Category: Federal

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed as secretary of health and human services

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of health and human services on Feb. 13, 2025. The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of his nomination with one Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), joining all 45 Democrats, and both independent senators who caucus with Democrats, in opposing his nomination. This was…

  • Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as director of national intelligence

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence on Feb. 12, 2025. The Senate voted 52-48 in favor of her nomination with one Republican, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), joining all 45 Democrats, and both independent senators who caucus with Democrats, in opposing her nomination. This was the 14th member of…

  • Russell Vought confirmed as director of the Office of Management and Budget

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    The U.S. Senate voted to confirm Russell Vought as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Feb. 6, 2025. The Senate voted 53-47 in favor of his nomination with all 53 Republicans voting in favor. This was the 13th member of President Donald Trump’s (R) Cabinet confirmed in his second presidential term. …

  • Senate Finance Committee holds confirmation hearing for Jamieson Greer for U.S. trade representative

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    The Senate Finance Committee held a confirmation hearing for Jamieson Greer for U.S. trade representative on Feb. 6, 2025. At the time the hearing ended, the committee had not scheduled a meeting to vote on his nomination. Greer must receive a majority approval vote in the committee before his nomination can be put up for…

  • Trump did not appoint any federal judges through February 1 of his first year of his second term

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    President Donald Trump (R) has appointed and the Senate has confirmed zero Article III federal judges through February 1, 2025, his first year of his second term in office. The average number of federal judges appointed by previous presidents through February 1 of his first year in office is zero. The Senate had confirmed none…

  • 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…