President-elect Trump’s transition team is ratcheting up the pressure on Republican senators to embrace his controversial nominees to head the Justice Department, Health and Human Services, the Pentagon and other key agencies, arguing Trump needs his handpicked team in place as quickly as possible to bring change to Washington.

Republican senators say Vice President-elect Vance is heading the effort to shore up wavering GOP senators who were caught off guard last week by Trump’s most controversial picks, such as former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to serve as attorney general and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

Vance will begin arranging meetings this week between key Republican senators and Gaetz, according to a source familiar with Vance’s plans.

He also will arrange meetings between GOP senators and Trump’s pick to head the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and combat veteran who reached the rank of major in the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Republican senators are feeling mounting pressure to get in line and support Trump’s nominees; colleagues warn they could face primary challengers if they buck the president-elect.

Vance is doing a lot of outreach in the Senate, said one GOP senator who requested anonymity to discuss the behind-the-scenes lobbying effort. “I think he’s worked through the whole Judiciary Committee. He’s calling folks, trying to get a sense of where things are.”

The senator said Vance is urging GOP senators to give Gaetz and Kennedy a “shot,” or at least “hear them out,” before making public statements about their fitness for office.

Two moderate........

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