted areas of possible bipartisan cooperation on public lands.
As interior secretary, Burgum would play a key role in pushingTrump’s agenda to increase oil, gas and coal production on public lands and have broad authority over oil and gas drilling leases.
Burgum’s hearing, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed this week over delayed paperwork. Heinrich, along with other Democrats on the committee, urged Chairman Mike Lee, R-Utah, to postpone the hearing until the standard documents were made available for review.
Here are the witnesses who will testify about Bondi


Frank Thorp V and Megan Lebowitz
The second day of Bondi's confirmation hearing will feature witnesses called by both Republicans and Democrats to testify about her and her fitness to be attorney general.
Several of the witnesses served in the justice system in Florida, where Bondi was the state attorney general. They include Dave Aronberg, a former state attorney for Palm Beach County; Nicholas B. Cox, a statewide prosecutor in the attorney general's office; and Emery Gainey, a former sheriff of Alachua County.
Other witnesses include Lisa Gilbert, a co-president of Public Citizen, and Mary McCord, who works at the Georgetown University Law Center and previously worked at the Justice Department.
What you missed from Day 1 of Bondi's hearing

+2
Jonathan Allen, Rebecca Shabad and Megan Lebowitz
One of the most consequential moments during Bondi's confirmation hearing yesterday was when she wouldn't say Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.
"President Biden is the president of the United States. He was duly sworn in, and he is the president of the United States," she said.
Bondi also didn't say whether she would investigate Jack Smith, the former special counsel who oversaw federal investigations into Trump.
"I will look at the facts and evidence," she said.
Asked by a senator whether she has had conversations with Trump about using the Justice Department to target his adversaries, she said, "Absolutely not."
Democrats expected to grill Zeldin on climate beliefs and policies
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a confirmation hearing at 10 a.m. on the nomination of Lee Zeldin to be administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The hearing is expected to run about four hours, per a GOP committee aide.
Democrats are expected to grill Zeldin, a former House member from New York, over his environmental policies and comments about climate change. Zeldinhas pledgedto carry out Trump’s campaign promises of restoring U.S. energy dominance and working on rolling back environmental regulations enacted under President Joe Biden that affect the fossil fuel industry.
In the House, Zeldin opposeda handful of climate-related bills. While climate advocates have expressed concerns, he appears to be on a glide path to confirmation, relying on strong Senate Republican support.
What to expect from the second day of Bondi hearing
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold Day 2 of the confirmation hearing for Bondi's expected nomination for attorney general.
Day 2 of the hearing will not hear any more testimony from Bondi, who isn't expected to attend. It will feature outside witnesses who will testify about her character and previous work; the proceedings today are expected to go much faster than yesterday's, which lasted more than five hours.
It was clear yesterday that Republicans are fully behind Bondi’s nomination and, consequently, that the full Senate is likely to confirm her.
It's unclear when the Judiciary Committee will hold a vote to send Bondi’s nomination to the full Senate.