Schumer: Dems will slow Trump Cabinet confirmation hearings

Incoming Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says his party will target eight of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks in an attempt to draw out the confirmation process, according to the Washington Post.

Schumer told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that Democrats will target Trump’s picks to head the State, Justice and Education departments, as well as the Office of Management and Budget.

“Any attempt by Republicans to have a series of rushed, truncated hearings before Inauguration Day and before the Congress and public have adequate information on all of them is something Democrats will vehemently resist,” Schumer said in a Sunday statement, according to the newspaper.  

“If Republicans think they can quickly jam through a whole slate of nominees without a fair hearing process, they’re sorely mistaken,” he added, alleging Trump’s picks “would break key campaign promises and have made billions off the industries they’d be tasked with regulating.” 

Schumer said Democrats want at minimum two days of hearings per Cabinet pick, and no more than two choices should face hearings in the same week.

Democrats will also target Trump’s choices to head the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, Treasury and the Environmental Protection Agency.