Treasury nominee Steven Mnuchin’s confirmation hearing will be held Thursday morning, the Senate Finance Committee announced Friday.
The hedge fund manager, Hollywood financier and former Goldman Sachs banker will face questions about his plans for taxes, financial regulation, trade, management of the federal debt and a host of other topics relevant to the top economic post in the administration.
“Mr. Mnuchin is an effective choice to lead our Treasury Department,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the committee’s chairman. “Getting America’s economy back on track is a top priority for this new administration and his wealth of private sector experience will serve him well in this new role.”
Mnuchin’s hearing promises to be among the more contentious for President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks.
Democrats have sought to portray him as responsible for running a “foreclosure machine” for his management of the bank OneWest and have asked that former customers of his testify at the hearing.
“I look forward to asking tough questions about his history of predatory lending and his plans to create prosperity for all Americans, not just the ones at the very top,” said Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the panel.
In ethics disclosures, Mnuchin stated that he would divest from 43 interests if he were confirmed. He is also likely to face questions about potential conflicts of interest: According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, he is worth more than $600 million.
