“I'm very concerned about who it’s going to be, but the mandate of the election is people want change,” Grassley said. “Pete starts out with things that he says he knows is wrong with the (U.S.) Defense Department and he's going to change them, and that's the mandate with everything in government that Trump received in the last election.”

Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters that Trump’s cabinet picks align with who voters chose in the election, though Grassley did not publicly say how he plans to vote.

Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley told reporters that Trump’s cabinet picks align with who voters chose in the election, though Grassley did not publicly say how he plans to vote

A key Republican has announced that she will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth, likely solidifying his chances to become the next Secretary of Defense. Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernest declared that she will be voting to confirm Hegseth, a crucial endorsement for a nomination that seemed to be on shaky ground a few weeks ago.

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa questioned Donald Trump's secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth about his beliefs about women in the military during his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Trump's got the bullhorn now to say, ‘MAGA nation is watching,’” said outgoing Dallas County Republican Party Chair Kelley Koch.

President Donald Trump has kicked off his second term with a flurry of executive actions on immigration, the economy, DEI and more. Federal agencies are being directed to place all employees working on DEI programs and initiatives to be put on paid administrative leave by Wednesday at 5 p.m.

President Trump has signed an executive order sending 1,500 additional troops to the southern border, building off the actions he signed on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced to reporters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators returned to the Capitol Monday for a late-evening session pushing ahead on President Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, with voting possible to confirm Sen. Marco Rubio as the nation’s secretary of state on Inauguration Day.

Pete Hegseth’s ex-sister-in-law sent an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding his nomination.

The Senate has confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving President Donald Trump the first member of his Cabinet.

Though Trump started off his first full day as president by unceremoniously firing four prominent appointees from Biden’s administration, several of them pushed back on his characterization of events.