Siobhan Hughes

The president-elect is looking to bypass federal institutions to install nominees to major federal posts and shrink the government.

The president-elect is looking to bypass federal institutions to install nominees to major federal posts and shrink the government.

The Trump team is standing by the embattled pick for the top Pentagon job.

WASHINGTON— Donald Trump’s pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration withdrew and his selection for Defense secretary faced growing skepticism from some GOP senators, marking the latest challenges to the president-elect’s efforts to staff his second term’s top positions. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to run the Pentagon, conducted another round of meetings with Republican senators in an effort to quell concerns about his fitness for the post. The former Fox News host has never led a large government agency, but the debate about his qualifications and his opposition to women serving in combat roles have been overshadowed by allegations related to his personal life.

If Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon selection, makes it to a confirmation vote, will Republican lawmakers dare defy the president-elect?

Aides kept meetings short and controlled access, top advisers acted as go-betweens and public interactions became more scripted. The administration denied Biden has declined.

House Republicans prepared a new plan to try to avert a government shutdown at midnight, with Vice President-elect JD Vance and lawmakers huddling in Speaker Mike Johnson’s office.

Dozens in the party rebel against bill that Trump backed after he killed budget deal

The spending-bill setbacks have raised doubts about the future for Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. (PHOTO: JOSE LUIS MAGANA/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Emotional breakdowns in private meetings over the election results. Hand-wringing over whether to attend the inauguration. Clashing over next steps. And a fatigued and frustrated base.