Category: Federal

  • Scott Turner confirmed as secretary of housing and urban development

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Scott Turner as secretary of housing and urban development on Feb. 5, 2025. The Senate voted 55-44 in favor of his nomination with two Democrats, Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the twelfth member of President Donald Trump’s…

  • Pam Bondi confirmed as U.S. attorney general

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Pam Bondi as U.S. attorney general on Feb. 4, 2025. The Senate voted 54-46 in favor of her nomination with one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the eleventh member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential…

  • Administrative State legislation tracking update: 34 federalism-related bills introduced in 2025 legislative sessions so far

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    Ballotpedia’s Administrative State Legislation Tracker recorded 34 bills related to federalism as of Feb. 3. in the 2025 legislative sessions across 18 states and in Congress. These bills reflect ongoing debates about the balance of power between state and federal governments, addressing issues from unfunded mandates to federal regulatory authority. Overall, the tracker covered nearly…

  • Doug Collins confirmed as secretary of veterans affairs

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Doug Collins as secretary of veterans affairs on Feb. 4, 2025. The Senate voted 77-23 in favor of his nomination. This was the tenth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term.  Trump announced on Nov. 14, 2024, that he had selected Collins as…

  • Chris Wright confirmed as secretary of energy

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Chris Wright as secretary of energy on Feb. 3, 2025. The Senate voted 59-38 in favor of his nomination with seven Democrats, one independent who caucuses with Democrats, and 51 Republicans voting in favor. This was the ninth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second…

  • President Donald Trump (R) ends January with 48% approval, 45% disapproval

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    At the end of Jan., approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 48% approval. Forty-five percent of voters disapproved of his performance. At the end of Jan., congressional approval was at 27% and disapproval was at 48%.  At this time during Trump’s first term in office, presidential approval was four points lower at…

  • Doug Burgum confirmed as secretary of the interior

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Doug Burgum as secretary of the interior on Jan. 30, 2025. The Senate voted 79-18 in favor of his nomination with 25 Democrats, one independent who caucuses with Democrats, and all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the eighth member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in…

  • Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee holds confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services

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    The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for secretary of health and human services on Jan. 30, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on his nomination. Kennedy must receive a majority approval vote in the…

  • Senate Intelligence Committee holds confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence

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    The Senate Intelligence Committee held a confirmation hearing for Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence on Jan. 30, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on her nomination. Gabbard must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before her nomination can be put up…