Here’s what we’re watching in transition world today:
🗓️ What we’re watching
- Defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth is still on the hot seat as more allegations against him continue to trickle in, this time via an NBC News report that his drinking habits have concerned fellow Fox employees “on more than a dozen occasions.” He’s meeting with more senators today and is expected to appear on Fox News.
- While Hegseth fights the nomination headwinds, President-elect Donald Trump is considering a new choice to run the Pentagon: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
- The Trump-Vance transition signed an agreement Tuesday with the Department of Justice allowing the transition team to “submit names for background checks and security clearances” after delaying the signing for weeks.
🚨What’s up with the nominees?
- Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration abruptly withdrew his name from consideration just days after being chosen. Chad Chronister didn’t cite a reason for his withdrawal other than concluding he wanted to continue in his current role as a sheriff in Florida.
- Scott Bessent, Trump’s choice to run the Treasury Department, is planning to meet with incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Sen. John Barrasso later this week.
📝ICYMI: Here are the latest Cabinet picks
- Trump has selected Stephen Feinberg to be his deputy Defense secretary, potentially putting a secretive billionaire financier with no experience in the agency into the Pentagon’s No. 2 job.