Trump’s Cabinet Picks Have Faced Record-Setting Opposition

By ADAM PEARCE FEB. 9, 2017

Historically, the Senate voted with little opposition to confirm a president’s first slate of cabinet nominees. As Congress has become more partisan and quicker to oppose incoming presidents, more nominees have faced contentious confirmation votes.

With less than half of his cabinet in place, President Trump’s confirmed nominees have already faced an unprecedented level of opposition. Only five first-year nominees have ever received 40 or more “no” votes. Three of those nominees were under Mr. Trump.

Number of “no” votes

Cabinet nominees during a president’s first year in office

After a 50-50 vote on Tuesday, Betsy DeVos was the first cabinet nominee ever to require a tie-breaking confirmation vote from a vice president. Jeff Sessions was confirmed as attorney general on Wednesday despite receiving 47 “no” votes, the third highest number among all first-year nominees.

John G. Tower, President George Bush’s pick for defense secretary in 1989, is the only nominee to be rejected during a president’s first year. Before the 53-47 vote against Mr. Tower, whose hearing included allegations of drinking problems and misconduct toward women, a first-year nominee had never received opposition from more than 21 senators in a recorded vote.

Number of recorded “no” votes against first-year nominees since 1789

Trump Obama

Many confirmation votes before Ronald Reagan’s presidency were held by voice vote or were otherwise unrecorded.

Source: Senate Historical Office

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