By a vote of 52 to 46, the Senate approved on Friday Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Category: 115th Congress
Trump Announces New Labor Secretary Pick
Today President Trump announced his new pick to head up the Department of Labor. Alexander Acosta, a former Justice Department official and current dean of Florida International University College of Law, is his new pick for labor secretary. The announcement comes one day after Trumps initial pick, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination for the position. Senate Republicans did not have the votes to confirm Puzder, who drew criticism for hiring undocumented workers, failing to pay taxes on their employment, and being accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife (who later dropped the charges).
Mulvaney Confirmed as Head of OMB
Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) was confirmed by the Senate Thursday as Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. John McCain (R-AZ) joined Democrats in opposing Mulvaney’s nomination.
More Movement Seen on Senior Administration Officials Front
Late Monday, recently appointed White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned from his post. The resignation was prompted by what he shared with Vice President Pence about his call with the Russian ambassador to the United States almost immediately following the Presidential election in November.
Flynn had reportedly told Pence that he did not discuss with the ambassador the sanctions levied against Russia by the Obama Administration. The Vice President then publicly supported Flynn’s claim. It was revealed late last week that the subject of the sanctions may have been discussed during the call between Flynn and the ambassador.
On the Cabinet front, Steve Mnuchin, a long-time executive at Goldman Sachs, was confirmed by the Senate mostly along party lines on Monday as the Treasury Secretary. Also on Monday, David Shulkin was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2015, Shulkin was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to head the Veterans Health Administration.
A number of other Cabinet confirmations remain, including those for Secretary of Department of Labor and Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Attorney General Nominee Confirmed
After a very contentious debate on the Senate floor, the chamber voted to confirm Wednesday evening Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) as the next Attorney General of the United States by a vote of 52-47. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of Sessions. Senator Sessions abstained from voting for himself.
The Senate now turns to the nomination of Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) as Secretary of HHS.