Flags are draped on the North Portico of the White House, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022, to commemorate September 11, 2001. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

WASHINGTON — The confirmations for President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks are moving at warp speed, with U.S. Senate floor votes for some and appearances for others before Senate panels this week.

Trump’s Cabinet members will be crucial to carrying out his sweeping GOP agenda, which already started bursting out of the floodgates in wide-ranging executive orders the president began signing shortly after taking the oath of office Jan. 20. 

Last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed: Marco Rubio as secretary of State; John Ratcliffe as CIA director; Pete Hegseth as Defense secretary; and former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary.

In a historic vote, Vice President J.D. Vance had to step in Friday to break a tie after Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted against their GOP colleagues to reject Hegseth.

Hegseth, a veteran and former Fox News host, has taken heat for allegations surrounding sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement.

But things could get even more dicey this week in the narrowly GOP-controlled Senate, as multiple Cabinet picks set to testify have raised eyebrows among senators on both sides of the aisle.

Here’s a look at what to expect this week among Trump’s Cabinet picks:

Monday

The U.S. Senate voted Monday night — 68-29 — to make Scott Bessent the next Treasury secretary.  The South Carolinian and hedge fund manager sailed through his confirmation hearing earlier this month.

The Senate also voted 97-0 to advance the nomination of former Wisconsin GOP U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy to serve as Transportation secretary.

More votes may be scheduled through the rest of the week. 

Wednesday

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, will appear before the Senate Committee on Finance.

The environmental lawyer, who has amplified anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, dropped his long-shot independent presidential bid before backing Trump.

Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for Commerce secretary, will appear before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. If confirmed, the billionaire businessman will be pivotal in carrying out Trump’s policies on tariffs.

Kelly Loeffler, the former U.S. senator from Georgia tapped to lead the Small Business Administration, will testify in front of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

The Senate Committee on the Judiciary will determine whether to move Pam Bondi’s nomination to lead the Department of Justice to the full floor. Bondi is the former attorney general of Florida.

Thursday

Some of Trump’s most contentious picks are sure to take heat from senators later this week.

Kash Patel, Trump’s choice to lead the FBI, will appear Thursday before the Senate Judiciary panel. The staunch Trump loyalist and conspiracy theorist previously served in the Justice Department as a federal prosecutor.

Kennedy will also face a second panel of senators Thursday — this time in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The committee shares jurisdiction over the nomination with Finance.

Meanwhile, former Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will sit before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence as she aims to be the director of national intelligence.

Gabbard is perhaps Trump’s most vulnerable nominee. She has faced criticism for her views on foreign policy and meeting with the ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. She’s also faced accusations of amplifying Russian propaganda.

The Senate Budget panel will also vote on whether to move Russ Vought’s nomination to again lead the Office of Management and Budget to the full floor.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will also vote Thursday on whether to advance New York U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik’s bid to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to the full floor.