Senators on Thursday pressed some of President-elect Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks on his central campaign promises, critical natural disaster relief and more.
Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum, proposed Environmental Protection Agency director Lee Zeldin, Treasury secretary nominee Scott Bessent and Housing secretary nominee Scott Turner all went before lawmakers. After fiery faceoffs earlier in the week, they were asked in calmer hearings about the nation’s economy and readiness for natural disasters.
Bessent would be Trump’s point person on GOP priorities such as tax cuts and tariffs. Meanwhile, Burgum and Zeldin would both have sway over the Trump administration’s energy policy, a cornerstone of the president-elect’s reelection bid.
Here are USA TODAY’s top takeaways from the hearings.
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Trump often talks about implementing tariffs on foreign goods, deploying them during his first term and promising more in a second administration.
“The word tariff, properly used, is a beautiful word – one of the most beautiful words I’ve ever heard,” Trump told a crowd of Georgia supporters in September. “It’s music to my ears.”
Bessent, a prominent hedge fund manager, said Americans should think about tariffs in three ways under Trump: A negotiating tactic, a tool to remedy “unfair trade practices” and a way to raise revenue.
But some lawmakers are nervous about mores tariffs.
Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., told Bessent that tariffs on Canadian goods could strike the economy in his New England state.
“What reassurance can we get from the Trump administration that there’s going to be a do-no-harm policy to American consumers and Vermont workers and small businesses with a tariff policy?” Welch asked.
Bessent argued Trump is sensitive to the needs of “working America,” but he admitted to lawmakers it’s “very difficult for me to isolate Vermont especially.”
On the other side of the aisle, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., raised concerns about the impact of tariffs on U.S. farmers
“Overuse of tariffs can inflate costs and provoke trade retaliation,” Young told Bessent. “As Hoosier farmers have experienced first hand over the years, they often bare the impact.”
Trump’s plans to impose massive tariffs and deport millions of immigrants who lack permanent legal status are likely to reignite inflation and dampen economic growth, according to forecasters.
Yet his pledge to extend and expand the sweeping tax cuts passed in his first term and ease the regulatory burden on businesses could juice the economy and have mixed effects on inflation.
Trump has promised to expand oil production in the U.S., and he’ll lean on Burgum to help. The former North Dakota governor told senators he believes America has reached an energy crisis, but he also believes climate change exists.
Republicans like West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice, who owns a coal mining business, told Burgum energy is “a key that opens every door.”
Democrats like Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, pointed to testimonies previously given by former Secretaries of Defense James Mattis and Chuck Hagel. They said climate change is a national security threat that affects areas where troops are stationed.
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“Within fossil fuels, the concern has been about emissions, and within emissions, we have the technology to do things like carbon capture to eliminate harmful emission,” Burgum said.
More:What is carbon capture and how does it work? Inside the process that could slow global warming
“You have military leaders who acknowledge that climate change is a major issue,” Hirono shot back. “For you to take the position that you’re going to engage in active actions that will result in the burden of burning more fossil fuel, it’s troubling.”
Zeldin was also questioned about climate change.
“Do you agree with President-elect Trump that climate change is a hoax?” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., asked.
Zeldin replied that he believes climate change is real, before defending his potential future boss.
“As far as President Trump goes, the context that I have heard him speak about it was with a criticism of policies that have been enacted because of climate change,” Zeldin said. “And I think that he’s concerned about the economic costs of some policies where there’s a debate and a difference of opinion between parties.”
“I would respectfully disagree with you,” Sanders said.
California wildfires have left 25 dead and thousands of schools, businesses and other structures destroyed in the Greater Los Angeles area. Lawmakers asked Trump’s nominees about the blazes during Thursday’s hearings.
Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., opened their remarks by addressing the fires. Lee directed Burgum that, if he’s confirmed, addressing wildfires that shocked Western states should be a “very key priority” for the country’s future.
Elsewhere, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., questioned Zeldin on his willingness to advocate for Californians affected by the Los Angeles-area wildfires fires. Trump and certain House Republicans have signaled their interest in placing conditions on disaster aid for California, amid tense relations between the president-elect and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“I assume, Mr. Zeldin, your response will not depend on whether disaster strikes a red state or a blue state, you will equally work to speed relief to those Americans affected?” Schiff asked.
“Yes, senator,” Zeldin replied. The potential Trump pick vowed he would “do everything in my power to be able to assist” devastated communities.
Trump’s signature achievement during his first administration was a massive tax cut.
Some of those tax cut provisions expire at the end of 2025. Trump wants to extend them and has promised new cuts, including ending taxes on tipped wages and Social Security payments.
Bessent said extending the Trump tax cuts is the single most important economic issue of the day.
“This is pass- fail, that if we do not fix these tax cuts, if we do not renew and extend, then we will be facing an economic calamity,” he said.
Bessent was also asked about everything from increasing the federal minimum wage to capping credit card interest rates and increasing economic sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
Bessent said he doesn’t support increasing minimum wage nationally. He argued it’s a step that should be taken by states instead.
Later, he was open to increasing sanctions on Russia.
“If any officials in the Russian Federation are watching this confirmation hearing they should know that if I’m confirmed, and if President Trump requests as part of his strategy to end the Ukraine war, that I would be 100% on board for taking sanctions up,” Bessent said.
Contributing: Paul Davidson
