So far, the only nominees known to have filed complete 278s and signed ethics agreement letters are Senator Jeff Sessions, Mr. Trump’s choice for attorney general, whose hearing is set for Tuesday; Rex Tillerson, the Exxon chief picked as secretary of state, whose hearing is scheduled for Wednesday; and Mike Pompeo, the nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency, whose hearing is also set for Wednesday. Most of the rest have filed incomplete disclosures, have not yet signed ethics agreement letters or have submitted nothing at all.

A hearing is scheduled on Wednesday for Betsy DeVos, the billionaire education lobbyist named to be education secretary, whose disclosures are woefully incomplete. Hearings for Elaine Chao, Mr. Trump’s choice for transportation secretary; Gen. John Kelly, for homeland security secretary; Ben Carson, for housing secretary; and Wilbur Ross, for commerce secretary are also scheduled for next week.

The Trump team’s failures could be the result of disorganization — or a lack of familiarity with the rules. Mr. Trump himself has not set an inspiring example. The ethics office is reportedly working with his lawyers to encourage him to do what the law demands of his cabinet: divest and enter office free of conflicts. He is the only incoming president in modern history who has refused to do so.

For his nominees to do the same would be a serious violation of the public trust, and would potentially violate the law.

Confirmation hearings should be postponed until the Senate has all the information it needs to conduct responsible votes on the people Mr. Trump has chosen to lead the federal government.