DemDaily: The Confirmation Count!
February 13, 2025
Two of President Donald Trump's most controversial nominees were confirmed this week -- leaving only a handful of key positions left to round out his Cabinet.
Despite widespread public alarm over his lack of qualification and “dangerous and willfully misinformed” views on vaccines, the US Senate today voted 52-48 to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, who is son of the late Robert F. Kennedy and part of the legendary Democratic political family dynasty, has been shunned by his family who opposed his confirmation.
In a January 28 letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, his cousin Caroline Kennedy, a former US Ambassador to Australia and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, called RFK, Jr. a highly unqualified "predator" who "encouraged his siblings and cousins down the path of substance abuse suffered addiction, illness and death.”
Of note was the sole Republican "no" vote by former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a vocal advocate of vaccines who suffered from polio as a child and still suffers health problems related to the illness. "A record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts," said McConnell after the vote.
| The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments which are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. Members of the Cabinet fall in the presidential line of succession and require Senate confirmation. There are also other "Cabinet-level" positions that are determined by the current administration. |
The Republican-controlled Senate also voted 52-48 Wednesday to confirm former Democratic Congresswoman (HI) turned MAGA Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (ODNI),
Gabbard, whom Hillary Clinton once called "a favorite of the Russians," has been highly scrutinized for her friendly stance on the authoritarian dictatorship, as well as Syria.
Her refusal to denounce now exiled former National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden - who she has publicly supported -- a "traitor" became a flashpoint during her hearings, but she was able to dissuade members' concerns.
McConnell, who is no longer bound to his leadership position -- and seems to have developed a conscience -- was again the lone GOP No vote.
Of the half dozen remaining Cabinet/level positions, rightwing conspiracy theorist and former Trump National Security Council advisor Kash Patel is the last contentious nominee but appears headed to confirmation.
Trump's nominee for Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Patel was grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee January 30 and has been referred for a full vote before the Senate.
Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the US Senate, which means a nominee does not need any Democratic votes to achieve the 51 needed for confirmation -- as long as he or she doesn’t lose more than three Republicans.
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Sources: US Senate, AP, NYT, CNN, The Guardian
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