Category: Federal
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BlackRock leaves net-zero alliance, NZAM suspends operations
BlackRock—the world’s largest asset manager—announced Jan. 9 that it is leaving the Net-Zero Asset Managers Initiative (NZAM), a United Nations-affiliated group promoting emission reductions. NZAM announced Jan. 13 that it is suspending operations and removing the commitment statement and list of signatories from its website. The group said in a statement it will reevaluate its…
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Senate Intelligence Committee holds confirmation hearing for John Ratcliffe for director of the Central Intelligence Agency
The Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing for John Ratcliffe for director of the Central Intelligence Agency on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Ratcliffe’s nomination. Ratcliffe must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…
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Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds confirmation hearing for Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Russell Vought for director of the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Vought’s nomination. Vought must receive a majority approval vote in…
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Senate Armed Services Committee holds confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense on Jan. 14, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet announced a date for a committee vote on Hegseth’s nomination. Hegseth must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…
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Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds confirmation hearing for Chris Wright for secretary of energy
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Chris Wright for secretary of energy on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Wright’s nomination. Wright must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…
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Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee holds confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a confirmation hearing for Sean Duffy for secretary of transportation on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on Duffy’s nomination. Duffy must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…
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Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio for secretary of state on Jan. 15, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had scheduled a business meeting to consider Rubio’s nomination for January 20, 2025. Rubio must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can…
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Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for January 2025
In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from December 2, 2024, to December 31, 2024. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 39 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 4.5%,…
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Biden has appointed 235 federal judges through January 1 of his fourth year
President Joe Biden (D) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed 235 Article III federal judges through January 1, 2024, his fourth year in office. This is the most Article III judicial appointments confirmed through this point in all presidencies since President Ronald Reagan (R). The Senate had confirmed 234 of President Donald Trump’s (R)…
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No members of Congress have announced 2026 retirement plans since Nov. 27
No members of the U.S. Congress have announced plans to not seek re-election in 2026 since Nov. 27. That means the total number of congressional retirements for 2026 remains at one. The last incumbent to announce their retirement was Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who said he would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of…