A crucial week for President-elect Trump gets underway in earnest on Tuesday, when his nominees for key posts start going before the Senate committees that will begin to determine their fates.

Beyond the specifics of each hearing, however, the process overall will be a litmus test for the incoming Trump administration. It will shine a light on the president-elect’s fondness for media celebrities and heterodox figures — and it will also be a test of just how firmly he holds the GOP in his grip.

Much of the attention will focus on Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) had originally been scheduled the same day to sit for his hearing as he seeks confirmation to lead the Department of the Interior. But even the comparatively low-wattage Burgum drew pushback from Democrats, who complained about incomplete paperwork. Burgum’s hearing has been pushed back to Thursday.

Among the other Trump nominees who will face Senate........

© The Hill