Two Senate committees had to postpone hearings they had scheduled for Tuesday with nominees for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet because of delays in receiving required background checks and ethics paperwork.
The nominees impacted by the paperwork delays are Doug Collins and Doug Burgum, Mr. Trump’s picks to lead the Veterans Affairs and Interior Departments, respectively. Both submitted their required paperwork in a timely fashion but the Senate has not received reports from federal agencies involved in the background vetting.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican, moved Mr. Collins’ hearing to next Tuesday, Jan. 21 because the FBI has not completed its customary background check of the nominee.
“I expect the FBI to complete its review quickly so that the committee can move forward with its role of evaluating the president’s nominee,” Mr. Moran said.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Mike Lee, Utah Republican, pushed Mr. Burgum’s confirmation hearing to Thursday because the Office of Government Ethics has yet to complete its review of the nominee’s financial disclosure and ethics agreement.
“This bureaucratic delay is unacceptable,” Mr. Lee said, noting he expects OGE to “act with urgency” to complete the review.
SEE ALSO: Burgum confirmation hearing postponed from Tuesday to Thursday amid paperwork delays
Mr. Lee’s announcement came shortly after Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Martin Heinrich of New Mexico led panel Democrats in a letter calling on the chairman to postpone the hearing “for at least a week” so the Senate could receive and review the required documents.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said in floor remarks Monday that getting the background documents “is not trivial, busy work.”
“If these nominees have something to hide, these documents could show it,” he said. “So it’s important we don’t rush to hearings without examining the record first.”
Mr. Schumer accused the Senate Armed Services Committee of rushing Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s nomination with a hearing on Tuesday, despite his FBI background report not being made available to all members of the committee to review.
He said he expects panel Democrats to question Mr. Hegseth about “serious allegations” of excessive drinking, sexual assault and financial mismanagement of organizations he ran. Mr. Hegseth has denied the accusations.
“Unfortunately Mr. Hegseth’s record leaves too many unanswered questions,” Mr. Schumer said. “Let’s hope we get real answers and real documentation before anyone votes for Mr. Hegseth for secretary of Defense.”
• Lindsey McPherson can be reached at lmcpherson@washingtontimes.com.