Notebook: Policy is people.

It is that in politics, people are policy.

This week, the "policies" of President-elect Trump were presented on Capitol Hill.

The quadrennial tradition of Cabinet nominees visiting the Senate to meet with senators, answer questions, and get a sense of what they want to know about them in a confirmation hearing is underway.

Before Thanksgiving, we received a small portion of information about the meeting between former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz and a group of Republican senators. However, Gaetz later withdrew, and Trump's second pick for attorney general, Pam Bondi, took over.

Grassley's flight delay caused the postponement of Bondi's first meeting with him at the Capitol on Monday, but they eventually talked later in the afternoon.

Grassley, after finally reaching his office in the Hart Senate Office Building, stated, "I am excited to collaborate with you and guide your nomination through the United States Senate."

If I earn the trust and nomination of all senators, I promise to work diligently every day for the American people and make you, the President, and our country proud, as stated by Bondi.

"Will this be simpler than what Mr. Gaetz faced?" inquired I.

"No questions. No questions," ordered Grassley.

Bondi quickly made her way to the Russell Senate Office Building to meet with the current top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., for a caucus.

Graham said she's a great choice, as she's been a long-time friend and is the right person at the right time.

Pete Hegseth may face a more challenging path to Senate confirmation than Bondi.

He had a meeting with Senators Bill Hagerty, Tommy Tuberville, Dan Sullivan, and Sens. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.

"We’re taking it meeting by meeting," said Hegseth.

Hegseth is facing numerous questions about his qualifications to lead the U.S. military, with a multitude of allegations being made against him.

Did you ever get drunk while traveling for work, as asked by Nikole Killion of CBS?

"I won't dignify that with a response," replied Hegseth.

Some of the most conservative members of the Senate, including Sens. Ted Cruz, Cynthia Lummis, Rick Scott, and Mike Lee, have shown support for Hegseth.

"Tuberville stated that the military does not require a general officer, admiral, or high-ranking individual. Instead, what is needed is a drill sergeant to straighten out the military and eliminate the woke and DEI affiliations."

On Tuesday morning, Hegseth met with Senators Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Ted Budd, R-N.C., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.

On Wednesday, there were scheduled meetings with Senators Joni Ernst, John Thune, and Roger Wicker.

Hegseth has also expressed reservations about women serving in combat.

As Hegseth moved between Senate offices, Aishah Hasnie confronted him about the issue.

Hegseth stated, "We have incredible women serving in our military."

"Do you think they should be in combat?" asked Hasnie.

"I think they're already in combat," replied Hegseth.

Elise Stefanik, the United Nations Ambassador nominee, met with Grassley, while Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary nominee, is scheduled to meet with Thune and John Barrasso, the newly appointed Senate Majority Whip.

Linda McMahon, the nominee for Education Secretary, appeared for a meeting with Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., on Tuesday.

The situation is becoming increasingly heated, and it will only intensify with the arrival of FBI nominee Kash Patel and Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. making their office calls.

The upcoming confirmation hearings of Hegseth, Kennedy, and Patel in early January will likely be extensively covered by cable TV channels. However, it may be challenging to decide which hearing to take live, especially if they all occur on the same day.

This week, a powerful pair will visit Capitol Hill, and their presence may draw more attention than any of the cabinet nominees.

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, will be led by former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk, who were tapped by President-elect Trump. They will meet with House and Senate Republicans to discuss their plans to reduce the size of the government. They will begin their efforts by meeting with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who heads the Senate's DOGE Caucus.

"The federal government has a significant amount of waste, according to Ernst, and has already identified over $1 trillion in savings for the DOGE."

Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., was the first Democrat to join the House DOGE Caucus.

"Moskowitz stated that streamlining government processes and reducing ineffective government spending should not be a partisan issue. He urged the caucus to examine the bureaucracy within DHS and recommend making Secret Service and FEMA independent federal agencies with a direct report to the White House."

Democrats demand that Republicans adhere to the rules when it comes to confirmations. They require background checks on nominees and urge the GOP to refrain from allowing Trump to bypass the Senate and install individuals temporarily via recess appointments.

Dick Durbin, the Senate Majority Whip from Illinois, criticized the rapid meetings that Republican senators held with nominees, which led some of them to declare their intention to vote in favor of confirmation.

"The Cabinet of the President of the United States cannot undergo a speed dating process without facing embarrassment and discoveries that can only be uncovered through a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to Durbin. In private, many Republican senators have expressed their opposition to removing the FBI check, emphasizing its importance to the system."

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader from New York, urged Thune to uphold Senate traditions for nominee confirmation.

"The Senate's constitutional mandate is upheld by the advise and consent authority, which is crucial in maintaining America's system of checks and balances. The Founding Fathers recognized the danger of unchecked executives appointing individuals to powerful positions, and this authority serves as a safeguard against such abuses. While Schumer hopes that this issue won't arise, the incoming Republican majority must ensure that the Senate's authority is not undermined."

So this is going to be quite a few weeks.

The next administration's staffing process involves numerous meetings, hearings, and votes.

The Senate, according to outgoing Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is primarily concerned with personnel matters.

The "policy" business is now being discussed in the halls of Capitol Hill.