For a second day in a row, the U.S. Senate is weighing President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees for key positions. cabinetinterrogating the candidate’s background and qualifications.

Wednesday was a busy day for the Senate as it held hearings for six Trump nominees, including heavyweights such as Sen. Marco Rubio — who was elected Secretary of State — and Pam Bondi was elected Attorney General.

The hearing comes as congressional Republican leaders hope to get Trump off to a good start in his second term, which begins on Monday.

Top cabinet positions require Senate approval, with 53 seats held by Republicans and 45 held by Democrats.

Still, controversial nominees will need as many votes as possible to succeed in their appointment. Wednesday’s hearing, for example, comes a day after intense litigation in which senators pressed Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegers, over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual assault.

Here are some highlights from Wednesday’s testimony before the Senate.

Rubio flashes hawkish tendencies

During his testimony, RubioThe U.S. senator from Florida has pledged to put America’s interests “above all else” if appointed as secretary of state.

Rubio also displayed a hawkish style of foreign policy, denouncing China as the “biggest threat” facing the United States in the 21st century.

“If we don’t change course, we’re going to live in a world where the things that matter to us every day, from our security to our health, will depend on whether China allows us to have it,” Rubio said.

He added that China had “achieved its status as a global superpower through repression, lying, cheating, hacking and stealing.”

Wednesday’s comments are consistent with Rubio’s typically confrontational approach toward U.S. rivals.

Still, he praised U.S. alliances such as NATO, contrasting with Trump’s own more aggressive posture.

“The NATO alliance is a very important alliance. I believe that,” he said.

“Without the NATO alliance, the Cold War would not have ended. In fact, without the NATO alliance, much of Europe as we know it today would likely have fallen victim to aggression.”

But he echoed Trump’s position that other NATO allies “need to contribute more to their own defense” and rely less on U.S. support.

Ratcliffe pledges no political bias

In a separate hearing, John RatcliffeTrump’s choice to lead the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) assured lawmakers that he would not persecute members of the intelligence community because of insufficient loyalty to Trump.

Ratcliffe said of his goals as CIA director: “We will conduct insightful, objective, all-source analysis and never allow political or personal bias to cloud our judgment or influence our products. “

Ratcliffe is a former federal prosecutor who served as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during Trump’s first term (2017-2021).

Like Rubio, Ratcliffe is expected to go through the confirmation process smoothly. But senators are concerned that top law enforcement officials selected by Trump may seek to use their power for political purposes.

Ratcliffe has previously pledged to “cleanse our national security and intelligence agencies of corrupt elements.”

On Wednesday, he faced direct questions about whether the process would weed out employees based on political preferences.

“Would you or any of your staff put political litmus tests on CIA employees?” asked Senator Angus King.

“No,” Ratcliffe replied. He insisted that firing employees because of their views was “something I would never do.”

Bundy ducks questions from Smith inquiry

Trump’s pick for attorney general is expected to be one of the most controversial, given the president-elect’s long-standing insistence that he will prosecute political opponents during his second term.

That one Bondi She came under scrutiny during Wednesday’s Senate hearing.

She tried to allay those concerns with some of her remarks, insisting that “politics must be taken out of the system.”

“No one should be prosecuted for political purposes,” she added. As attorney general, she will become the federal government’s top prosecutor.

But when asked whether she would investigate specific figures such as the former special prosecutor Jack SmithBundy declined to provide a clear answer.

“It would be irresponsible for me to commit to anything,” she said when asked about Smith, who led two criminal prosecutions against Trump.

Bondi has previously responded to Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen due to massive fraud and voting irregularities.

On Wednesday, she said she would evaluate possible pardons for those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol “on a case-by-case basis.”

Tamiflu will hold Boeing accountable

Sean Duffy, Trump’s pick to be transportation secretary, said in relatively tame testimony that he would look for a way to make electric vehicles (EVs) pay for road maintenance largely funded by gas taxes .

He also asserted boeing companyA top U.S. aircraft manufacturer needs “tough love” to meet adequate safety standards.

“I think we have to make sure they are implementing their safety plans,” Duffy said, adding that the aerospace company needed to “restore global confidence in its brand.”

The comments come as Boeing faces continued scrutiny following an in-flight safety incident in 2024. Fraud TOLL.

“We have to push the (Federal Aviation Administration) to make sure they are implementing their safety programs,” said Duffy, a former lobbyist, television personality and U.S. House member.