Wave of Senate Confirmation Hearings Begins: Inaugural Update

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Blue lights are beamed into the sky over the "Field of Flags" on the grounds of the National Mall at night near the U.S. Capitol ahead of the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. After planning a scaled-back inauguration celebration for President-elect Joe Biden due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Mall has been closed down entirely to all spectators due to security concerns following the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg
Blue lights are beamed into the sky over the "Field of Flags" on the grounds of the National Mall at night near the U.S. Capitol ahead of the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. After planning a scaled-back inauguration celebration for President-elect Joe Biden due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the National Mall has been closed down entirely to all spectators due to security concerns following the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol. Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Five of President-elect Joe Biden’s cabinet picks have their confirmation hearings on Tuesday.

There is one day until Biden’s swearing in.

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Five Biden Cabinet Picks Have Confirmation Hearings

The day before his inauguration, five of Biden’s cabinet nominees have their confirmation hearings before Senate committees.

Janet Yellen, the former Fed chair who was picked to lead the Treasury Department, will face questioning from the Finance Committee at 10 a.m. EST. At the same time, Biden’s pick to be director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, will appear before the Intelligence Committee, and Alejandro Mayorkas, tapped for the Department of Homeland Security, will testify to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs panel.

Afternoon hearings on Tuesday include retired General Lloyd Austin, Biden’s choice to lead the Defense Department, and Antony Blinken, his nominee for secretary of state.

Despite hearings beginning before Wednesday’s inauguration, Biden is expected to take office with a cabinet made up largely, if not entirely, of acting secretaries. The confirmation hearings have to be followed by committee votes before the nominations go to the floor of the Senate.

Working to Biden’s advantage: the Senate will shift to Democratic control after Biden becomes president and new senators from Georgia and California are sworn in. At that point, tie breakers in the Senate, which will be divided equally between Republicans and Democrats, will be cast by Vice President Kamala Harris. --Bill Faries