Between a slow transition thanks to the feet dragging of the previous administration, the second impeachment trial, and then the negotiations to get the American Rescue Plan (COVID relief bill) passed — (pausing to celebrate that achievement!!!) — the Senate has gotten fairly behind getting all of President Biden’s Cabinet positions confirmed.
Normally, a month into a President’s first term, the average is to have about 84% of the Cabinet confirmed. (source) But with Biden, we’ve only seen 13 out of the 23 confirmed, which is only 56%. That said, his Cabinet is already shaping up to be the most diverse in our nation’s history.
Confirmed
Avril Haines – Director of National Intelligence
Lloyd Austin – Secretary of Defense
Janet Yellen – Secretary of the Treasury
Antony Blinken – Secretary of State
Alejandro Mayorkas – Secretary of Homeland Security
Pete Buttigieg – Secretary of Transportation
Denis McDonough – Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Tom Vilsack – Secretary of Agriculture
Linda Thomas-Greenfield – U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Jennifer Granholm – Secretary of Energy
Miguel Cardona – Secretary of Education
Cecilia Rouse – Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
Gina Raimondo – Secretary of Commerce
Approved in Committee – Awaiting Senate Vote
Marcia Fudge – Secretary of Housing and Urban Development – Approved on 2/4
Michael S. Regan – Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency – Approved on 2/9
Marty Walsh – Secretary of Labor – Approved on 2/11
Isabel Guzman – Administrator of the Small Business Administration – Approved on 2/24
Merrick Garland – Attorney General – Approved on 3/1
Deb Haaland – Secretary of the Interior – Approved on 3/4
Not Yet Approved in Committee
Xavier Becerra – Secretary of Health and Human Services
Eric Lander – Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
Katherine Tai – United States Trade Representative
(Formerly Neera Tanden, who has withdrawn from consideration) – Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Republican Votes
I found it interesting to see which Republicans are being the most obstructionist. I’m sure you’ll find it not surprising at all to learn that Josh Hawley takes the prize for voting against the most number of Biden’s nominees. He’s voted against 12 of 13. Ted Cruz and Rick Scott have voted against 11 of 13, and Tom Cotton has voted against 10 of 13. (source)
Did you know that the Democratic Senators who voted against the most number of Trump’s nominees eventually ran for President? Something to ponder.
Also, another fact that jumped out at me. You know which Republican Senator has voted against the fewest of Biden’s nominees? Mitch McConnell, with only 1 “no” vote.
What We Can Do
It’s important that we are all calling on our Senators — no matter what party — to tell them that we want them to confirm Biden’s nominees as soon as possible. Feel free to call about any of the nominees who are just waiting for Senate confirmation.
I’m getting really concerned about the delay with Xavier Becerra’s confirmation — I mean, we’re in the middle of the pandemic and we could sure use a Secretary of Health and Human Services! There have already been several delays and “objections” that Republicans have had with some of Biden’s nominees, and they seem to fit a pattern — i.e. they are all non-white — and Becerra’s nomination seems to be the latest one. So I urge you to call about his nomination and urge your Senators to push on their colleagues on the Finance Committee to approve his nomination and take it up in the Senate asap.
Thanks for taking action!
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Categories: Uncategorized
Tokyo, quite simply, we run risks when people are not seated, irrespective of party. The gamesmanship astounds me. Keith
Completely agree. Not having an Attorney General? The HHS Secretary in the middle of a pandemic?? It’s just awful.
Informative post, TS! Thank you! I’m re-blogging this afternoon in my usual way. No surprise at all that Hawley & Cruz are being major obstructionists … they know it doesn’t make much difference how they vote, as they’re no longer a majority, and they can win brownie points with their constituents. What DOES surprise me is Mitch McConnell’s suddenly cooperative manner … did he receive a lobotomy and we didn’t know?
Thanks, Jill! Yeah, the news about McConnell was a real head scratcher for me. It would make sense if he planned to work with Biden to get some compromises — like, hey I helped get all of your nominees confirmed, now help me. But I only know Mitch to be an obstructionist. (My secret hope is that this is a piece of evidence that indicates that he is truly thinking of leaving the Senate this year.)
Not being American, none of this affects me directly, but it does indirectly, because we are such close neighbours, and neighbour’s want to see everyone doing the best they can, to everyone’s benefit. But Moscow Mitch shedding his snakeskin? I don’t believe it. He has ulterior motives, I think you can count on that. The question is: What are they? The answer to that will probably be important to discover.
However, if he has gone through a sea change, best you discover that too.
I’m not sure Mitch has changed his stripes. But, there is more evidence coming out that he’s planning to hang up his spurs.
I cannot believe he will. He wants to be there when Trump gets coronated in 2024. I hope he will be disappointed, but with all the electoral bills before state houses, I have no idea what a free election will look like, as in free of persons-of-colour voters.
I think Mitch hates Trump.
Only because Trump beat him to the presidency! He worked long and hard to get there. He needs it more than anything in his life, and that is why he should not be allowed to get it.
I don’t think Mitch ever wanted to be president. His whole history was about getting the Senate majority job.
I stand corrected
I stand corrected.