Ivan Pereira, ABC News; Trump's controversial Cabinet picks raise questions about lower ethical standards
"Queen said there is a possibility that some Republican senators may put ethics before partisanship when all is said and done.
"It's not unreasonable to assume that there are a number of senators who realize there will be consequences of their choices and their decisions that it will be bad for the country as a whole," he said.
In the long term, Hanson said it is unclear if Trump's selections will usher in a new norm of presidential picks who buck ethics and experience standards.
He noted that American history has shown several cycles of reform brought on by demand of a public frustrated with dysfunction and improper behavior, such as in the aftermath of the Nixon administration in the 1970s.
"Now that they see what is happening, they may be reminded what the Trump presidency was like the first time around," he said of Americans who supported him. "There may be a bunch of people who say this is not what I voted for, and that could affect things tremendously."
Spinner-Halev said the future will depend on how informed the public is over the next four years.
"There is a lot that happens in Washington that's not in the public eye, and I think it's important that the public keeps an eye on the bureaucratic ongoings," he said."
