Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSROOM | Republican LeaderSkip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELL×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUFacebookTwitterInstagramFacebookTwitterInstagramVisit Senator McConnell's site here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board02.13.25Senate Republicans Continue Pushing Past Democrats to Confirm President Trump’s NomineesDemocrat Delays Notwithstanding, The Senate’s Cabinet Pace Is Faster Than 2017 and More Than Double That of 2021 (Click here to download)THE SENATE HAS CONFIRMED MORE CABINET NOMINEES IN 2025 THAN AT THIS POINT IN 2017 AND MORE THAN DOUBLE FROM 2021The Senate has confirmed 16 Cabinet or Cabinet-level nominees, which is faster than in 2017 and more than double the pace of 2021. (United States Senate: Donald J. Trump Cabinet Nominations – accessed 2/13/25; 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 2/13/25; 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)Chris Wright was confirmed as secretary of energy 59-38. (PN11-15: Roll Call Vote #30 – 2/3/25)Doug Collins was confirmed as secretary of veterans affairs 77-23. (PN11-5: Roll Call Vote #32 – 2/4/25)Pam Bondi was confirmed as attorney general 54-46. (PN11-2: Roll Call Vote #33 – 2/4/25)Scott Turner was confirmed as secretary of housing and urban development 55-44. (PN11-14: Roll Call Vote #35 – 2/5/25)Russell Vought was confirmed as director of the Office of Management and Budget 53-47. (PN11-22: Roll Call Vote #37 – 2/6/25)Tulsi Gabbard was confirmed as director of national intelligence 52-48. (PN11-16: Roll Call Vote #50 – 2/12/25)Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as secretary of health and human services 52-48. (PN11-8: Roll Call Vote #52 – 2/13/25)Brooke Rollins was confirmed as secretary of agriculture 72-28. (PN11-12: Roll Call Vote #53 – 2/13/25)In 2017, the Senate did not have 16 Cabinet nominees confirmed until March 1. In 2021, it took the Democrat-led Senate until March 10 to confirm 16 of President Biden’s Cabinet nominees. (United States Senate: Donald J. Trump Cabinet Nominations – accessed 2/13/25; PN43: Roll Call Vote #32 – 1/23/17; PN51: Roll Call Vote #33 – 1/24/17; PN48: Roll Call Vote #65 – 2/14/17; PN54: Roll Call Vote #68 – 2/16/17; PN44: Roll Call Vote #71 – 2/17/17; United States Senate: Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Cabinet Nominations – accessed 2/13/25; PN78-10: Roll Call Vote #3 – 1/20/21; PN78-21: Roll Call Vote #64 – 2/23/21; PN78-17: Roll Call Vote #72 – 3/2/21; PN78-16: Roll Call Vote #116 – 3/10/21)“The Senate is on track to confirm President Donald Trump’s Cabinet [secretaries] at a pace not seen since 2001 at the start of the George W. Bush administration.” (The Washington Post: Tweet – 2/13/25)DEMOCRATS ARE RESPONDING WITH A MIX OF OBSTRUCTION, ANGER, AND DELUSION“About 10 days ago, Schumer was on a private call with governors, who urged him to unify senators in fighting back against Trump’s nominees. The fact that some of Trump’s cabinet nominees received Democratic votes angered many in the party.” (The Wall Street Journal: Democrats in Disarray as Trump Pushes Through Agenda – 2/11/25)“In an interview, Schumer said the governors wanted senators to vote ‘no’ on all nominees. ‘Some of my caucus didn’t want to do that, but basically I agreed with [the governors] and said, I’m going to urge people to vote no on every nominee, and we’re going to work hard…’” (The Wall Street Journal: Democrats in Disarray as Trump Pushes Through Agenda – 2/11/25)Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) called for Senate Democrats “to make things hotter,” and acknowledged that “there are people who are angry at Democrats.” (Politico: ‘Blow this place up’: Frustrated Democrats want the Senate to fight harder – 2/5/25)“‘This is not business as usual, and Senate Democrats should not be treating this as business as usual,’ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said in an interview. ‘We need to see a halt on all Trump nominees,’” and “urged Democrats to ‘blow this place up.’” (Politico: ‘Blow this place up’: Frustrated Democrats want the Senate to fight harder – 2/5/25)WHAT’S NEXT? MORE CONFIRMATION VOTES“What’s next: The Senate will consider… Howard Lutnick for commerce secretary and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) for small business administrator. Thune said he’ll keep pressing for quick action on these nominees...” (Punchbowl News AM: Budget battles: Why Arrington and Graham are so different – 2/12/25)“The president has, the American people handed him a decisive mandate… It’s important we honor that mandate by confirming his nominees as quickly as possible. It hasn’t been easy. Some of these you have to grind through it. But we have to make sure he and his team have the tools and support they need to do the things he committed to doing…” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)“The Senate is wasting no time confirming Trump’s nominees so they can get to work for the American people.” – Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.)“Democrats are really trying all the maneuvers they can to postpone these.” – Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.)“We’re getting @realDonaldTrump’s nominees confirmed. The American people back the Trump agenda—it’s time for Democrats to stop the obstruction and help us clean up this mess.” – Sen. Ashley Moody (R-Fla.)PrintEmailTweetPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER McCONNELLFacebookTwitterInstagram
