Here’s how every senator voted on confirming Trump’s top officials

Less than two months into President Trump’s first term, the Republican-led Senate has swiftly confirmed nearly all of his Cabinet nominees. The final nominee awaiting a vote is Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who is set to become the ambassador to the United Nations. With House Republicans operating with a slim one-vote majority, special elections on April 1 will provide more flexibility for Stefanik’s anticipated departure.
There are a total of 22 Cabinet positions, each requiring Senate confirmation. In addition, the vote for FBI director, though not a Cabinet role, was also included in the tally by CBS News. Despite some initial reservations from a few Republicans regarding Trump’s controversial picks, the majority of the party fell in line, while Democrats largely opposed the nominees, particularly as the president aimed to overhaul the federal agencies under their purview.
Several Democrats broke ranks and supported nearly half of Trump’s nominees. Senators John Fetterman, Ruben Gallego, Maggie Hassan, John Hickenlooper, and Jeanne Shaheen each voted in favor of 10 of the president’s picks. On the other end of the spectrum, ten Democrats only backed one nominee – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who received unanimous support and was swiftly confirmed after Trump’s inauguration. However, some of these Democrats, like Senators Chris Murphy and Chris Van Hollen, have since expressed regret over their support for Rubio due to the administration’s handling of Ukraine.
Aside from Rubio, seven other nominees garnered significant Democratic support, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. On the Republican side, only five senators dissented and voted against at least one of the nominees. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led the dissenters with four “no” votes, opposing nominees like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski also broke ranks and voted against certain nominees, like Kash Patel for FBI director. Rand Paul and Ted Budd also voted against specific nominees, showcasing some division within the Republican ranks. As of now, 40 Republican senators have supported all of Trump’s nominees, with an additional eight backing them when present for the vote.
In conclusion, the confirmation process for Trump’s Cabinet nominees has highlighted both party unity and dissent within the Senate. Democrats largely opposed the picks, while Republicans mostly supported them, with a few exceptions. The upcoming vote for Rep. Elise Stefanik will be closely watched, as it could further shape the composition of the Trump administration’s key personnel.