Why most of Trump's Cabinet picks will get confirmed by the Senate

Senate will likely confirm nearly all of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees and picks for other key positions, writes Aaron Miller .

Miller : Nominees face more opposition nowadays, but rarely from the president's party, Miller says.

With 53 senators in the next Congress , Republicans can afford up to three defections and still win votes via Vice President-elect's tiebreaking vote.

Julian Zelizer : In the past, the Senate mostly deferred to the president's prerogative.

Zelizer says growing power of the president and the executive branch grew at the expense of Congress .

He says polarization of political parties and polarization of the Senate has led to a shift in Cabinet -level nominations.

In this environment, nominations for Cabinet posts take longer and face more opposition than once did.

Trump 's Cabinet -level nominees will face substantial opposition in the Senate .

With 53 seats in the next Senate , the GOP is well positioned to do Trump 's bidding.

Ernst expressed a more favorable view of Hegseth 's nomination, but Ernst is also up for reelection in red-leaning Iowa in 2026 .