Why It Matters

The Senate Finance Committee held an commissioner hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to consider five bipartisan nominees for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), a move aimed at restoring the agency to full operational capacity after extended vacancies. All five nominees cleared standard confirmation questions without controversy, signaling smooth passage ahead.

The Trump administration prioritized filling these seats. The ITC has not had a full complement of commissioners for an extended period, hampering its ability to investigate trade violations and adjudicate import injury cases. Restoring the agency to strength aligns with the administration's trade-enforcement agenda.

The Big Picture

The hearing addressed a years-long vacancy problem at the independent trade agency. Two of the five nominees, David Foley Jr. and Brett Doyle, were nominated in January 2026. The remaining three, Peter-Anthony Pappas, Bartholomew Thanhauser, and Samuel Negatu, were nominated on June 1, 2026.

The ITC has a statutory requirement for bipartisan composition. This slate reflects that mandate: three Republicans and two Democrats. The nominations represent an effort to ensure the agency can function at full strength.

Who's Being Nominated: Backgrounds and Expertise

  • David Foley Jr. of Virginia, the Republican nominee, has worked for Rep. Darrell Issa since 2023 in multiple roles, initially as a senior advisor and currently as chief counsel. He brings deep intellectual property expertise, having worked on artificial intelligence problems and site blocking enforcement across both chambers of Congress.
  • Brett Doyle of Connecticut, also a Republican nominee, currently serves as assistant U.S. trade representative for congressional affairs. He previously held the post of senior director for congressional affairs at the U.S. Trade Representative office and served as an associate administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Doyle is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and Lafayette College.
  • Peter-Anthony Pappas of New Jersey, a Republican nominee, is the director of IP policy on Senator Thom Tillis's judiciary team. He came to Tillis's office in 2022 as a detail from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he spent 20 years. Pappas started as a patent examiner for 3D graphics and animation and rose to supervisory patent examiner and branch chief at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. As special advisor at the USPTO, he helped manage a $4 billion agency with 15,000 employees.
  • Bartholomew Thanhauser of New York, a Democratic nominee, is a career civil servant who has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations. He currently serves as the Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Thanhauser brings expertise in trade policy, including trade enforcement and remedies. He served as a Brookings legislative fellow in Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto's office in 2025, where he worked on critical minerals and agriculture issues.
  • Samuel Negatu of the District of Columbia, the second Democratic nominee, appeared before the committee to complete the bipartisan slate.

What They're Saying

All five nominees answered standard confirmation questions uniformly and without hesitation. When asked whether anything in their background presented a conflict of interest, all answered no. When asked whether they knew of any reason preventing them from fully discharging the responsibilities of the office, all answered no.

The nominees committed to transparency and accountability. All agreed to respond to any reasonable summons to appear and testify before Congress if confirmed. All committed to providing prompt written responses to questions from any Senator on the committee.

The atmosphere was collegial. Rep. Darrell Issa, speaking on behalf of Foley, noted it was against his self-interest to introduce Foley for the ITC position because he would rather keep him as his chief counsel—a light moment underscoring confidence in the nominee.

Sen. Thom Tillis stated that Peter-Anthony Pappas has worked across the aisle on bipartisan intellectual property (IP) issues, emphasizing his collaborative approach. The IP policy community holds the two IP-focused nominees, Foley and Pappas, in high regard, according to IPWatchdog.

No senator raised objections or pressed nominees on contentious trade or intellectual property disputes. The hearing proceeded as a straightforward vetting exercise, with members asking about backgrounds, experience, and commitment to the position.

Political Stakes

For the nominees themselves, confirmation appears likely. The bipartisan composition and smooth hearing suggest neither party sees political risk in the slate. All five are expected to advance to a full committee vote.

For the Trump administration, confirming these nominees fulfills a core trade-policy objective. The ITC conducts trade-related investigations and adjudicates import injury cases, critical functions for an administration focused on trade enforcement. Staffing the agency fully enables it to handle caseloads and investigations more effectively.

For the Senate Finance Committee, the hearing represents progress on a long-stalled priority. The committee's jurisdiction over trade and tariff policy makes ITC appointments a key responsibility. Clearing five nominees at once signals the committee is addressing institutional capacity gaps.

For the broader trade policy community, restoring the ITC to full strength has practical implications. Exclusion orders issued by the ITC can be more commercially potent than damages awards in district court, according to IAM Media. A fully staffed commission can process cases more quickly and ensure the agency fulfills its statutory mandate.

The Bottom Line

Five bipartisan ITC commissioner nominees cleared their Senate Finance Committee hearing without controversy, positioning them for confirmation and restoring the trade agency to full operational capacity.

The nominees are now positioned for a full committee vote. No timeline was announced at the hearing, but the smooth proceeding suggests the committee could move quickly. Once the Finance Committee approves the slate, nominations advance to the full Senate floor for consideration.

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