Senate confirmation process explained as Trump announces Cabinet nominees

President-elect Donald Trump is selecting his Cabinet ahead of his inauguration, with several nominees announced, including Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Kristi Noem for homeland security secretary. These individuals must be confirmed by the Senate. The Senate confirmation process involves hearings in relevant committees, where nominees are questioned about their qualifications and policies. After the hearings, the committee votes, followed by a Senate-wide vote requiring a simple majority for approval. Trump has indicated a desire to use recess appointments to bypass the Senate confirmation process, allowing him to fill vacancies quickly. This approach was previously used during his first term when some nominees withdrew from consideration.