What to Know in Washington: Noem Faces Senate as Mayorkas Exits

Kristi Noem faces senators Friday on her bid to replace Homeland Security Secretary Alejandor Mayorkas, who has a word of warning for Donald Trump. But first, you should know:

• We’ve got the definitive list of Republicans vying to carry Trump’s water up Capitol Hill.
• Trump’s most embattled Cabinet pick looks to be on the glide path to confirmation.
• Attorney general pick Pam Bondi’s record has criminal justice experts wondering how she’ll approach sentencing and prison reform.

Noem Faces Senate Friday, Mayorkas Exits

Senators Friday begin considering South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), Trump’s pick to replace Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Mayorkas said he spoke with Noem several times since she was tapped for the role and was “very impressed and very pleased with the discussions.” But he’s got word of caution for the incoming administration regarding its plans to double down on immigration enforcement while cutting off legal pathways established during President Joe Biden’s term.

• “Adhering to our values, and that includes extending humanitarian relief to those who qualify, is an important component of a functioning immigration system,” he said in an exclusive interview with BGOV’s Ellen M. Gilmer.

Mayorkas had a grueling tenure leading the department through record border surges, nonstop natural disasters, and two assassination attempts on Trump. But as much as he tried to transcend the fraught border politics that often bog down the job — notching wins on raising workplace morale, combating forced labor, and crafting AI policies — immigration troubles still dominated his time in office.

Republican outrage over record migrant encounters at the southern border ultimately made him the first Cabinet secretary impeached in more than a century, though the Senate later rejected the charges.

• “I don’t find regrets to be productive, but I have learned a great deal,” said Mayorkas, who’s still deciding next steps. “And I hope that what I have learned I have shared with colleagues so that they can drive this department forward.” Read More

Republicans Vie to Carry Trump’s Water

Donald Trump won’t retake the presidency for five days, but the race is on among Republicans to position themselves as his facilitator-in-chief on Capitol Hill.

Bids for Trump’s attention in recent days came in the form of unvarnished messaging bills. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced legislation for the US to repurchase the Panama Canal. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) pitched a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.” And on Monday, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) offered up language to facilitate purchasing Greenland.

To be Trump’s conduit, a member has to have more than loyalty. They have to carry water. Anyone hoping to wield influence will have to ingratiate themselves with the president’s inner circle, manage his shifting expectations, and weaponize clout in Congress to sell Trump’s unconventional ideas to colleagues.

Trump insiders who could bend his ear on Capitol Hill matters include:

• Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) — Trump will need Johnson’s know-how more than ever given the chamber’s razor-thin majority.
• James Braid, who will serve as the White House director of legislative affairs. Braid served as then-Sen. JD Vance’s (R-Ohio) deputy chief of staff, legislative liaison for the Office of Management and Budget, and policy director for the House Freedom Caucus.
• There’s also incoming Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, who lobbied the White House, Congress, and federal agencies for more than 42 clients.
• Another emerging player is Vince Haley, who’ll lead the White House Domestic Policy Council. Haley is a former speechwriter from the first Trump White House under Stephen Miller.
• Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) — Trump “values his opinion and will pay attention to what he says,” one lobbyist said of Mullin, adding he has a “really good perspective but he’s also not crazy.” Read More

Read BGOV’s Congress Tracker for our breakdown of lawmakers’ agenda and the politics driving it.

Hegseth Confirmation on Course

Donald Trump’s Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth appears on course to win confirmation after a half-day Senate hearing, even after fielding hard questions from Democrats over alleged character flaws.

Republicans led by Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (Miss.) rallied around Hegseth, who dismissed accusations of past alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement of veterans groups as “anonymous smears.”

Wicker endorsed Hegseth as an “unconventional” nominee, adding that “civilian leadership of the Pentagon under the administration of both parties” often hasn’t been “up to the challenge.” Hegseth can win confirmation without Democratic votes unless four or more Republicans vote no. Key vote Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) — a military veteran and rape survivor — signaled she’s resolved doubts about Hegseth’s past opposition to women serving in combat and whether he’d crack down on sexual assaults in the military.

Ernst stressed “that every man and woman has opportunity to serve their country in uniform and do so at any level as long as they meet the standards that are set forward,” said Ernst. Hegseth agreed. “My answer is yes, exactly the way you caveated it” provided that “standards remain high” — a reference to policies on diversity and other initiatives he says lowered standards and harmed the force’s readiness. Read More

From Capitol Hill

Federal Workers Need Annual Approval to Telework Under GOP Bill

Federal office workers would need written permission each year to work from home part-time under a bill announced Tuesday by a key Senate Republican.

GOP Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill to Scrap FTC Antitrust Mandate

Republican Rep. Ben Cline (Va.) is continuing a legislative push to strip the Federal Trade Commission of its role overseeing competition in the economy and to house federal antitrust enforcement solely inside the Department of Justice.

New IRS Tool for Free Digital Tax Filing Targeted in GOP Bill

Republicans in Congress are floating legislation that would halt the IRS’s new free digital tax-filing tool, the latest volley in efforts by the GOP and private-sector tax preparers to roll back the service.

House Aviation, Rail Panels Get New Chairs for 119th Congress

The House subcommittees overseeing aviation and railroads will have new leaders this Congress as they respond to recent train derailments and plane near-misses.

BGOV Webinar: What’s Ahead in the 119th Congress

Republicans plan to leverage their control of the House, Senate, and White House to advance their policy priorities as the 119th Congress gets to work.

BGOV OnPoint: Trump Tax Law in Spotlight as GOP Preps Renewal

Extending the 2017 GOP tax cuts is a key priority for Republicans this year, but leaders must navigate competing policy priorities, budget rules, and slim majorities in Congress. A new BGOV OnPoint highlights the dynamics to watch in this year’s tax debate.

The Trump Transition

World Girds for Trump Tariffs Even Before His White House Return

Donald Trump’s inauguration promises to usher in an era of upheaval in global commerce, forcing governments around the world to scramble in preparation for a tariff onslaught even before he’s back in the White House.

Biden to Tout Job Growth, Legacy in Farewell Before Trump Return

President Joe Biden will cast his presidency as an economic turnaround in his farewell address to the nation, looking to define his legacy after his party’s election defeat and as polls show his popularity at fresh lows.

Trump Nominates Sonderling for No. 2 Spot at Labor Department

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Keith Sonderling, a former Republican commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, to serve as the number two at the US Department of Labor.

Scott Bessent Pulls Off a MAGA and Wall Street Tightrope Act

Scott Bessent wasn’t a familiar name in Republican political circles before Donald Trump nominated him to be Treasury secretary. “You know Scott Bessent?” Trump asked his guests from the stage of a reception this month at Mar-a-Lago. “Nobody heard of this guy.”

Trump’s Transport Pick Vows to Cut Red Tape, Prioritize Safety

Donald Trump’s choice to lead the US Transportation Department plans to tell lawmakers that he’ll cut red tape slowing big infrastructure projects if confirmed for the role, according to remarks he’s set to deliver during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

Trump’s Pick for Energy Secretary Vows to ‘Unleash’ US Expansion

Donald Trump’s choice for Energy secretary said the US must remove bureaucratic barriers and “unleash” production of nuclear power as well as liquified natural gas, according to written testimony before his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

Bondi’s Clemency Shift Opens Questions on Trump Criminal Justice

As Florida attorney general last decade, Pam Bondi played a central role restricting voting rights for felons and served on a state board that sparingly granted inmates second chances.

Musk Accused by SEC of Cheating Twitter Holders Out of Millions

Elon Musk cheated Twitter shareholders out of more than $150 million by waiting too long to disclose his growing stake in the company as he prepared a takeover bid, the US Securities and Exchange Commission claimed in a lawsuit filed days before the Trump administration takes over.

Coinbase Ruling Will Let Trump’s SEC Clarify Its Crypto Stance

The SEC’s days of policing the cryptocurrency industry without formal rules are waning after a federal appeals court instructed the agency to provide a better rationale for rejecting Coinbase Global Inc.’s request for crypto-specific rulemaking.