After years of attacks on Democrats by MAGA Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is urging his party to use upcoming confirmation hearings to push back. Schumer’s immediate focus is President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for Secretary of Defense, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Politico reported.
In a private meeting with top Democrats earlier this month, Schumer called for a strategic response. “Republicans spent four years attacking the Democratic brand and we need to use the hearings to begin returning the favor,” he reportedly said.
The Senate leader reinforced his stance publicly on Monday during a speech on the Senate floor, where he called Hegseth’s confirmation hearings an “opening salvo to holding the Trump administration accountable.” Schumer specifically pointed to allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking in Hegseth’s background, calling them “deeply troubling.”
Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News weekend co-host, has denied any wrongdoing. However, scrutiny over his record is expected to dominate the hearings. According to Politico, only one top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), has reviewed the FBI’s background check on Hegseth since it was handed to Congress last week.
Reed has expressed continued concerns after meeting with Hegseth, suggesting that the nominee’s past could become a significant issue. “Paperwork delays” have slowed the delivery of background checks and other materials related to Trump’s nominees, creating additional friction in the confirmation process, Politico noted.
Schumer also criticized Republicans for expediting hearings for Trump’s nominees, including Hegseth, accusing them of attempting to rush controversial appointees through the confirmation process. “The American people deserve a full vetting of these individuals who will occupy the most powerful positions in our government,” Schumer stated.
The Armed Services Committee, which begins Hegseth’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday, is expected to delve into the allegations and assess his qualifications for leading the Department of Defense.
For Democrats, the hearings represent not only a test of Hegseth’s fitness for office but also an opportunity to challenge the Trump administration’s approach to governance. Schumer’s remarks signal a shift in strategy, as Democrats aim to hold Trump’s nominees accountable and regain control of the political narrative.