DemDaily: The Confirmation Count
The Cabinet
Confirmations have slowed down during the past few weeks in Congress as focus shifted to the GOP's failed Obamacare "repeal and replace" legislation, and the ongoing investigations into ties between Trump campaign officials and Russia.
|
The Confirmation Process
|
In addition to the Cabinet and Cabinet-level appointments, there are approximately 1200 positions that require Senate confirmation. Of those, 553 are considered "key" appointments (the number decreased with the Trump Administration's restructuring). Here is an update of where the Cabinet stands.
Total Nominated To-Date: 62
The Confirmation Count
Confirmed by the US Senate
|
Position
|
Confirmed
|
Hearings Completed | Senate Confirmation Vote Date |
Senate Vote Total |
| Secretary of Homeland Security | John Kelly | January 10 | January 20 | 88 in favor 11 against |
| Secretary of Defense | James Mattis | January 12 | January 20 | 98 in favor 1 against (*Gillibrand) |
| Secretary of Transportation | Elaine Chao | January 11 | January 31 | 93 in favor 6 against |
| Secretary of State | Rex Tillerson | January 11 | February 1 | 56 in favor 43 against |
| Secretary of Education | Betsy DeVos | January 17 | February 7 | 50 in favor (+VP tiebreak) 50 against |
| Attorney General | Jeff Sessions | January 11 | February 8 | 52 in favor 47 against |
| Secretary of Health & Human Services | Tom Price | January 18 | February 10 | 52 in favor 48 against |
| Secretary of the Treasury | Steve Mnuchin | January 19 | February 13 | 53 in favor 47 against |
| Secretary of Veterans Affairs | David Shulkin | February 1 | February 13 | 100 in favor 0 against |
| Secretary of Commerce | Wilbur Ross | January 18 | February 27 | 72 in favor 27 against |
| Secretary of the Interior | Ryan Zinke | January 17 | March 1 | 68 in favor 31 against |
| Secretary of Energy | Rick Perry | January 19 | March 2 | 62 in favor 37 against |
| Secretary of Housing & Urban Development | Ben Carson | January 12 | March 2 | 58 in favor 41 against |
| CIA Director (Cabinet-Level) |
Mike Pompeo | January 12 | January 23 | 66 in favor 32 against |
| U.N. Ambassador (Cabinet-Level) | Nikki Haley | January 18 | January 24 | 96 in favor 4 against |
| Small Business Admin (Cabinet-Level) | Linda McMahon | January 24 | February 14 | 81 in favor 19 against |
| Budget Director (Cabinet-Level) | Mick Mulvaney | January 24 | February 16 | 51 in favor 49 against |
| Administrator of the EPA (Cabinet-Level) | Scott Pruitt | February 2 | February 17 | 52 in favor 46 against |
| Directory of National Intelligence (Cabinet-Level) | Dan Coats | February 28 | March 15 | 85 in favor 12 against |
Completed Senate Committee Confirmation Hearings: Pending Full Senate Vote
| Position | Nominee | Committee Hearing Date | Committee Vote Date |
| Secretary of Labor | Alexander Acosta | March 22 | not yet scheduled |
 |
 |
|
Neil Gorsuch |
Remaining Cabinet/Level Nominees: Awaiting Committee Hearing
Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue
US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer
The High Court
The highest profile confirmation still pending, however, is that of Trump's nominee to the US Supreme Court - Neil Gorsuch.
While Republicans are waging a $10 million ad campaign to promote Gorsuch, who completed his four-day confirmation hearings last week, Senate Democrats are contemplating filibustering (an extended debate to delay) the full vote.
In a preemptive strike against a filibuster, however, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has threatened use of the "nuclear option," which would change parliamentary procedure to reduce the number of votes needed to stop a filibuster.
For a rundown on the filibuster and nuclear option processes, see DemDaily: The Nuclear Nomination
As always, DemList will keep you informed.
DemList
Connecting you to The Party
Connecting you to Each Other
Kimberly Scott
Publisher
Pass this on to friends and colleagues to Sign-Up. Help us with a Contribution Today!
Sources: Washington Post, New York Times
