The Senate confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary, with more hearings on the horizon.
In the past 24 hours, significant progress has been made in confirming President Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees:
- Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed as Director of National Intelligence: The U.S. Senate confirmed former Representative Tulsi Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence with a narrow 52-48 vote. Gabbard, known for her privacy advocacy and previous support of Edward Snowden, faced opposition from all 47 Democrats and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. nypost.com
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services: Despite his controversial views on vaccines, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote. His nomination was contentious due to his vaccine skepticism, but he secured enough support to assume the role. theguardian.com
- Upcoming Confirmation Hearings: The Senate is preparing for additional confirmation hearings, including that of Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration, nominated for Secretary of Education. Her hearing is scheduled for February 13, 2025. nymag.com
Bibliography:
- “Senate Confirms Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence.” New York Post, February 12, 2025. nypost.com
- “Tracking Trump Cabinet Confirmations – So Far.” The Guardian, January 27, 2025. theguardian.com
- “Trump Cabinet Confirmation Hearings: Schedule & How to Watch.” New York Magazine, February 13, 2025. nymag.com
