WASHINGTON – The 2024 election was divisive and polarizing. These subsequent 4 years are anticipated to be a lot of the identical.
But there could also be choose moments of settlement between political opponents.
Since profitable final month, President-elect Donald Trump and his staff have moved swiftly to arrange for a second time period within the White Home. Controversial picks for Cupboard positions and the choice to launch a brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity headed by Trump-supporting businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, have been scrutinized by Democrats and a few wavering Republicans.
However there are Democrats additionally brazenly favoring sure strikes by the previous and future president because the social gathering appears to be like to have a seat on the desk in a Congress with Republican majorities in each chambers however a razor-thin pink margin within the Home of Representatives.
Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York and Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., have every obtained constructive responses from some Democrats, following their respective nominations by Trump as UN ambassador, labor secretary and secretary of state. And different liberal lawmakers have complimented or stated they’re able to cooperate with Musk and Ramaswamy’s new division.
“I believe there’s at all times areas for bipartisanship,” stated Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who beforehand served in Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Cupboard because the state’s emergency administration coordinator in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bipartisanship isn’t lifeless.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren stated if Musk “needs to alter authorities contracting to chop billions of {dollars} of waste all the way down to the Pentagon finances, depend me in.”
“We’re right here to do work on behalf of the American folks, and our job is to get that performed,” Warren stated Thursday. “And if meaning working with Elon Musk, I am prepared. And if it means preventing Elon Musk, I am prepared.”
The Trump transition staff didn’t reply to a request for touch upon what bipartisanship might appear to be within the subsequent administration.
Democrats give nod to some nominees
A handful of Trump’s picks have already come beneath fireplace, particularly Pete Hegseth, his nominee for secretary of protection. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, consuming on the job and mishandling funds. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., already needed to withdraw from consideration for lawyer normal after dealing with allegations of sexual misconduct.
However some Trump personnel picks might sail by way of the Senate course of with backing from throughout the aisle.
“I’m open to lots of them,” Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., informed USA TODAY. “There’s some that I’m more likely to vote no. And there’s some I’m going to enthusiastically vote sure.”
Stefanik for UN ambassador, Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary and Rubio for secretary of state, he stated, had been all “strong selections.”
In 2017, lots of Trump’s Cupboard picks, together with these to guide the Small Enterprise Administration, Homeland Safety Division and Protection Division, had been confirmed by Democrats. No Democrat rejected all the nominees.
“I voted for lots of the nominees final time who had been extremely certified and had the suitable character and expertise,” stated Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
“As of now, Senator Rubio is somebody I do know nicely, I’ve served with for 14 years, and, relying on the end result of the affirmation listening to, I’d be more likely to help,” he stated.
Trump faucets union-friendly labor secretary
Warren stated in a press release on Tuesday that if Chavez-DeRemer “commits as labor secretary to strengthen labor unions and promote employee energy, she’s a powerful candidate for the job.
Chavez-DeRemer was considered one of three Republican Home co-sponsors of a sweeping pro-union invoice referred to as the Defending the Proper to Set up Act, aimed toward increasing labor protections for people to collectively manage and cut price of their office.
Warren stated it was a “large deal” one of many few Republicans who backed the act was chosen to guide the labor division.
Her pro-union leaning places Chavez-DeRemer in a barely extra unsure place: She might garner help from different Democrats who, like Warren, favor her report. However this might additionally price Chavez-DeRemer with some cautious Republicans.
“She’s considered one of them. She’s pro-union,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told the Washington Post Tuesday. “She checks all of the packing containers for the left.”
Home and Senate welcome DOGE
After Trump tapped Musk and Ramaswamy to move the brand new Division of Authorities Effectivity, or DOGE, aimed toward slicing authorities spending, the Home and the Senate every launched their very own mini caucuses to advertise authorities effectivity.
Moskowitz grew to become the primary Democrat to affix the Home Delivering Excellent Authorities Effectivity Caucus, adopted by Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio. The caucus isn’t a proper committee.
On Wednesday, Moskowitz urged his colleagues to observe swimsuit.
“I believe being on the desk permits us to have a voice, and if there are good concepts, we must always vote for them. If there are dangerous concepts, we must always struggle in opposition to it,” he informed USA TODAY.
He added that if Republicans deal with the caucus significantly, it will probably have “actual influence.”
“In the event that they discover waste and abuse, and we will save billions of {dollars} by maintaining companies the identical for American folks, then we must always help that,” Moskowitz stated. “I imply I don’t assume there’s a single American who’s like, ‘Hey, authorities? Good, don’t contact it.’”
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., stated in a publish on X Thursday he’s additionally “able to work with” Musk and Ramaswamy. To which Musk replied, “A lot appreciated.”
On the Senate aspect, the higher chamber’s most outspoken progressive gave his backing for the brand new division’s mission, particularly in terms of reexamining the Pentagon’s finances.
“Elon Musk is correct,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., wrote on X Sunday. “The Pentagon, with a finances of $886 billion, simply failed its seventh audit in a row. It’s misplaced monitor of billions. Final yr, solely 13 senators voted in opposition to the Army Industrial Advanced and a protection finances filled with waste and fraud. That should change.”
Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., a former Democrat who’s wrapping up his time in Congress after opting to not run for a 3rd time period, informed USA TODAY he believes bipartisanship might be attainable going ahead.
“It’s a traditional factor that ought to be taking place right here extra ceaselessly than it has been up to now,” Manchin stated. “You’re not going to get something performed for those who don’t.”
( headline and story edited by our workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
