Senate Republicans are mounting much less opposition to President Joe Biden’s major appointees in 2021 than Democrats did against President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees in 2017.
Four of Biden’s top picks have been confirmed quickly by the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tie-breaking vote that also makes Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) the Senate majority leader.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines was confirmed just a few hours after Biden took the oath of office on Jan. 20, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin approved by the Senate two days later on a 93–2 vote.
Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen was approved on Jan. 25 on an 84–15 vote, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken was confirmed on Jan. 26 by a vote of 78–22.
Confirmation hearings are being scheduled and held at a fairly prompt pace as Senate Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), are carefully picking their battles.
Only two of Biden’s Cabinet nominees appear to face serious obstacles. Sen. Josh Hawley initially placed a hold on Alejandro Mayorkas’ nomination as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but Schumer won a cloture vote on Dec. 28, 2020.
A final vote on confirmation was to be held Feb. 1 but was delayed until Feb. 2 due to a winter storm that blanketed the Washington, D.C., region. A Feb. 2 vote also will be held on Secretary of Transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg.
Republicans pointed to a 2015 DHS inspector general report that stated that Mayorkas, who was then deputy secretary of the department, had used his position to benefit Democratic figures such as former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and threatened retaliation against career DHS employees who criticized his actions.
Former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Biden’s nominee as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is strongly opposed by several Senate Republicans due to his long-standing support for federal funding of abortion-on-demand, and for his lack of experience in the health care industry.
An analysis by Heritage Action for America Executive Director Jessica Anderson reveals a dramatic contrast, as Senate Democrats used every available parliamentary procedural tactic to delay consideration of Trump’s nominees.
Trump’s Cabinet nominees required on average more than 33 days to be confirmed after being nominated. Only two, Secretary of Defense (Ret.) Gen. Jim Mattis and DHS chief John Kelly were confirmed the same day Trump was inaugurated.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer required 111 days before the Senate confirmed him, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s nomination was stalled for 94 days, and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Dan Coats for 54 days.