Senate Republicans Are Quickly Confirming President Trump’s Cabinet

Despite Democrat Delays, the Senate is Confirming Nominees at a Faster Pace Than 2017 and Double the Pace of 2021

DEMOCRATS MADE THEIR STRATEGY CLEAR: “CREATE FIREWORKS” AND SLOW NOMINEES “EVEN IF THEY ARE DESTINED FOR CONFIRMATION”

First, Democrat leaders outlined their strategy: “Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is privately pressing his senators to create fireworks when they question President-elect Trump's nominees in the coming weeks…” (Axios: Scoop: Schumer's plan to fire back at MAGA nominees – 1/8/25)

Then, they put their plan into action: Democrats have “shown that they are willing to use procedural tactics to slow other nominees even if they are destined for confirmation, including forcing time-consuming floor votes on action that is usually done by mutual agreement.” (The New York Times: Democrats Slow G.O.P. Rush to Confirm Trump Nominees – 1/22/25)

Democrats are even stonewalling bipartisan nominations; there have been 10 Cabinet nominees who have been voted favorably out of committee with bipartisan support. (The New York Times: Democrats Slow G.O.P. Rush to Confirm Trump Nominees – 1/22/25; Politico: Senate panel advances Bessent nomination – 1/21/25; U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: DOT Nominee Sean Duffy Clears Commerce Committee Unanimously – 1/22/25; Politico: Energy committee sends Trump's Interior, Energy cabinet picks to full Senate – 1/23/25; Politico: Zeldin clears EPW committee on path to EPA confirmation – 1/23/25; Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio: Tweet – 1/20/25; The Hill: Ratcliffe moves closer to CIA chief confirmation – 1/20/25; U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Chairman Moran Votes to Advance Congressman Doug Collins’ Nomination to be VA Secretary – 1/23/25; The Hill: Senate panel advances Noem nomination for Homeland Security secretary – 1/20/25; U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Risch Statement on Nomination of Representative Stefanik Prior to Floor Vote – 1/30/25)

“With Democrats throwing up every available roadblock, there are a few procedural hoops that Thune and his fellow Republicans will need to jump through…” (Politico Playbook: Playbook: Donny does Davos – 1/23/25)

But even as Democrats have been “slowing the push” to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet nominees, Republicans have been continuing to get President Trump’s Cabinet in place. (The New York Times: Democrats Slow G.O.P. Rush to Confirm Trump Nominees – 1/22/25; Roll Call: Senate GOP plows through Trump nominations as House GOP huddles at Trump club – 1/27/25)

DESPITE DEMOCRAT DELAYS, THE SENATE HAS CONFIRMED MORE CABINET NOMINEES IN 2025 THAN AT THIS POINT IN 2017 AND 2021

The Senate has confirmed eight Cabinet or Cabinet-level nominees, which is ahead of 2017 and double the pace at this point in 2021. (United States Senate: Donald J. Trump Cabinet Nominations – accessed 1/31/25; PN51: Roll Call Vote #33 – 1/24/17; PN43: Roll Call Vote #32 – 1/23/17; United States Senate: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Cabinet Nominations – accessed 1/31/25; PN78-10: Roll Call Vote #3 – 1/20/21)

Marco Rubio was confirmed as secretary of state 99-0. (PN11-13: Roll Call Vote #8 – 1/20/25)

John Ratcliffe was confirmed as CIA director 74-25. (PN11-19: Roll Call Vote #13 – 1/23/25)

Pete Hegseth was confirmed as secretary of defense 51-50. (PN11-7: Roll Call Vote #15 – 1/24/25)

Kristi Noem was confirmed as secretary of homeland security 59-34. (PN11-11: Roll Call Vote #17 – 1/25/25)

Scott Bessent was confirmed as secretary of treasury 68-29. (PN11-1: Roll Call Vote #19 – 1/27/25)

Sean Duffy was confirmed as secretary of transportation 77-22. (PN11-6: Roll Call Vote #21 – 1/28/25)

Lee Zeldin was confirmed as EPA administrator 56-42. (PN11-23: Roll Call Vote #24 – 1/29/25)

Doug Burgum was confirmed as secretary of interior 79-18. (PN11-3: Roll Call Vote #26 – 1/30/25)

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REPUBLICANS WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO GET PRESIDENT TRUMP’S CABINET IN PLACE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

“[L]ike the president, I too want to make sure that we are moving aggressively on getting his noms in place so they can implement his agenda.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)
“We will be in the Senate voting as long as it takes. How long it takes in the Senate is up to the Democrats to decide.” – Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
“If Senate Democrats want to do this the hard way, so be it. We’re going to get President Trump’s team confirmed.” – Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)
“@POTUS has selected well-qualified and accomplished nominees. He deserves to have his team in place.” – Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va)
“The nation deserves a president empowered to do the job they elected him to do. That requires his team everywhere right now. Let’s get it done.” – Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)

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