Trump’s Cabinet picks are posing the biggest early test for Congress. While Trump’s choice of Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., for secretary of state is expected to have somewhat broad support, including from Democrats, others like Kennedy, Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence and Pete Hegseth as defense secretary are raising more scrutiny.

Experts say the president-elect, in pushing for recess appointments, is asking the Senate to abdicate its constitutional duty to confirm or reject executive branch nominees.

President-elect Donald Trump is setting up a test for the new Republican-led Senate on controversial cabinet appointments. They're preparing to stand their ground. Trump did not get involved in the chamber's high-stakes Republican leadership election Wednesday,