Long speculated as a potential GOP holdout, Sen. John Curtis said Wednesday that he supports Donald Trump's embattled defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth.

Even though Trump has not officially been inaugurated, the Senate can confirm cabinet members before his Oath of Office.

Pete Hegseth faced an important test on Tuesday — but he didn't just have to prove himself to the senators who immediately began sparring over his nomination as defense secretary.

As Senate confirmation hearings begin, here's the latest on who in the Trump administration has, will or doesn't need to be approved.

As President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in, it remains unclear who will lead the Pentagon and military services after top leaders step down. By Friday, officials hadn't named an acting defense secretary,

Pete Hegseth vowed to foster a "warrior culture" at the Pentagon and be a "change agent." He did not address the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, focusing instead on his combat experience.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of Defense, will answer questions Tuesday in a public hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Jon “Tracer” Treacy, who briefly ran for U.S. Senate as a Democrat in 2019, said Trump’s choice for defense secretary, former television news host Pete Hegseth, lacks the character, experience and integrity to serve in such a crucial role in the government.

Lawmakers will grill the 44-year-old Hegseth and Bondi, 59, before the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, respectively, starting Jan. 14.

The Trump administration will also push to fill the thousands of political appointments across government as soon as possible, another source told Reuters

The goal is to inject political loyalists deep into the workings of government, perhaps more so than any other recent president.

Six of President-elect Trump's appointments will face senators on Wednesday, including Sen. Marco Rubio and Pam Bondi.