Recently, Sen. John Fetterman cast a vote alongside Republicans to confirm Attorney General Pam Bondi.
On February 6, a potential swing vote regarding two of President Donald Trump’s nominees vanished when Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) declared his opposition to Trump’s selections for national security adviser and health secretary.
Fetterman announced on the social media platform X that he will vote against the nominations of Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
“I have met with most of the cabinet nominees and have carefully watched their confirmation hearings,” Fetterman
wrote. “After considering what’s at stake, I have voted against moving forward to the confirmation of Ms. Gabbard and Mr. Kennedy, and will be voting NO on their confirmations.”
With Republicans holding a 53–47 majority in the Senate, Fetterman’s dissent may not have a significant impact on the outcomes of the nominations.
Earlier in the week, Fetterman reached across the aisle to align with Republicans in
confirming Pam Bondi as attorney general, making him the sole Democrat to support her nomination.
Although Fetterman pushed the nomination of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary through committee, he ultimately voted against it. Several Republicans also opposed Hegseth, prompting Vice President JD Vance
to intervene and break the 50–50 tie.
The senator has increasingly distanced himself from party lines in recent months, fueling speculation that he might leave the Democratic Party to strengthen the GOP majority. However, Fetterman has
stated he will remain with the party.
Tulsi Gabbard, 43, a former Democratic representative, has struggled to gain support from her previous party members. Her nomination was
advanced in a narrow 9–8 vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee on February 4, with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who opposed Hegseth, indicating she would support Gabbard.
On the same day, the Senate Finance Committee also
advanced the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a choice made by Trump.
Several Republicans who had previously voiced concerns about Kennedy’s capability to lead the department—such as Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a practicing physician—voted in favor of advancing his nomination.
The full Senate is anticipated to cast votes on both nominations prior to the end of February.
On Thursday, Senate Democrats postponed the committee vote on another Trump nominee.
Democrats
held up the nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director, potentially delaying the Senate Judiciary Committee vote until at least February 13.
So far, the Senate has confirmed around a dozen of Trump’s nominees, including Russ Vought as budget director on Thursday night.
Other nominees awaiting confirmation include Elise Stefanik, nominated as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Todd Blanche, selected for the role of deputy attorney general.
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