Pam Bondi Replaces Gaetz As Trump's U.S. Attorney Pick

CBS News correspondent Scott MacFarlane joined News On 6 at 4 to provide an update on the latest developments in the transition of former President Donald Trump, as well as the ongoing challenges with disaster relief funding in Congress.

Pam Bondi Tapped for U.S. Attorney Role

MacFarlane noted that Trump has turned to former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to take over the U.S. Attorney role after Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration.

"Pam Bondi has been in that close circle of Donald Trump's for many years now," MacFarlane said. "If her name sounds at all familiar, and it may just to some people, it's because she was one of the defense attorneys who represented Donald Trump at his first impeachment trial before the U.S. Senate."

MacFarlane explained that Bondi's appointment has not faced the same level of pushback as Gaetz's nomination.

"There was not quite the kickback or firestorm, that there was when Matt Gaetz was chosen some days ago for that role, and so many Republican senators were equivocating about Matt Gaetz failing to give a full-throated defense," said MacFarlane. "And one of the local senators, Mark Wayne Mullen, who has a history of being quite critical of Matt Gaetz, was among those who just would not vocally champion the idea."

Concerns Raised Over Other Appointments

MacFarlane also addressed concerns over some of Trump's other high-profile appointments, such as Fox News host Pete Hegseth being tapped to lead the Department of Defense.

"There have been some initial concerns. Hegseth has very little experience to be manning such a difficult post," MacFarlane said. "There also, over the past 48 hours, where discussions about a 2017 allegation of sexual misconduct in Monterey, California, Hegseth, while at the Senate yesterday, said he's been fully exonerated of that, but it seems certain from the senators with whom we're speaking, he will face questions publicly at those confirmation hearings about sexual improprieties."

Disaster Relief Funding Gridlock

MacFarlane also highlighted the growing crisis surrounding the depletion of federal disaster relief funding, which ran out in October.

"There are 10s of 1000s of homeowners and businesses impacted by tornadoes, storms, wildfires, and hurricanes who cannot get their applications for funding approved indefinitely," MacFarlane said. "This is the kind of money you get from Washington to help you rebuild a house, rebuild a business, pay the bills when you lose your service for weeks or months after a disaster."

With Congress gridlocked and unable to refund the program, MacFarlane warned that the backlog of applicants will only continue to grow.

"There's no date certain for when they're going to end this standoff, and as of mid-October, the disaster loan fund for homeowners and small businesses is gone. It is depleted."