(WASHINGTON, DC) – Confirmation hearings for many of President-Elect Donald Trump’s nominees for positions within his administration are scheduled to begin this week.
That includes former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, whose confirmation hearing for Secretary of the Interior is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
“The key is to get all the work done so you can get them confirmed immediately upon him being inaugurated,” Senator John Hoeven (R-North Dakota) said. The confirmation itself cannot happen before Trump takes office.
Hoeven said Burgum is scheduled to be the first hearing, but there have been roadblocks.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, issued a statement after Chairman Lee issued a hearing notice of Burgum for consideration as Secretary of U.S. Interior next Tuesday, January 14, without minority consent — a breach of precedent and protocol established over decades by Chairs of both parties.
“We’re trying to make the case that this is what happened four years ago when Biden’s people came up,” Hoeven said. “We’re applying the same standard, so we ought to be able to move forward.”
He said it’s likely that there won’t be any official word about Burgum’s hearing until Monday on whether or not the hearing will happen, or if it will be delayed.
