Schumer: Hearings for Biden Cabinet picks must start before inauguration

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday said that he wants hearings for President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet picks to start in early January, paving the way to start holding confirmation votes on day one.

“Hearings on President-elect Biden’s nominees should begin in January immediately after the Georgia runoff elections,” Schumer said, referring to the two Jan. 5 elections that will determine which party controls the Senate.

Schumer added that the timeline would set up key Cabinet picks to get confirmation votes on the Senate floor on Jan. 20 “and soon thereafter, which is traditional for a new president.”

“The Senate should follow precedent and hold hearings on President-elect Biden’s nominees in January immediately after the Georgia elections, before inauguration,” Schumer said.

The Senate held several hearings before President Trump’s Cabinet picks before his inauguration, though he faced delays, compared with his predecessors, on getting Cabinet votes on the Senate floor.

Trump got only two Cabinet picks confirmed on day one of his administration, compared with six for then-President Obama and seven for then-President George W. Bush.

By Feb. 10, he had seven Cabinet members confirmed compared to Obama’s 12 and Bush’s 14, which was his entire Cabinet.